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Warrant Officer (Pilot) Hake, Service Number 403218, served with 72 (R.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force.

He was Mentioned in Despatches

He was 27 and the son of George and Lillian Maud Hake, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Noela Aundree Lillian Hake, of Carlton, New South Wales.

Warrant Officer Albert Horace Hake was shot down over France in Spitfire AB258 of 72SQN RAF on 04 April 1942 and became a PoW

He was one of the three RAAF members that were executed following their participation in the "Great Escape" and their subsequent recapture by German forces - Warrant Officer Albert Horace Hake 403218 / Flight Lieutenant Reginald Victor Kierath 402364 / Squadron Leader James Catanach DFC 400364

Albert Horace Hake - 30 June 1916 – 31 March 1944

Speeches delivered at the Annual ANZAC Assembly 2024

Good morning, guests, old boys, teachers and my fellow techies.

Some of you may be able to picture the iconic scene of 1960s American actor Steve McQueen riding on his motorbike through the green rolling fields of Poland, with towering snow-capped mountains behind, escaping from the Gestapo. Of those who do, you would know it comes from the 1960s blockbuster Hollywood movie ‘The Great Escape’ which tells the true story of the audacious escape from the highly secured Stalag Luft III, a Nazi Luftwaffe-run internment camp specifically designed to detain fallen Allied airmen.

In our first World History assessment, we were tasked with researching an incredible connection between Sydney Tech and this Great Escape from Stalag Luft 3. I want to introduce the 4 World History students who will reveal more of the story today.

Firstly, Sahaj will be delving into the significance of Bomber Command as part of the Royal Air Force in weakening Germany’s ability to wage war. This will be followed by Gazi, explaining how this most significant and intricate historical escape was orchestrated. Next, Minh will talk about Old Boy Albert Horace Hake, his life in Tech and the role he played in escaping the camp. Lastly, Saakheth will reveal the justice brought to the Nazis who killed the escapees in the Great Escape.

Bomber Command

Throughout World War II, 125,000 men faced the most deadly task of all the men in the Allied forces, to serve in Bomber Command. A major division of the Royal Air Force (RAF), Bomber Command was formed in 1936 in Britain. It was assigned the role of conducting strategic bombing raids on Germany to weaken the country’s ability to wage war. Bomber Command attacked Nazi industrial centres, transportation networks, and military infrastructure. Its first attacks against Germany began in 1942 under the command of the newly elected Commander Air Marshal Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris. Aircrew came from all corners of the Commonwealth including 10,000 Australians.

At the time of Bomber Command’s formation in the mid-1930s, the British government argued that a strong bomber force provided a deterrent to German aggression. The reality was significantly different. By 1940, the Nazi Blitzkrieg had defeated the French in battle, leaving Britain vulnerable to attack and without one of its strongest allies. Furthermore, the aircraft used by Bomber Command, while being technologically advanced for their time, were still rudimentary by modern standards. Aircraft, such as the Whitley and Hampden, were incapable of launching raids deep within enemy territory leaving Britain on the defensive.

Having realised its vulnerable position, Britain looked to innovative technologies and strategies that allowed the Allies to take the battle to German territory and cripple their capacity to make war. As stated by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1940, “The fighters are our salvation, but the bombers provide the means of victory.” The young, inexperienced crews of Bomber Command were soon tasked with taking nighttime flights above enemy territory in a desperate effort to take the fight to the Nazis. This was further facilitated by the introduction of the Avro Lancaster. Built in 1942, the Lancaster was able to deliver a significantly larger bomb payload in comparison to its predecessors allowing the aims of strategic bombing to be carried out. In addition, the Lancaster was capable of repelling enemy fighters thanks to its powerful machine guns and an additional turret on the tail of the bomber. The Lancaster played a pivotal role in the Allied victory, through the destruction of German economic and military infrastructure.

According to the British Imperial War Museum, men in the RAF were convinced by a mix of propaganda, peer pressure, and family values to join the British cause. Many of these men were incredibly young, with the average Bomber Command airman aged between 19 and 22; not much older than a high school student. While the majority of recruits received little training, they were highly educated, with 92% of aircrews having received four or more years of secondary education.

