While I was looking for the grave of this brave pilot .... I came across another who was buried in the same grave ....... God Bless them both .... I don't know how many others there are ....do you ? CHRISTENSEN Flt Lt Arnold George NZ413380 mid RNZAF | Mustang Pilot, 26 Sqn, RAF, 29 March 1944, Aged 21, Poland NZFPM |Memorial Roll Flight Lieutenant | Arnold George | Christensen | Christensen, Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland Christensen, Arnold George (1921 - 1944) Despite the name Arnold George Christensen who is in service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War seems to be from New Zealand, only possibly, of Danish descent. Arnold George Christensen (NZ.413380) enlists in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in Hastings, New Zealand. On 19 August 1942, he is the pilot of Mustang Ia (AL977) of No. 26 Squadron on a tactical reconnaissance mission in support of Operation Jubilee (the Dieppe Raid). He is shot down, captured by the Germans, and taken to the prisoner-of-war camp Dulag Luft 3. He escapes from the camp, but is recaptured by the Germans and shot on 29 March 1944. He is buried at the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland (collective grave No. 9, A). He is Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) and further awarded 1939-45 Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; and New Zealand War Service Medal. (Auckland Museum; Franks, 1998) Flight Lieutenant ( Pilot ) Arnold Christensen Birth - unknown Death - Mar. 29, 1944 One of the Great Escape participants. 413380 F/L Arnold G Christiansen, New Zealander, 26 Sqdn, born 8-Apr-1921, PoW 20-Aug-1942, recaptured at Flensburg, murdered 29-Mar-1944 by Post, cremated at Kiel. Flight Lieutenant ( Pilot ) Arnold Christensen ( - 1944) - Find A Grave Memorial Flying Officer ( Pilot ) Porokoru Pohe Birth - unknown Death - Mar. 31, 1944 One of the Great Escape participants. 402894 F/O John P P Pohe, New Zealander, born 10-Dec-1921, 51 Sqdn (shot down 22/23-Sep-1941, Halifax II, JN901) recaptured near Gorlitz, murdered 31-Mar-1944 by Lux and Scharpwinkel, cremated at Gorlitz. Also known by his Maori name of Porokoru Patapu. Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database Just found this maybe Kyt knows !!!!!!!!!! http://ww2chat.com/forums/veterans-histories-stories/707-nga-toa-new-zealand-veterans.html
So ... all of them are buried there then Andy ? looks like they were cremated in different places ! Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery Poznan, Poland Plot - Coll. grave 9. A.
Thanks for that info Annie. I omitted to look at the date of the RAAF Poznan burials and see that there are three for the 31/3/1944. I will have to look and see their history. Evans and Leigh were Australians in the RAF. EVANS, BRIAN HERBERT (MID) Flight Lieutenant 42745 49sq RAF 31/03/1944 24 Royal Air Force UK 7. C. 6. POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY HAKE, ALBERT HORACE Warrant Officer 403218 72sq 31/03/1944 27 Royal Australian Air Force Australian 7. D. 4. POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY LEIGH, THOMAS BARKER Flight Lieutenant 46462 76sq RAF 31/03/1944 25 Royal Air Force UK 7. C. 4. POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY
The entry suggests that, Annie. Sorry, had to attend to some domestic duties. Hmm, can't find anything for Pohe for any of his names in Vol 1. Same applies for the date of his last trip which is the format of the book. I'll check Vol 3 which is an indexing of all Kiwi RNZAF deaths. EDIT: ah, that's why I couldn't find him. He was shot down on 22/23 September 1943, not 1941. Vol 2 covers 1943 onwards and is very hard to get unfortunately.
I've been looking for the third young flyer ! ... here he is ... Acting-Squadron-Leader J.E.A. Williams, whose next-of-kin is in Australia, and who was serving with the RAF WILLIAMS Sqn Ldr John Edwin Ashley 40652 DFC mid RAF | Kittyhawk Pilot, 450 Sqn, RAF, 29 March 1944, Aged 24, Poland
My lad Hake has his death listed on CWGC as the 31st of March yet the AWM has his death as the 25th and cremation as the 30th Albert Horace Hake Rank Warrant Officer [WO] Service Number 403218 Unit 72 Squadron RAF ServiceRAAFConflict1939-1945 Date of Death30 March 1944 Place of Death Poland Cause of Death Prisoner Of War SourceAWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force His card says he was cremated at Courlitz.
Ooh, 450 Squadron! Vol 3 says he was shot down in 1942 so... Vol 1: The rest of the details re being reinterred are the same. Annie, I can provide further details re training and embarkation by PM if you're interested.
Here is the list of the 50! Great Escape Murdered Escapees There were actually 5 Aussies and I always thought there was only 3. These are the other 2. KIERATH, REGINALD VICTOR (MID) Flight Lieutenant 402364 450sq 29/03/1944 29 Royal Australian Air Force Australian 8. D. 3. POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY CATANACH, JAMES (DFC) (MID) Squadron Leader 400364 455sq 29/03/1944 22 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Coll. grave 9. A. POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY
Plenty about him on google Annie. He was born to Australian parents inWellington and grew up in Manly New South Wales. No. 450 Squadron RAAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Picture of him here. John Edwin Ashley Williams - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is from the Australian War Memorial site: Australian Military Units 40652 Squadron Leader John Edwin Ashley Williams, DFC Date of birth1916-05-06 Date promoted 1938-03-26 Acting pilot officer. Other units 1938-03-26 Short service commission, General Duties Branch. Other units 1938-10-23 Central Flying School. Other units 1938-12-23 No 9 Flying Training School. Date promoted 1939-01-17 Pilot officer. Other units 1939-04-01 No 13 Flying Training School. Other units 1939-04-09 No 10 Flying Training School. Date promoted 1939-08-14 Acting flight lieutenant. Date promoted 1939-11-20 Acting flying officer. Date promoted 1940-08-17 Flying officer. Other units 1940-09-10 No 21 Service Flying Training School. Other units 1940-10-04 Attached to Erection Party, Durban. Date promoted 1941-08-17 Flight lieutenant (war substantive). Other units 1942-01-19 No 71 Operatinal Training Unit. Other units 1942-04-11 No 112 Squadron. Other units 1942-04-22 No 94 Squadron. Other units 1942-05-12 No 260 Squadron. Other units 1942-06-14 No 450 Squadron. Date promoted 1942-10-28 Acting squadron leader. Other units 1942-10-28 Commanding Officer No 450 Squadron. Other 1942-10-31 Reported missing. Date captured 1942-11-01 Date of death1944-03-29
Good story here from the RAAF. It has Williams on this as one of the five Australians however they do not include Evans. Air Force News :: Top Stories This Stephen - Stratford has been a busy boy! Stephen's Study Room - Index
This is the CWGC for Evans. In Memory of Flight Lieutenant BRIAN HERBERT EVANS Mentioned in Despatches 42745, 49 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 24 on 31 March 1944 Son of Herbert and Dorothy May Evans, of Manly, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Remembered with honour POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY
Hi. I just found this by accident, and see that you posted a long time ago. Arnold Christensen was my great uncle, and he was indeed a New Zealander, but his father was Danish. Please feel free to ask if you want any more information.
Hello Kathryn. I have been looking for information regarding my late father, Frank Sorensen. He was at Stalag Luft III the same time as your great uncle. In fact, he referred to your great uncle as his best friend. I am looking for some information about your great uncle. Look forward to hearing from you.
