World War II POWs to share experiences, answer questions Sept. 16 Published Sept. 2, 2009 By Geoff Janes 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Team Mildenhall could get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear a firsthand account of what life was like for World War II prisoners of war during a question and answer session here Sept. 16. The session is scheduled to take place from 9 to 10 a.m. at the 100th Operations Group auditorium, where two former Royal Air Force Airmen will recount their days in Stalag Luft III - the prison camp used as the focal point for the film, "The Great Escape." One of the speakers, Andrew Wiseman, was born in Berlin, but his parents sent him to England where he joined the Royal Air Force to combat Germany. He was assigned to an operational front line Bomber Squadron at RAF Leconfield in North Yorkshire, according to his biography. While serving with Number 466 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, and assigned to Halifax LV956 skippered by young Australian F/Sgt Barry Casey RAAF, the crew completed operations during the pre-D-Day build up targeted towards destroying the French railway system, vital to the German forces in Normandy. On a return operation to the rail marshalling yards at Tergnier in France, Mr. Wiseman and the crew were caught by a German night fighter just after bombing the target. As the aircraft caught fire Mr. Wiseman was forced to parachute out into the darkness and confusion of occupied France - three of the crew including the Pilot Barry Casey died in the crash. During the question and answer session, Mr. Wiseman will share the story of his capture and imprisonment at Stalag Luft 111. Acting as a special interpreter inside the camp, Mr. Wiseman translated for senior officers and always was first to hear the breaking news. Evacuated westwards during the Long March, Mr. Wiseman found himself back behind the wire at Lückenwalde prisoner of war camp near Berlin. Following a whole series of fascinating events leading up to the end of the war, Andy returned to the UK and left the RAF at the end of the war. The second speaker, Air Commodore (retired) Charles Clarke, volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1941 and was shot down while operating with Number 619 Squadron. He also was imprisoned at Stalag Luft 111. After the war, Air Cmdr. Clarke was granted a permanent commission and had a distinguished service career, according to his biography. Following the question and answer session, Dr. Howard L. Tuck will be on hand at the POW/MIA recognition luncheon in the upstairs ballroom at the Galaxy Club beginning at 11 a.m. Dr. Tuck will introduce the two RAF airmen and facilitate questions and answers following the two veterans' speeches. Dr. Tuck is a working historian whose career has been dedicated to military history. Following six years service in the Royal Air Force, Dr. Howard went on to be educated at the Universities of York, Oxford and Harvard as well as research in a number of international institutions. Dr. Howard's work has taken him all over the globe, meeting some of history's most influential people, ranging from Hitler's Secretary Traudl Junge to Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher. Other events that will be happening during POW/MIA remembrance week will include: · Sept. 14 - 5K formation run - For more information, contact Staff Sgt. Jessica Calhoun at DSN 238-3670 or Tech. Sgt. Amy Sepulveda at DSN 238-8654. · Sept. 15 - Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride - For more information, contact Senior Master Sgt. Mark Bradsher at DSN 238-6951. · Sept. 16 -- P OW/MIA Fallen Comrades Luncheon - For more information, contact Staff Sgt. Diego Matos at DSN 238-8644 or Staff Sgt. Mika Byrd at DSN 238- 2667. · Sept. 17 -- 24-hour vigil - For more information, contact Tech. Sgt. Yvonne Lavergne at DSN 238-4461/4460 or Master Sgt. Peggy Faison at DSN 238-5529. · Sept. 18 -- Retreat ceremony Editor's note: Information for this article was compiled from Air Cmdr. Clarke's, Mr. Wiseman's and Dr. Tuck's personal biographies.