MvR Photo In The Great Escape...

Laserlloyd · 19 November 2009, 10:05 AM

Hello Dromer's

Once again I was watching the movie The Great Escape last night on TV and I see a photo of MvR in Kommandant von Luger's office.

In the beginning of the movie when all the truck arrive to the new camp, Group Capt. Ramsey goes to see Kommandant von Luger's. While in von Luger's office he is standing up talking to Capt. Ramsey and behind von Luger's shoulder is a photo of MvR, Fokker and two other officers I can't make out. It looks like MvR is wearing the dark leather jacket with fur collar as in this Sanke card no. 511.

Has anyone seen this photo before?

Who are the two officers?

Lloyd...

bristol scout · 19 November 2009, 10:21 AM

Von Luger is also wearing a 'Blue Max' if I remember correctly--but it is quite a few years since I last watched the film.

Dave.

Laserlloyd · 19 November 2009, 10:45 AM

Hi Dave,

Yes, you are correct.

There are four photos on the wall, 3-WW1 and 1-WW2 photo.

Lloyd...

FliegerJG1 · 19 November 2009, 11:51 AM

Lloyd,

Have seen the picture in the movie. Really cool that they decorated the office with MvR's picture!

I checked my sources...the picture can be found in Peter Kilduff's "The Illustrated Red Baron" and Ferko's "Richthofen" (page 48). It was taken at the Fokker Werke at Schwerin. The two officers are not identified.

FliegerJG1

Laserlloyd · 19 November 2009, 12:13 PM

Yes, that's it. Thanks for the reference. I see that Peter says that it was during the fighter trials so this would make it January.

Since this then was the fighter trials the two other pilots could be anyone.

Thanks again.

Lloyd...

Cigogne · 19 November 2009, 12:50 PM

The POW camp was a Stalag Luft camp, under the oversight of the Luftwaffe and was for captured Allied aviation personnel. Hence the aviation-related imagery on the walls of the commandant, an ex-WWI aviator in the story.

Laserlloyd · 19 November 2009, 01:18 PM

Here is a photo of it but it's not that good of a copy.

Lloyd...

bristol scout · 19 November 2009, 01:36 PM

Hi guys,

The inference I drew from it at the time was that Luger was supposed to be the guy next to MvR--with Fokker on the other side---and that he limped because of injuries in W.W.1 as a pilot...

Just the way I remember 'picking it up'

Dave.

Epee · 20 November 2009, 05:59 AM

As I recall Luger refers to Goering as his "friend", implying, along with the Von Richthofen photo and PLM, that Luger was a veteran of JG1.

crankcase · 20 November 2009, 09:18 AM

Along the same lines, does anyone remember the photos adorning Col. Klink's office in "Hogan's Heroes" ? I think there are some WW1 motifs there as well ?
marc