|
The Memorial at
Barth
(thanks to Jeff Blyth and his father
Ken Blyth)
During the summer of 1999 Jeff Blyth
and his father Flying Officer Kenneth K. Blyth, who was in Room 11, Hut 13, of
the West Compound (aka the South Compound) of Stalag Luft I, went to Germany to
visit the town of Barth. On their return Jeff sent me these pictures and a note
telling me what the camp and town look like today. Jeff has given me permission
to share these images with all of you. Pictured below is one of the memorials
that the people of Barth have created, that's Jeff's dad standing next to it.
Between the pictures is the inscription on the plaque.
"This plaque is dedicated by the
citizens of Barth and the Royal Air Force Ex-P.O.W. Association on 28,
September, 1996, to commemorate all those held prisoner at Stalag Luft 1, sited
here from July, 1940, to May, 1945: members of the British Commonwealth and
United States of America Air Forces and their allies from the occupied
countries and the Soviet Union. Nothing has been forgotten."
Below is a picture of the famous
church steeple at Barth. It dates to 1400 and was visible from all over the
camp.
 |
Cradle Crew: Royal
Canadian Air Force, World War II by Kenneth K. Blyth |
|
Flying Officer Kenneth K.
Blyth was the pilot of EQ-Queenie, an RCAF Halifax VII from the 408th ("Goose")
Squadron out of Litton-on-Ouse. At that time, he was a Canadian citizen from
Ottawa, Ontario. His entire crew made it safely out of their burning plane,
shot down by an Me262 over Hamburg. The others in his crew all ended up at
Stalag Luft One: Jim Taylor, Navigator; Darrell "Atky" Atkinson, Bombadier;
Doug Grey, Engineer; Adam "Wat" Watson, Wireless Air Gunner; Brock Folkerson,
Mid-Upper Gunner; Ray "Curly" Hughes, Tail Gunner. They were considered so
young that they had taken the name "Cradle Crew." Ken has written a book about
his crew and their experiences during World War II. This book is available from
Amazon.Com |
|
|
