WHAT DID PHIL LAMASON DO?

After surviving the shooting down of his Lancaster bomber in June 1944, RNZAF Squadron Leader Phillip John (Phil) Lamason, NZ403460, DFC and Bar, (then aged 25 years) was, along with 167 other captive Allied airmen, wrongly incarcerated in the horrific conditions of Buchenwald work/death camp in Nazi Germany.

Under Attack.

The harrowing moments of the attack on the Lamason Lancaster, LM 575 LS-H recaptured in the amazing digital art of Piotr Forkasiewicz.
(Photo courtesy of Piotr Forkasiewicz and Lamason Family Collection)

The Last Defender

by PiotrForkasiewicz captures theheroic actions of miduppergunner RobbieAitken in the crippledLancaster, LM 575 LS-H.
(Photo courtesy of PiotrForkasiewicz.)

Cattle wagon or boxcar

similar to that used for the transportation of the Allied airmen from Paris to Buchenwald, 1944.

Buchenwald Camp gate

The infamous gate into the Buchenwald Camp with its inscription: 'Jedem das Seine' ('To each what he deserves').

A Leader Among POW Captives

Lamason quickly emerged as the natural leader of this disparate group of WWII captives.

The KLB Badge

Designed by the Allied Airmen while incarcerated in Buchenwald, 1944.
(Photograph courtesy of the Lamason Family Collection)

Some of the Allied Airmen

of Buchenwald pictured on their arrival at Stalag Luft III in October, 1944, after their release from Buchenwald.
(Photograph courtesy of the Lamason Family Collection)

The Little Camp

The Little Camp in Buchenwald, 1944.
(Photograph courtesy of the Buchenwald Concentration Camp Museum)

Selfless Hero Against All Odds

Confronted by seemingly insurmountable obstacles and certain death at the hands of the SS and Gestapo, Phil Lamason’s determination, positivity, courage and non-violent selfless actions ultimately helped deliver justice for this group of airmen as prisoners of war.

Phil and Joan Lamason

pictured soon after Phil'sreturn to Napier, NewZealand, in September,1945.
(Photograph courtesy ofLamason Family Collection)

Rua Roa Farm

View westwards across the Lamason Rua Roa Farm towards theRuahine Ranges, with the Tamaki River in the foreground.
(Photograph courtesy of Mike Harold)

The Lamason family

Joan and Phil Lamason(seated) with their familycirca 1964. Pictured (leftto right): Robbie, Cheryl(Cherry), Patricia (Trish),Billy and John.
(Photograph courtesyLamason Family Collection)

Loyal Man to his Region & Community

On his return from WWII, Phil Lamason and his wife Joan made their home in Dannevirke. Phil Lamason died in 2012. He is buried in Mangatera Cemetery, Dannevirke.

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