While in theory, the bombing flights seemed simple, in practice, the crews of Bomber Command faced incredible danger. Bomber Command crews were required to go on tours of 30 flights which could last for any period from four months to a year. As nighttime flights were common, many of the crews were forced to fly with a lack of visibility, hindering their ability to spot potential dangers. In addition, anti-aircraft weaponry was used to defend German towns and factories and posed a lethal threat to bombers. These young men must have mustered incredible courage to embark on such terrifying raids. As George Olson, Bomber Command air gunner wrote in 1944:

“Puffs of black smoke fill the air

From shells a-bursting everywhere

That they have missed us brings relief

A feeling that will be far too brief

Left, left, steady, I now do hear

While my heart beats fast in fear

Sitting in my turret in awful dread

Frightening visions are in my head”

By 1944, Bomber Command, the Royal Australian Air Force, and several other Allied forces began to overwhelm the Nazis, weakening Germany’s ability to continue their war effort.

The valiant efforts of all the men who served, including the brave Australians, significantly contributed to the Allied victory, and their importance to the war will not be forgotten.

The Great Escape

Executed on the night of the 24th of March 1944, the Great Escape was a 76 person escape mission from Stalag Luft III German war camp. Made to hold members of Bomber Command - especially those of the RAF (Royal Air Forces) and AAF (Allied Air Forces) known for their exceptional intelligence and sharp senses - the camp was meticulously built to deter escape plans and keep the pilots detained. Unlike its predecessors, Stalag Luft III was a unique camp as it contained specially designed countermeasures in order to effectively stop tunnelling - the most popular escape method among prisoners of war (PoW) at the time. The fact these Allied airmen managed to escape despite these countermeasures has led to its significance and notoriety in History.

German forces designed Stalag Luft III specifically to combat the exceptional skill and innovation of the Allied airmen imprisoned. The camp was located in Poland and operated from 1942 until its liberation in 1945.

Situated in a remote area surrounded by open fields, Stalag Luft III posed significant challenges for potential escapees. Hulton Archive indicates that the camp was equipped with multiple layers of barbed wire and alarms, along with constant surveillance from guard towers and patrolling watchmen. These measures aimed to make any escape attempt highly visible and difficult to execute. To prevent tunnelling, a network of microphones was established to detect digging sounds and yellow soil was regularly inspected for signs of tunnelling. Moreover, the area within the camp was systematically cleared of trees and vegetation, minimising potential hiding spots for escapees. Despite these obstacles, the POW maintained unwavering determination towards not only the “The Great Escape,” but the ultimate goal of diverting German war resources by repeatedly attempting to flee.

The most remarkable aspect of the Great Escape from Stalag Luft 3 was the immense engineering, design and meticulous strategic planning undertaken by the inmates to facilitate their effective escape. Led by group captain and British officer Herbert Massey, the escape involved digging 3 tunnels, Tom, Dick and Harry. These tunnels were erected underneath a stove, always lit to dissuade officers from executing security checks, and were reinforced through the aid of materials found in the cabins. As a response to previous tunnelling attempts which numbered to approximately 80, the security personnel had embedded microphones and detectors deep within the ground, and thus to avoid this, tunnels were dug 30 feet deep, and were only 2 feet squared to avoid triggering any response from these devices which would give away their escape plans.

These microphones were among the main factors which made the escape difficult and thus more significant due to the elaborate lengths the pilots had to go through to overcome them. Another restrictive trait of the camp was the use of yellow sand to settle the foundation of the cabins. Unlike previous camps which had brown soil, the use of yellow sand, which was loose and fragile, made tunnelling attempts difficult due to risks of internal collapsing, as well as allowing patrol guards to notice suspicious activity from sand stuck to prisoners’ clothing.

Such an issue was dire, as it not only made escape slow, but also increased the chances of being discovered, and thus the prisoners had to act accordingly to mitigate the problem. A recount of the most renowned airman in Dutch history, who was one of the 3 final survivors of the Great Escape, Dutch fighter pilot ace Bram Vanderstok, in his Memoir: ‘The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III’, explains that “The captives excavated at least 100 tons of sand” which they stuffed into “concealed socks and discreetly sprinkled and raked into the soil of the small gardens tended by the prisoners” by using their spare clothes as storage units to successfully avoid suspicion amongst guards.

This led to the unhampered completion of tunnel Harry, and after 3 months of constant digging, in may 1944 the tunnel was finalised. On the night of March 24th, this tunnel was utilised by over 200 men, of which 76 successfully escaped due to forged identity papers and citizen attire. As a result of the escape of such a large number of prisoners despite the high level of security within the camp, the German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler was enraged and ordered the capture and immediate execution of the escapists, of whom 50 were killed.

