Plot
Outline
Cast
Homework
The Real Escape
Music
Links
Guestbook
Email
Download
Search
Home |
The Fifty Victims
J5233 F/L Henry J Birkland, Canadian, born
16-Aug-17, 72 Sqdn, (shot down 7-Nov-41, Spitfire Vb, W3367), recaptured near Sagan, last
seen alive 31-Mar-44; murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at Liegnitz.
61053 F/L E Gordon Brettell DFC, British, born
19-Mar-15, 133 (Eagle) Sqdn (shot down 26-Sep-42, Spitfire IX), recaptured Scheidemuhl,
murdered by Bruchardt 29-Mar-44, cremated at Danzig.
43932 F/L Lester G Bull DFC, British, born 7-Nov-16,
109 Sqdn (shot down 5/6-Nov-41, Wellington IC, T2565) recaptured near Reichenburg,
murdered 29-Mar-44 by unknown Gestapo, cremated at Brux.
90120 S/L Roger J Bushell, British, born 30-Aug-10,
92 Sqdn (shot down 23-May-40, Spitfire I, N3194) recaptured at Saarbrucken, murdered
29-Mar-44 by Schulz, cremated at Saarbrucken.
39024 F/L Michael J Casey, British, born 19-Feb-18,
57 Sqdn (shot down 16-Oct-39, Blenheim I, L1141), recaptured near Gorlitz, murdered
31-Mar-44 by Lux and Scharpwinkel, cremated at Gorlitz.
400364 S/L James Catanach DFC, Australian, born
28-Nov-21, 455 Sqdn (crash landed in Norway, 6-Sep-42, Hampden I AT109), recaptured at
Flensburg, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Post, cremated at Kiel.
413380 F/L Arnold G Christiansen, New Zealander, 26
Sqdn, born 8-Apr-21, PoW 20-Aug-42, recaptured at Flensburg, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Post,
cremated at Kiel.
122441 F/O Dennis H Cochran, British, born
13-Aug-21, 10 OTU, PoW 9-Nov-42, recaptured at Lorrach, murdered 31-Mar-44 by Priess and
Herberg, cremated at Natzweiler.
39305 S/L Ian K P Cross DFC, British, born 4-Apr-18,
103 Sqdn (shot down 12-Feb-42, Wellington IC, Z8714 PM:N), recaptured near Gorlitz,
murdered 31-Mar-44 by Lux and Scharpwinkel, cremated at Gorlitz.
378 Lt Halldor Espelid, Norwegian, born 6-Oct-20, 33
Sqdn, PoW 27-Aug-42, recaptured at Flensburg, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Post, cremated at
Kiel.
42745 F/L Brian H Evans, British, born 14-Feb-20, 49
Sqdn (shot down 6-Dec-40, Hampden I, P4404 EA:R), recaptured at Halbau; last seen alive
31-Mar-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at Liegnitz.
742 Lt Nils Fugelsang, Norwegian, 339 Sqdn, PoW
2-May-43, recaptured at Flensburg, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Post, cremated at Kiel.
103275 Lt Johannes S Gouws, South African, born
13-Aug-19, 40 Sqdn SAAF, PoW 9-Apr-42, recaptured at Lindau, murdered 29-Mar-44 by
Schneider, cremated at Munich.
45148 F/L William J Grisman, British, born
30-Aug-14, 109 Sqdn, (believed shot down 5/6-Nov-41, Wellington IC, T2565)
recaptured near Gorlitz, last seen alive 6-Apr-44; murdered by Lux, cremated at Breslau.
60340 F/L Alastair D M Gunn, British, born
27-Sep-19, 1 PRU, PoW 5-Mar-42, recaptured near Gorlitz, last seen alive 6-Apr-44,
murdered by unknown Gestapo, cremated at Breslau.
403281 F/L Albert H Hake, Australian, born
30-Jun-16, 72 Sqdn, PoW 28-Dec-41, recaptured near Gorlitz, murdered 31-Mar-44 by Lux and
Scharpwinkel, cremated at Gorlitz.
