Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2008 19:56:26 GMT 12
I have just watched the documentary 'TÛRANGAARERE - The John Pohe Story' which screened on Maori Television yesterdai. It details the life and RNZAF career of Flying Officer Porokoru Patapu (John) Pohe, the first ever Maori pilot in the RNZAF to begin operations in the RAF in World War Two.
What a superb documentary. It told a great story about a remarkable young man, from his earliest days through till he joined the RNZAF and then through his career in the RAF flying Whitleys and Halifax bombers operationally. He flew 22 missions before being shot down and captured. He was sent to Sagan's Stalag Luft III, and there he became actively involved in the digging of the tunnel 'Harry' which was to be forever rememebred as the tunnel the made The Great Escape.
Johnnie Pohe was captured by the Germans after he escaped, and was one of the 50 men chosen to be executed, upon Hitler's murderous orders. Even Goering had tried to stop the murders, to no avail.
I have to say the quality ofthis documentary was great. The re-eanctments were very well done, with many of the actors actually being from Pohe's own family.
A couple of points, one was they made out as if 22 missions was something incredible to survive, and though it was indeed, there were many pilots and crews who survived many more than that.
My late friend and wartime RNZAF pilot Gordon Easter told me he trained with John Pohe, and thought he was a terrific bloke and a great pilot. He said he was devastated when he heard that he'd been murdered.
One last question, the narrator mentioned that two films had been made about The Great Escape. I have a copy of the one with Steve McQueen, but what is the other one? I've never heard of another version.
What a superb documentary. It told a great story about a remarkable young man, from his earliest days through till he joined the RNZAF and then through his career in the RAF flying Whitleys and Halifax bombers operationally. He flew 22 missions before being shot down and captured. He was sent to Sagan's Stalag Luft III, and there he became actively involved in the digging of the tunnel 'Harry' which was to be forever rememebred as the tunnel the made The Great Escape.
Johnnie Pohe was captured by the Germans after he escaped, and was one of the 50 men chosen to be executed, upon Hitler's murderous orders. Even Goering had tried to stop the murders, to no avail.
I have to say the quality ofthis documentary was great. The re-eanctments were very well done, with many of the actors actually being from Pohe's own family.
A couple of points, one was they made out as if 22 missions was something incredible to survive, and though it was indeed, there were many pilots and crews who survived many more than that.
My late friend and wartime RNZAF pilot Gordon Easter told me he trained with John Pohe, and thought he was a terrific bloke and a great pilot. He said he was devastated when he heard that he'd been murdered.
One last question, the narrator mentioned that two films had been made about The Great Escape. I have a copy of the one with Steve McQueen, but what is the other one? I've never heard of another version.
