PoW’s in Concentration Camps

Hi Dave – I think the Germans only respected the Geneva Convention when it suited them – and we breached it as well as we sent some of our own captives over to Canada and the USA, whereas I believe they should have been kept here in the UK. These PoW’s were not wearing uniform when recaptured, and probably not their service or PoW dogtags either – so the Germans could treat them as spies. Better to be sent to a Concentration Camp and survive than the treatment meted out to the 50 anyway. If you want to see how RAF PoW’s were treated by both the Germans and ourselves (with regard to Pay etc) can I suggest you see if your library in NZ has “Wire and Worse RAF PoW’s in Laufen, Biberach, Lubeck and Warburg 1940-42” by Charles Rollings ISBN 0-7110-3050-2 – he has also written “Wire and Walls” which covers the period 1939-1942 in Itzehow, Spangenberg and Thorn (one I have not read yet) – cheers – Allan

museums and photos

It’s a shame that people chose not to visit a museum because they can’t take photos, as they are depriving themselves of a good day out. Personally I would not avoid a museum for that reason, but if they want to do so it’s their choice, and their loss.Geoff.

Geoff, I quite agree with your point of view, although I always take a camera with me (when I do get into civilisation) I respect and obey any rules. The sad thing for me is that I lived not too far away from your museum (in Chelsfield) 🙂 between 1955 – 1972, and now I am far to far away from anything half decent aviation-wise living down here in Cornwall!! 😡 cheers – Allan

41 squadron

Hi Dave

take a look at the 41 squadron website run by Steve Brew, an Oz living in Switzerland – http://brew.clients.ch/RAF41Sqdn.htm – the site has quite a large piece on Edward Preston “Hawkeye” Wells, whom I presume is the same person as “Bill” Wells? – his e-mail address is on the site. cheers – Allan

Interesting that others suffer as well – I also get pins and needles sometimes – and I have had a carpal tunnel operation on both wrists – so maybe that “pleasure” has started all over again 🙂 cheers – Allan

Jamie Oliver

Plus if he gets rid of that sh1t that they are dispensing in the name of nutrition in schools he gets my vote. A225HVY

Very interesting series – I think he worked bl00dy hard for his money on this project. 🙂 I totally agree with the above comment – and it shows that most dinner ladies only heat stuff up and certainly aren’t cooks. More power to his elbow. – cheers – Allan

I have the shots of JEJ*, three in a row, and another shot, in last week, with a mini set of JEJ up near the cockpit. The latter destined for a new 2nd TAF Book out shortly.Mark

I also have two photos of MV268 as JEJ* – one taken at B.78 Eindhoven, just after JEJ had arrived and another photo of a group of XIV’s at an airfield somewhere in Holland or Germany from the debris. MV268 was collected from Dunsfold on 29 March 1945 by Sgt Ronny Ashman of 130 (Punjab) Squadron, who mentions it in his book “Spitfire – against the odds” – “No doubt MV268 was snapped up by a brass-hat after some of the boys had tried her out. She never wore 130 Squadron’s identification letters of AP which would normally be painted on her, and I never saw her again.” JEJ joined 125 Wing on 28 March 1945 “125 Wing ORB 28/3/45 W/Cdr Johnny Johnson, D.S.O., D.F.C., assumed command of the Wing vice G/Capt Scott-Malden who is leaving to take up another appointment.” – cheers – Allan

Hi Dave – This is certainly an administrative blunder that should have been sorted out in the last 90 years – give the man the VC he deserves, even if (sadly) posthumously.