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Author
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Topic: "Jimmy" James (1915 - 2008)
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Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-21-2008 06:36 PM
  
Please excuse me for straying slightly "off-topic" but I felt I had to record the passing of a remarkable man whom I had the privilege of meeting at Autographica 10 in London last October. Along with Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan, Al Bean and Al Worden were two veteran heroes of the Second World War, "Johnny" Johnson (of 617 Squadron, the "dambusters") and Bertram "Jimmy" James, one of the 76 prisoners who tunnelled out of Stalag Luft III prison camp in what we know as "The Great Escape.""Jimmy" James died on 18th January, aged 92. Only three months ago he stood in front of a spellbound audience at the Autographica venue talking about his experiences and answering questions. On the previous evening I had asked him about the Steve McQueen film. He said that the second half was "pure Hollywood" but that he had enjoyed the first part set inside the prison camp. If you want a space connection, when Yuri Gagarin visited Britain in 1961 it was Jimmy James who introduced him to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. As a life-long space enthusiast, I went to Autographica to meet the Apollo astronauts, but as the son and nephew of three RAF brothers, I was also proud to shake the hand of Jimmy James and I am saddened to learn of his passing. Per Ardua ad Astra... |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 01-21-2008 07:34 PM
In the early 1980s, while I was writing a number of books on the Australian POW experience, I contacted 'Jimmy' James with a question about a particular escape attempt, and we stayed in contact. In 1985 he wrote a superb foreword for my book "Destination: Buchenwald," which told the harrowing story of a group of American, Canadian, British, New Zealand and Australian airmen wrongly sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. We stayed in contact, and I recall his delight at being present when one of the Great Escape tunnels was excavated at the site of Stalag Luft III a few years back. I met him once in London, but never since. I will certainly miss him a lot.Colin |
Russ Still
Member Posts: 535
From: Atlanta, GA USA
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-21-2008 09:51 PM
Wasn't Johnny Johnson the highest scoring ace in the BoB? I did get a couple of autographs from him many years ago. Very sad to hear of the loss of these two figures.------------------
www.spaceracerelics.com |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-22-2008 05:06 AM
.Russ - that was a different Johnny Johnson who passed away in 2001 - the highest scoring RAF fighter pilot to survive the war. Paul |
Russ Still
Member Posts: 535
From: Atlanta, GA USA
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-22-2008 09:02 AM
Yes, I do think I recall hearing that he had left us earlier. And would not make much sense that a fighter pilot would transfer to Lancasters dropping skip bombs.------------------
www.spaceracerelics.com |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-22-2008 02:12 PM
It is characters like Jimmy that make me proud to be British!Regards, Rick |
spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 01-31-2008 05:20 PM
Hi, the funeral was held today in Shropshire complete with RAF fly past. RIP Jimmy James,Nick
Spaceman. |
cddfspace
Member Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-06-2008 02:04 PM
. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 02-15-2008 09:39 PM
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