Porokoru Patapu Pohe
Born 10 Dec 1914 - Died 30 Mar 1944
- Service number
- WWII NZ402894 AWMM
- WWII 402894 AWMM
- Also known as
- John AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2 Flying Officer (Pilot)/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 51 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Porokoru Patapu AWMM
- Surname
- Pohe AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- John AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ402894 AWMM
- WWII 402894 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Rangi, Māori AWMM
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 10 Dec 1914 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW2 Taihape, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Mr Whatarangi Ropoama Pohe (father), Rural Delivery, Taihape, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Pohe, Taihape AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air Force) AWMM
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ402894 AWMM
- WWII 402894 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal New Zealand Air Force attached to Royal Air Force AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- 1939-1945 Star AWMM
- Air Crew Europe Star AWMM
- Defence Medal AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
MiD citation: " In recognition of distinguished service and devotion to duty". AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Farm hand/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Aircrew/Military AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- WW2 POW - Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany AWMM
22 Sept 1943 AWMM
Shot down whilst on a raid over Hanover, Germany AWMM - Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed or died while a Prisoner of War, Cause of Death AWMM
Shot by the Gestapo after escaping from Stalag Luft III POW camp AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 Flying Officer (Pilot)/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 51 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Porokoru Pohe was the son of Whatarangi Ropoama Pohe and Honoria Maraea Pohe, of Taihape
Porokoru Pohe was born in Wanganui and grew up on his family's farm near Taihape. He was educated at Putiki school, Turangarere School, Taihape District High School and Te Aute College.
An article in The Dominion, Saturday 24 April 1944, under the heading - Maori pilot fought to the end is summarised: After leaving school Pohe spent a couple of years in the Territorials, with the Manawatu Mounted Rifles. He applied for flying training in September 1939, just nine days after war was declared, though it was September 1940 before he was enlisted at the Ground Training School in Levin. He began his training soon afterward, at Harewood and then at Woodbourne air force base in Blenheim where he graduated in January 1941.
On completing his training he was the first fully qualified Maori pilot to leave New Zealand. He was posted to the RAF's 51 Squadron in Dishforth, Yorkshire. He flew his first mission over Europe in a Whitley bomber in July 1941. It was the first of 22 such raids, during which he bombed enemy targets in France, including U-boat bases, Berlin and other German cities, and Genoa in Italy.
His next posting, at the end of April 1942 was as an instructor. He was posted back to 51 squadron, now stationed at Snaith in Yorkshire, to fly over Europe in Halifax bombers. His first mission two days later was to Hanover in Germany, but he never returned. He became a prisoner in Stalag Luft III, an air force POW camp in Sagan, about 200 kilometres south-east of Berlin.
On the night of 24 March 1944 he escaped from Stalag Luft III in the Great Escape. Using a tunnel named Harry (it was the third attempt - the Germans had discovered Tom and Dick), 220 men attempted to escape, but the tunnel had come up short of the trees they were heading for, and only 76 men got clear.
He was one of the 50 recaptured airmen shot by the Gestapo on the orders of Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of Nazi Germany. Three of those executed were from New Zealand: Flight Lieutenant Christensen (NZ413380), Flying Officer Porokoru Pohe (NZ402894) and New Zealand born Squadron Leader John Williams (40652), an Australian citizen serving with the Royal Air Force. Of the other 23 men recaptured, 15 were returned to Stalag Luft III and 8 were held in concentration camps. Only three of the original 76 escaped POWs got completely away to England.
Pohe's exact movements cannot be traced but he was recaptured and taken into custody in Gorlitz, south of Sagan. He and five others were taken by truck toward Sagan and shot on the orders of two Gestapo officers named Scharpwinkel and Lux.
When news of the executions reached England the British Government resolved to bring the culprits to justice once the war had ended. However by the time the hunt for those responsible started, Hitler and most of the other high ranking Nazi officials were dead. Ultimately several Gestapo officers were executed or imprisoned for this war crime.
The New Zealand Herald dated 19 May 1944 reported that Flying Officer Pohe died while Prisoner of War. An article in the Herald on 22 May reads as follows: THREE NEW ZEALANDERS - TRIBUTE TO BRAVE MEN. Wellington, Saturday. "The acting Prime Minister, the Hon. D.G. Sullivan, stated today that the Government had been advised that among the air officers who had been shot in Germany were two members of the RNZAF, Flying Officer Porokoru Patapu (John) Pohe, of Taihape, and Flight-Lieutenant Arnold George Christensen, of Hastings, as well as one other New Zealander, Acting-Squadron-Leader J.E.A. Williams, whose next-of-kin is in Australia, and who was serving with the RAF. In every case the next-of-kin had been informed of the position."
"The Government is deeply shocked at the incident" said Mr Sullivan, "and I join with all citizens of New Zealand in expressing sympathy to the next-of-kin of these brave men who, served by a strong sense of duty, were making every effort to escape and rejoin their colleagues in the fight against Nazi tyranny." (New Zealand Herald 19 May 1944)
Because of the number of POWs involved and the tragic aftermath, the Stalag Luft III escape is a well documented part of World War 2 history. Popularly known as "The Great Escape" it has been the subject of books and a 1963 Hollywood movie.
Name mispelt in the Evening Post, 1944 as Poroloru. Next of kin details compiled from information in the Casualty lists published in the newspapers.
Attended Te Aute College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845614)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 30 Mar 1944 AWMM
Age 29 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Killed or died while a Prisoner of War AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland AWMM Collective grave 9. A. AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Pollington Airfield Memorial Garden, Yorkshire, England AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Hall, D.O.W. (1950). Escapes. In New Zealand in the Second World War, 1939-1945 : episodes & studies Vol. 2. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch. Digital copy
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2Epi-c11-WH2-2Epi-l.html
Further Reference - Roll of Honour. Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 116, 18 May 1944, Page 6
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19440518.2.101&srpos
Further Reference - Turangaarere: The John Pohe Story, New Zealand on Screen.
https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/turangaarere-the-john-pohe-story-2008
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2194372
Sources Used - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q22007445
Further Reference - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845614
Sources Used - Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_PohePublic - Antonio - Researcher - 25 April 2026 - Internet research - Aircrew Remembered:
https://aircrewremembered.com/pohe-porokoru.htmlPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 25 April 2026 - Internet research
- Hall, D.O.W. (1950). Escapes. In New Zealand in the Second World War, 1939-1945 : episodes & studies Vol. 2. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch. Digital copy
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
vol. 2 p. 143, 204, 207; vol 3, p. 396 - Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
p. 397 - The New Zealand Herald
Roll of Honour, Died while Prisoner. New Zealand Herald, 19 May 1944 - The New Zealand Herald
Three New Zealanders: tribute to brave men. (1944, May 22). New Zealand Herald, p. 4. - Burdan, A. (2012). Hautipua rererangi = Born to fly. Wellington, N.Z.: Huia.
- Information kindly provided by family
- Deaths While Prisoner of War - Navy, Army, Air Force and Civilians [WW2 NZ POW Deaths], Archives New Zealand, Wellington, AAAA 7393 Box 1 (R25405152).
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743)
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
V6,n2,p62 - Mason, W.W. (1954) Prisoners of war. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
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