Identifier2021-09-24_AV_001SourceThe Jim Plant Oral Interview (2021-09-24)CreatorParkinson, FredIntervieweePlant, Jim, 1914-2007InterviewerParkinson, FredDescriptionIn this oral interview, Fred Parkinson talks with his uncle Jim Plant about Plant's military service and experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II, recorded August 1996. James "Jim" Plant was a bomber pilot for the Royal Air Force, flying a Whitley aircraft on bombing raids over Europe. He was shot down over Germany in July 1940 and detained as a prisoner of war for five years until his liberation on May 2, 1945 by Allied forces. In the interview, Plant discusses his service with the RAF and his time as a POW. Topics discussed include his bombing missions, the circumstances of his shoot-down and being taken prisoner, conditions in the POW camp, and attempts to escape by tunneling out of the camp.
Inscription on container: "Jim Plant WWII Aug '96"BiographyJames Plant was a bomber pilot for the Royal Air Force during World War II. He was shot down and detained as a prisoner of war for five wars until his liberation on May 2, 1945 by Allied forces.
Plant was born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1914 to English parents. When World War II was imminent, Plant wanted to enlist with the Canadian Royal Air Force, but as there were no openings, he decided to enlist in the Royal Air Force. He went to England in 1937, completed his training, and received his commission; the war broke out shortly thereafter. During his service, Plant flew bombing missions over Europe in a Whitley aircraft. On June 20, 1940, Plant and copilot George Walker had completed a bombing run on the Kurtz Marshalling Yard but had one live bomb left on board. Returning to the target to drop the remaining bomb, they were hit and forced to bail out of their aircraft. Both men were captured by German forces. During his five-year internment, Plant was held at several different prisoner-of-war camps, including Stalag Luft I and Stalag Luft III. He participated in tunneling efforts in attempts to escape. Plant, who had become known as "Pappy" to his fellow POWs, was liberated on May 2, 1945 by Allied forces.
Parkinson, Fred, [Jim Plant oral interview], [2021-09-24_AV_001]. Museum of Flight Digital Collections, accessed 07/10/2026, https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/nodes/view/22922