50896 F/L Charles P Hall, British, born 25-Jul-18, 1
PRU, PoW 28-Dec-41, recaptured near Sagan, murdered 30-Mar-44 by Lux and Scharpwinkel,
cremated at Liegnitz.
42124 F/L Anthony R H Hayter, British, born
20-May-20, 148 Sqdn, PoW 24-Apr-42, recaptured near Mulhouse, murdered 6-Apr-44 by
Schimmel, cremated at Natzweiler.
44177 F/L Edgar S Humphreys, British, born 5-Dec-14,
107 Sqdn (shot down 19-Dec-40, Blenheim IV, T1860), recaptured near Sagan, last seen alive
31-Mar-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel, cremated at Liegnitz.
J10177 F/L Gordon A Kidder, Canadian, born 9-Dec-14,
156 Sqdn (shot down 13/14-Oct-42, Wellington III, BJ775) recaptured near Zlin, murdered
29-Mar-44 by Zacharias and Knippelberg, with drivers Kiowsky and Schwartzer, cremated at
Mahrisch Ostrau.
402364 F/L Reginald V Kierath, Australian, born
20-Feb-15, 450 Sqdn, PoW 23-Apr-43, recaptured near Reichenburg, murdered 29-Mar-44 by
unknown Gestapo, cremated at Brux.
P0109 Maj Antoni Kiewnarski, Polish, born
26-Jan-1899, 305 Sqdn (shot down 28-Aug-42, Wellington X, Z1245), recaptured at
Hirschberg, murdered there 31-Mar-44 by Lux, place of cremation unknown.
39103 S/L Thomas G Kirby-Green, British, born
28-Feb-18, 40 Sqdn (shot down 16/17-Oct-41, Wellington IC, Z8862 BL:B), recaptured near
Zlin, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Zacharias and Knippelberg, with drivers Kiowsky and
Schwartzer, cremated at Mahrisch Ostrau. Described to me as "a tall, suave
aristocrat."
P0243 F/O Wlodzimierz Kolanowski, Polish, born
11-Aug-13, 301 Sqdn (shot down 8-Nov-42, Wellington IV, Z1277 GR:Z), recaptured near
Sagan, shot at Liegnitz 31-Mar-44 by Lux and Scharpwinkel, cremated at Liegnitz.
P0237 F/O Stanislaw Z Krol, Polish, born 22-Mar-16,
74 Sqdn (shot down 2-Jul-41, Spitfire Vb, W3263), recaptured at Oels, shot at Breslau
14-Apr-44 probably by Lux, cremated at Breslau.
J1631 Patrick W Langford, Canadian, born 4-Nov-19,
16 OTU, (shot down 28/29-Jul-42, Wellington IC, R1450) recaptured near Gorlitz, last seen
alive 31-Mar-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at Liegnitz.
46462 F/L Thomas B Leigh, Australian in RAF, born
11-Feb-19, 76 Sqdn (shot down 5/6-Aug-41, Halifax I, L9516), recaptured in Sagan area;
last seen alive 12-Apr-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at Breslau.
89375 F/L James L R Long, British, born 21-Feb-15, 9
Sqdn (shot down 27-Mar-41, Wellington IA, R1335 WS:K), recaptured near Sagan, last seen
alive 12-Apr-44, murdered by Lux; cremated at Breslau.
95691 2/Lt Clement A N McGarr, South African, born
24-Nov-17, 2 Sqdn SAAF, PoW 6-Oct-41, recaptured near Sagan, last seen alive 6-Apr-44,
murdered by Lux, cremated at Breslau.
J5312 F/L George E McGill, Canadian, born 14-Apr-18,
103 Sqdn. (I was puzzled because I could not tie him up with an aircraft loss. He and 3
others baled out of a damaged Wellington R1192 10/11-Jan-42 over Germany, on an operation
to Wilhelmshaven. The Wellington managed to limp back to Elsham Wolds.) Recaptured in
Sagan area, last seen alive 31-Mar-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at
Liegnitz.