After the events of the Great Escape, only 3 prisoners, Dutch pilot Bram Vanderstok and Norwegian pilots Jens Müller and Per Bergsland had successfully escaped and lived to tell the tale of the greatest prison escape carried out in history. Thus, the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III was a mission of great significance as it was successfully executed despite taking place within the most heavily guarded concentration camp at the time.

Albert Horace Hake

Within the group of 76 escapees from Stalag Luft III was Albert Horace Hake, a Sydney Tech Old Boy and Carlton local.

Hake studied at Sydney Tech during the early 1930s, from 15 to 17 years old. He was recognised for his talent in technical drawing and metal work and he was enrolled with a scholarship into Sydney Technical High School. He passed Maths II, English, Geography, History, Woodwork, Metalwork, Drawing and Science. After finishing school, he moved straight into working as an engineer at an air conditioning company, driven by the ambition to one day own an AC company. His hobby was ice skating and he was often seen at ice rinks in his spare time. Ultimately, it was this hobby that led him in 1940, to meet his future wife, Noella Aundree Lillian, whom he married in March 1941.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War in Europe, Hake enlisted in the RAAF Reserve in July 1940. He wished to fly, so after completing basic military training, he completed more specialised flying training and was posted in Wagga Wagga for aptitude screening. After attaining the required grade and graduating in August 1941, he joined a group of airmen embarking for Britain, to continue his training in Wales flying Supermarine Spitfire aircraft. His departure for service abroad meant that he was leaving his new wife, Noella, after just a few months of marriage. No doubt some comfort was provided in the knowledge that letters would be written in an effort to maintain contact.

In January 1942, Hake joined the No. 72 Squadron of the RAF, flying in the Supermarine Spitfire to carry out operational fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions over the English Channel, occupied France and the Netherlands. Hake was considered one of his training team's top three-ranked pilots.

On the 4th of April 1942, Hake and the crews of 9 other Spitfires were shot down in combat by a Luftwaffe squadron, after attempting a sweep over a French railway station. Hake’s aircraft was shot up badly by enemy aircraft before an anti-aircraft fire damaged his propeller and set his plane alight. He also collected a bullet through the leg of his trousers. With his aircraft severely damaged, Hake shot down an enemy aircraft before bailing out and landing with his parachute; wounded with a round in his leg and slightly burned, the German Army captured him.

Prisoner of War

After a stint in hospital to recover from burn and shrapnel injuries, Hake was sent to Stalag Luft III. Hake was devastated about his imprisonment and wrote a letter to his wife expressing that he had disappointed his comrades, a response that was common for prisoners of war. Despite the harsh conditions of captivity, many prisoners tried to make light of their new environment, with the option of “tending to vegetables in gardens, accessing libraries, educational classes, bands, musical tuition and sports of all kinds”.

Upon the early stages of his arrival at the camp, Hake tended to vegetable gardens, sketching, and air conditioning to maintain his talent for his previous occupation. He and his friend had also planned to establish their own business after the war. He bonded with his roommates, forming a band with them being the banjo player. During his time as a prisoner of war, Hake frequently exchanged letters with his wife, a lifeline that helped him cope with captivity.

After years of service, desperation grew within the war camp as the Allied pilots yearned to see their families again. In March 1943, Squadron Leader Roger Bushell and a large group of British and Commonwealth airmen masterminded a mass escape event from Stalag Luft III, later known as the ‘Great Escape’

‘Great Escape’

According to a newspaper article by David Edlington, Hake was responsible for fabricating compasses that the men would likely have used to guide the direction of the tunnels to follow a desired path. He constructed them through materials sourced from melted bakelite plastic phonograph vinyl records, silver removed from magnetised razorblades, shattered glass from windows and tin can solder. His inscribing the sentence “Made in Stalag Luft III Patent pending” on the body of the compass, ensured that caught escapists who carried the compass could avoid being mistaken for potential spies and prevent them from being shot.

Furthermore, he participated in the forging of false Nazi travel documents that the escaping men used to cover their identities when travelling away. This suggests that Hake played one of the most pivotal roles within his position in the escape preparations, determining the safety of the men and the overarching success of the tunnels. His expertise in engineering compasses and fabricating travel documents can be linked to his education at Sydney Tech, as a product of his talent in metalwork and engineering which he would have adopted as a part of his learning as a Sydney Tech student.

Based on his last few letters to Noella, we can assume that Hake was hopeful that he would be home soon. As in most of his previous letters, Hake looked to the future he hoped to build with Noela beyond the barbed wire. ‘Send me some wool, sweet kid, and I’ll help knit those baby clothes.’ Even though the escape would be long in the past by the time Noella had received this letter, Hake couldn’t resist dropping another hint about his intentions. It ‘shouldn’t be much longer darling and I’ll relieve you from the perpetual grind of your daily life. I hope.’

