Wilson, John Carson (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 6 Sqdn, Air Headquarters Egypt, RAF in North Africa, 12/1940-3/1941; prisoner of war in Stalag Luft I, Barth, Stalag Luft III, Sagan and Oflag IV-C, Colditz in Germany, 4/1941-4/1945

REEL 1 Background in Felixstowe and Brighton, GB, 1916-1938: family; education; securing short service commission with Royal Air Force, 1937. Recollections of period as staff officer with Royal Air Force and pilot with 6 Sqdn, RAF in Palestine, 1938-1940: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; background to taking over staff job at King David Hotel in Jerusalem; potential Arab threats to life of Air Vice-Marshal John D'Albiac; memories of Air Commodore Arthur Harris and his wife; posting to 6 Sqdn, RAF; character of air pin operations, 1939; aircraft types used; use of Westland Lysander for army co-operation; lack of contact with civilians. Aspects of operations as pilot with 6 Sqdn, Air Headquarters Egypt, RAF in Western Desert, 12/1940-3/1941: move from Palestine to Western Desert, 12/1940; German Air Force harrassing attacks from 3/1941; reconnaissance mission to Gulf of Sirte when aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. REEL 2 Continues: setting fire to Hawker Hurricane on forced landing near Aghelia, Libya; initial treatment by Italian and German captors, 3/1941, reaction to capture. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre, Oberursel and Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany, 1941-1942: reaction to capture; flight aboard Junkers Ju 52 from Libya to Munich, Germany, how German officer sent letter to his parents; reaction to being sent to German sergeants' mess; interrogation at Dulag Luft Interrogation Centre; removal to Stalag Luft I Barth, 4/1941; his escape attempt from train taking prisoners of war from Barth to Sagan, 3/1942; first escape from camp; escape to Denmark and recapture. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany, 3/1942-8/1944: teaming up with Czech pilot Cenek Chaloupka for escape attempts; method of confusing appel count; capture with Cenek Chaloupka whilst cutting through camp's wire perimeter; collusion with Austrian guard for a second escape attempt and recapture attempting to get under wire; German decision to send Wilson and Cenek Chaloupka to Oflag IV-C, Colditz; question why he attempted to escape; how he and Cenek Chaloupka were put high on list for Great Escape but did not go, 3/1944. Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Oflag IV-C, Colditz, Germany, 8/1944-4/1945: reception from inmates; effect of being in camp; premonition he had about living conditions and extreme cold; reaction to viewing television drama series 'Colditz'; how he became Royal Air Force representative on escape committee; glider project in attic space; look out system; memories of Lieutenant Michael Sinclair. REEL 4 Continues: Lieutanant Michael Sinclair's escape attempt and fatal shooting by German guards, 25/9/1944; story of prisoners of war disrespect for German commandant Obersleutnant Gerhard Prawitt and potato assault on guards; relations between different nationalities; level of fitness; corruption of guards; opinion of prominentes; German infiltrator; code system using German-English dictionary to pass information; use of illicit radio; liberation of camp by troops of US First Army, 16/4/1945; foraging for food in countryside; memories of Squadron Leader Douglas Bader.