| Thread | Post Text | Author |
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| A Kiwi called Lamison | Norman,
This is the man you mean:
From Coloin Hanson's 'By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999':
LAMASON, Squadron Leader Philip John, DFC*, mid(2).
NZ403460; Born Napier, 15 Sep 1918; RNZAF 28 Sep 1940 to 16 Dec 1945; PoW Aug 1944 to c.May 1945; Pilot.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (Imm) (14 May 1942): [218 Sqn RAF (Stirling)] One night in April, 1942, this officer was the captain of an aircraft which attacked Pilsen.[*] During the return flight his aircraft was attacked by an enemy night fighter and sustained damage; the hydraulics were shot away and the turret rendered unserviceable, while a fire broke out in the middle of the fuselage. Displaying great presence of mind, Pilot Officer Lamason coolly directed his crew in the emergency and, while two of them dealt with the fire, he skilfully out-manoeuvred his attacker and finally shook him off. By his fine airmanship and great devotion to duty, Pilot Officer Lamason was undoubtedly responsible for the safe return of the aircraft and its crew. This officer has completed 21 sorties and he has at all times displayed courage and ability. [*] The night of 25/26 Apr 1942, a long-range attack by six Stirlings against the Skoda armament factory.
Citation Mention in Despatches (1) (2 Jun 1943): For bravery in action and meritorious fulfilment of duty with 1657 HCU RAF (Stirling).
Citation Mention in Despatches (2) (14 Jan 1944): For distinguished service with 1657 HCU RAF (Stirling).
Citation Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross (24 Jun 1944): [15 Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has continued to operate with courage and devotion to duty of a high order. He has completed a large number of operational missions including several attacks on Berlin and other heavily defended German targets and has always pressed home his attacks with vigorous determination. His gallantry, leadership and enthusiasm have been extremely praiseworthy.
Member of the ‘Caterpillar Club’. Sqn Ldr Lamason was a Flt Cdr on 15 Sqn. He was shot down by a German fighter on 8 Jun 1944 during a raid on railway marshalling yards near Paris. He escaped from his burning aircraft and with the aid of the French underground movement evaded capture for seven weeks until caught by the Gestapo in Paris. He was transported to Germany in the last German train to leave Paris in 1944 and for two months was confined in the Buchenwald concentration camp.
Lamason's story is told in detail in Max Lambert's excellent 'Night After Night - New Zealanders with Bomber Command'.
Errol ....Read More. | Errol Martyn on 28th January 2009 12:09:28 |
| Lost Airmen of Buchenwald | Hi Alan,
In the documentary, "Lost Airmen of Buchenwald", it says they were removed from the camp seven days before their scheduled execution. This was a fact their leader, S/L P.J. (Phil) Lamason (NZ403460), kept from them for 39 years until revealing it at a POW reunion.
I was presented the DVD by F/L J.A. (Jim) Stewart, DFC, ONB who was one of the seven airmen interviewed for the documentary.
Regards,
Christian ....Read More. | PennfieldParish on 4th December 2011 01:15:20 |
| POW and Evaders Database Work | Hello All,
While waiting for the next batch of WO416 I have been ‘poking about’.
One of the sites I visited was [url]http://www.rafinfo.org.uk/rafexpow/[/url]. There was a page list of recently deceased POWs, and where to find their Obits. I checked their names against the data on our Googlesheet. There were 4 FEPOWs, and we already have them on the FEPOW tab.
Most of the rest (ETO POW) checked out – except four. They are:-
[B]Jack Best[/B]. Nearest I can get to him is Flt Lt [B]John William Best[/B] (89772), RAF. One of the designers/builders of the Colditz Glider!
Lt Gen(!) [B]Albert P Clark[/B], USAF. He was said to have been in The Great Escape team (first I’ve heard of this!). If this is correct, then why was a USA(A?)F Very Senior Officer incarcerated with the RAF?
Flt Lt(or Sqdn Ldr?) [B]Wladyslaw Gnys[/B] (P1298), RAF/PAF, Pilot 302 Sqdn. Do we know how/where/when he became POW?
[B]Phil Lamason[/B], DFC*, RNZAF is said to have been SBO at Buchenwald. Is this Sqn Ldr [B]Philip John Lamason[/B], DFC*, (403460), RNZAF. And how/where/when did he “go in the bag”?
These four were hiding away, but proved to be four very interesting “new customers”!!!
HTH/TIA
Peter Davies ....Read More. | Resmoroh on 14th June 2021 10:51:05 |