89580 F/L Romas Marcinkus, Lithuanian, born
22-Jul-10, 1 Sqdn, recaptured at Scheidemuhl, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Bruchardt, cremated at
Danzig.
103586 F/L Harold J Milford, British, born
16-Aug-14, 226 Sqdn, PoW 22-Sep-42, recaptured near Sagan, last seen alive 6-Apr-44,
murdered by Lux; cremated at Breslau.
P0913 F/O Jerzy Tomasc Mondschein, Polish, born
18-Mar-09, 304 Sqdn (shot down 8-Nov-41, Wellington IC, R1215), recaptured in Reichenburg
area, murdered Brux 29-Mar-44 by unknown Gestapo, cremated at Brux.
P0740 F/O Kazimierz Pawluk, Polish, born 1-Jul-06,
305 Sqdn (shot down 29-Mar-42, Wellington II, W5567 SM:M), recaptured at Hirschberg, shot
there on 31-Mar-44 by Lux, place of cremation unknown.
87693 F/L Henri A Picard Croix de Guerre, Belgian,
born 17-Apr-16, 350 Sqdn, PoW 2-Sep-42, recaptured at Scheidemuhl, murdered 29-Mar-44 by
Bruchardt, cremated at Danzig.
402894 F/O John P P Pohe, New Zealander, born
10-Dec-21, 51 Sqdn (shot down 22/23-Sep-41, Halifax II, JN901) recaptured near Gorlitz,
murdered 31-Mar-44 by Lux and Scharpwinkel, cremated at Gorlitz. Also known by his Maori
name of Porokoru Patapu.
30649 Sous-Lt Bernard W M Scheidhauer, French, born
28-Aug-21, 131 Sqdn, PoW 18-Nov-42, recaptured at Saarbrucken, murdered 29-Mar-44 by
Spann, cremated at Saarbrucken.
213 P/O Sotiris Skanzikas, Greek, born 6-Aug-21, 336
Sqdn, PoW 23-Jul-43, recaptured at Hirschberg, murdered 30-Mar-44 by Lux, place of
cremation unknown.
47341 Rupert J Stevens, South African, born
21-Feb-19, 12 Sqdn SAAF, PoW 14-Nov-41, recaptured at Rosenheim, murdered 29-Mar-44 by
Schneider; cremated at Munich.
130452 F/O Robert C Stewart, British, born 7-Jul-11,
77 Sqdn (shot down 26/27-Apr-43, Halifax II, DT796) recaptured near Sagan, last seen alive
31-Mar-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at Liegnitz.
107520 F/L John G Stower, British, born 15-Sep-16,
142 Sqdn (shot down 16/17-Nov-42, Wellington III, BK278, QT:C), recaptured near
Reichenberg, murdered 31-Mar-44 by unknown Gestapo; place of cremation unknown.
123026 F/L Denys O Street, British, born 1-Apr-22,
207 Sqdn (shot down 29/30-Mar-43, Lancaster I, EM:O), recaptured near Sagan, last seen
alive 6-Apr-44, murdered by Lux; cremated at Breslau.
37658 F/L Cyril D Swain, British, born 15-Dec-11,
105 Sqdn (shot down 28-Nov-40, Blenheim IV, T1893), recaptured near Gorlitz, last seen
alive 31-Mar-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at Liegnitz.
P0375 F/O Pawel Whilem Tobolski, Polish, born
21-Mar-06, 301 Sqdn (shot down 25/26-Jun-42, Wellington IV, GR:A), recaptured at Stettin,
shot at Breslau 2-Apr-44 probably by Lux, cremated at Breslau.
82532 F/L Ernst Valenta, Czech, born 25-Oct-12, 311
Sqdn (shot down 6-Feb-41, Wellington IC, L7842 KX:T), recaptured near Gorlitz, last seen
alive 31-Mar-44, murdered by Lux and Scharpwinkel; cremated at Liegnitz.
73022 F/L Gilbert W Walenn, British, born 24-Feb-16,
25 OTU, PoW 11-Sep-41, recaptured at Scheidemuhl, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Bruchardt,
cremated at Danzig.