Hake’s escape from Stalag Luft III

Precise details on Hake’s movements following the escape from Stalag Luft III are unknown. He couldn’t take a direct route as there would be a Reich-wide manhunt, forcing him to avoid towns, roadblocks, and roving patrols. And even with the impending danger of arrest, hiking amid winter wouldn’t be easy. Emphasised by his letter to his wife Noella a few weeks prior, he’d mentioned that ‘six inches of snow’ had fallen ‘during the night’ and ‘hadn’t thawed’. Adding to his list of complications, he didn’t have adequate footwear or clothing as escapees used rough old Polish uniforms supplied by the Red Cross.

He was aware of the risk that escapes imposed and was uneasy. It is evident that in his letters, Hake feared he wouldn’t survive the escape attempt. He would usually sign off with simple declarations to Noella such as, ‘‘All my love’, or ‘I love you’; but for his last ever letter to Noella, Hake wrote: ‘I love you as always. I hope I can justify your faith in me, dearest, one of these days. Remember me. Albert.’

Unfortunately, Hake was captured near Gorlitz, less than 70 kilometres southwest of the camp, having just made it over the Polish-German border. Although precise details are unknown, Hake was estimated to be free for 72 hours before capture. Albert’s concerns about the freezing Polish winter became a reality, as he suffered excruciating frostbite - so bad that he struggled to walk when he was eventually escorted to a civil prison in Gorlitz. Albert and his fellow escapees were interrogated, some were roughed up and threatened with death sentences. Some prisoners were returned to Stalag Luft III, although Hake and six other escapees were given death sentences on the orders of Hitler. On the 31st of March 1944, Albert Horace Hake was brought to Ilowa, Poland alongside six other escapees, where they were lined up and executed.

Ultimately, Albert Horace Hake was a Sydney Tech Old Boy whose ambition of contributing to the military's war efforts during the Second World War led to him serving in the RAAF. He displayed notable valiance in battle, demonstrated by the many missions he carried out during WW2. He played a crucial role in the Great Escape, manufacturing compasses for escapees, whilst also risking his own life. Hake will forever be immortalised as one of the most significant individuals to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force and attend Sydney Technical High School, and we are proud to acknowledge such a prestigious Australian pilot as a fellow Sydney Technical High School Old Boy

The Final Chapter

It is important to understand the final chapter in this story of the Great Escape, as justice was sought against those Nazis accused of coordinating and hunting down the 76 escapees and killing 50 of those caught. Despite the differences of the ranks of the Nazi gunmen they were equally prosecuted for the deaths of the Great Escape airmen. Eventually they were brought to justice by the Allied forces in both Nuremberg and Hamberg in the years immediately following the conclusion of WWII.

Wilhelm Keitel was the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) which means that he controlled all of Germany's army. He was the one that relayed the order to kill the escapees, organised a ground attack and ordered the Gestapo to hunt down all of the people who played a role in the Great Escape. Hermann Goering was the Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich and was responsible for directing the Luftwaffe (the German air force), the organisation tasked with the administration of Stalag Luft III.

About 17 months after the crimes had been committed, the International Military Tribunal sent British Royal Air Force police detective Wilfred Bowes to track down the Nazi Gestapo officers involved. Bowes and his Deputy Frank McKenna coordinated a 15-person investigation tracking down the killers of the 50 officers, Albert Horace Hake included. This would have been no easy feat given that the Gestapo was an organisation built on secrecy and falsified documents. But the team from the RAF relentlessly tracked down, arrested and interrogated the alleged war criminals responsible for the murders of the escapees. Wilfred Bowes subsequently brought 64 Gestapo officers to justice in the Curio Haus Military court in Hamburg.

For their senior Nazi leadership roles, Wilhelm Keitel and Hermann Goering were tried in the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg. They were indicted on all four accounts, found guilty and sentenced to death in 1946. The Gestapo officers were sentenced depending on the role they played in the capture and murder of the Stalag Luft III airmen. Most were sentenced to death while some went to jail.

Albert Horace Hake was caught and shot without dignity or mercy. His incredible story, the remarkable Great Escape and the sacrifices that were made during this time have led to a lifetime of peace between nations as well as constructing a pathway for justice.

Lest we forget

Saakheth Raghunathan, Sahaj Bhatta, Gazi Habib and Minh Hoang – Sydney Technical High School - 2024