Getaway by Gordon Thomson Woodroofe

Brand new but there are some imperfections as shown.

‘Getaway’ is the autobiography of Gordon Thomson Woodroofe – the only New Zealand airman to escape from a German POW camp and make his way back to England during World War II.

Born in Te Aroha and schooled in Matamata, New Zealand, Gordon ‘Woody’ Woodroofe left Auckland Teachers Training College in 1940 to train as a pilot in the RNZAF at Taieri and Wigram.  Whilst flying a Wellington Bomber on his sixth operational trip from England, he was forced to ditch into the North Sea and subsequently became a prisoner of war.  ‘GeTaWay’ tells the story of the ensuing three years and his eventual return to Scotland via Sweden in September 1944.

Included are recollections of his bicycle ride across Czechoslovakia and Austria, his train ride to the Baltic, and the last leg of his escape on a Swedish coal ship.  He later received the Military Medal for his efforts.

Filled with adventure, vivid details, and deeply personal memories, this book provides a unique insight into one man’s incredible experiences during the Second World War.