J6144 F/L James C Wernham, Canadian, born 15-Jan-17,
405 Sqdn (shot down 8/9-Jun-42, Halifax II, W7708 LQ:H), recaptured at Hirschberg,
murdered 31-Mar-44 by Lux, place of cremation unknown.
J7234 F/L George W Wiley, Canadian, born 24-Jan-22,
112 Sqdn, PoW 12-Mar-43, recaptured near Gorlitz, murdered 31-Mar-44 by Lux and
Scharpwinkel, cremated at Gorlitz.
40652 S/L John E A Williams DFC, Australian, born
6-May-19, 450 Sqdn, PoW 31-Oct-42, recaptured near Reichenberg, murdered 29-Mar-44 by Lux,
cremated at Brux.
106173 F/L John F Williams, British, born 7-Jul-17,
107 Sqdn (shot down 27-Apr-42, Boston III), recaptured near Sagan, last seen alive
6-Apr-44, murdered by unknown Gestapo; cremated at Breslau.
(Polish officers have their RAF ranks quoted)
The Survivors
F/Lt Peter Bergsland (aka "Rocky Rockland") and
Jens Muller (both Norwegian) reached England via Sweden, in March. Bergsland born
17-Jan-19, died 22-Jun-92.
F/Lt Bob van der Stok (Dutch, 914 Sqdn) reached England via
Spain, in July. Born 13-Oct-15, died 1992.
F/Lt Henry C "Johnny" Marshall 36103 gave
evidence (by then, a Wing Commander) at the trial of the accused murderers (he has since
died), F/Lt Paul Royle 42152 (53 Sqdn RAAF), F/Lt Alistair T McDonald 115320 (since died),
F/Lt Bernard "Pop" Green 76904 (since died), Lt Douglas A Poynter (Fleet Air
Arm, born 1921), Lt Alexander D Neely (825 Sqdn Fleet Air Arm, born November 1917), Lamond
(Carter?), F/Lt Thomas R Nelson 70811 (37 Sqdn, born March 1915), F/Lt Richard S A
Churchill 41255 (144 Sqdn, born 1918), F/Lt Albert Armstrong 109946 (268 Sqdn, since
died), F/Lt R Anthony Bethell 120413 (268 Sqdn, born 9-Apr-22) , F/Lt Leslie C Brodrick
122363 (106 Sqdn, shot down Stuttgart, 14/15-Apr-43, Lancaster ED752 ZN:H, born May 1921),
F/O William J Cameron J6487 (RCAF, since died), F/Lt Michael M Shand NZ/391368 (485 Sqdn
RNZAF, born 18-March-15), F/L Alfred B Thompson 39585 (since died) and F/Lt Keith Ogilvie
DFC 42872 (Canadian, 609 Sqdn, born March 1915) were returned to Sagan.
F/Lt Desmond L Plunkett 78847 (Zimbabwean, 218 Sqdn, shot
down Emden 20/21-Jun-42, Stirling I W7530, HA:Q, born February 1915) and F/Lt Ray van
Wyneersch 30268 (174 Sqdn Free French Air Force, born September 1920) were taken to
Sachsenhausen and later returned to Sagan.
F/Lt Ivor B Tonder 83232 (Czech, 312 Sqdn, born April 1913)
and F/Lt Bedrich Dvorak 82542 (since died) were sent to Colditz, arriving on 9-Jan-45.
Maj Johnnie Dodge DSO DSC MC (born 1896, since died), W/C
Harry A "Wings" Day DSO OBE 5175 (since died), F/Lt Sydney H Dowse MC 86685
(PRU, born 1919) and F/Lt Bertram A James MC 42232 (9 Sqdn, shot down Duisburg 5/6-Jun-40,
Wellington IA P9232 WS:M, born April 1915) were sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp
and later escaped, to be recaptured. Dodge, related to Winston Churchill, was released
into Switzerland by the Germans in an unsuccessful attempt to sue for peace.
|
