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From Battle of Britain Airman to PoW Escapee (Hardback)

The Story of Ian Walker RAF

Aviation > WWII > Battle of Britain Military > Prisoners of War WWII

By Angela Walker
Imprint: Pen & Sword Aviation
Pages: 327
Illustrations: 20
ISBN: 9781473890725
Published: 6th January 2017

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Further Reading - Aircrew Remembered

 

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This is the Second World War story of a champion cyclist turned airman who lived to tell the tale against almost impossible odds. A New Zealander in the RAF, Ian Walker took part in the Battle of Britain before transferring to Bomber Command and surviving three plane crashes in his Wellington bomber. The last of these saw him crash land in enemy territory, where he was eventually captured and taken prisoner. Confined within the claustrophobic walls of a POW camp, he hatched a plot with a fellow inmate to escape. This they achieved, almost miraculously, in broad daylight. Living on basic rations, they navigated the enemy wilds until they were captured, yet again, and taken back to prison.

After languishing in POW camps and hospitals for more than two years, Ian had the good fortune of being placed on a list of injured men to be exchanged, man for man, with German prisoners. The little-known story of the history-making exchange that took place in Barcelona in October 1943 is detailed here, describing how thousands of allied and axis prisoners were safely returned to their homelands in the midst of war.

Ian’s daughter, Angela Walker, has endeavoured to preserve the details of her father’s extraordinary odyssey in full. Her tale circumnavigates the globe, weaving snippets taken from letters and extensive journals kept by her father in order to create a compelling, warm hearted and thrilling account of his war. Having once inspired her to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, her father now continues to inform and inspire her through the stories she’s recovered from
his past. Her book commemorates the efforts of all New Zealand’s wartime airmen who, like her father, made significant contributions in the fight for allied victory.

This two pronged approach to the book means that we get two interesting views of the same story, which combine to give a picture of Ian’s wartime experiences and the impact they had on the rest of his life.

Read the full review here

History of War

An unusual story told well, and I am happy to recommend it.

Battle of Britain Memorial Trust

As featured on

The Cafe (NZ TV show)

As featured on

News Talk Radio (New Zealand)

As featured in

New Zealand Herald

As featured in Scramble.

Battle of Britain Historical Society

This is an affectionate story of an inspiring father by a loving daughter. It is a very interesting and moving account. Very Highly Recommended.

Read the full review here.

Firetrench

About Angela Walker

Angela Walker is a first-time author from New Zealand. She is also a former Olympic gymnast and Commonwealth
gold medalist, inspired in her own sporting endeavours by her father, a champion cyclist who narrowly missed Commonwealth Games selection himself, cycling on a leg that had been injured during the war. The publication of this book represents the culmination of a real labour of love on her part, commemorating the life and career of her late father and celebrating him as an icon of endurance and survival.

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