Clipped Wings/A Film by Mark Holmes

This video is an documentary/interview I made with Col. Weldon Holmes, my Father, a B-17 Command Pilot who was shot down in WWII and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III, the infamous Prison Camp in what is now Sagan, Poland, made famous by the movie "The Great Escape" starring Steve McQueen. Over a period of three years, Col Holmes recalls the runup to the war, flight school, Bombing over Germany and being shot down with his crew to spend the remainder of the war in Prison Camp, finally liberated by General George Patton in 1945. His is an intimate account of his bailout, capture, interrogation by the Germans and the day to day life in camp leading to final liberation. He is now going on 92, married for 66 years and living in St. Petersburg Florida after retiring from the Air Force in 1969. His service to his country and his community are to be applauded and I hope you enjoy this unique account of living history.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Stalag Luft III
• Sagan
• Nazi
• Nazi Germany
• Allied Liberation
• Pearl Harbor
• World War II
• US Air Force
• Air Force Academy
• Prisoner of War
• United States Air Force
• Army Air Corps
• Greatest Generation
• World War Two
• Prison Camp
• B-17
• POW
• The Great Escape
• Air Force

[CigarTop]

Congratulations on a beautiful documentary, and a fine tribute for your father.

[DIMickey1]

I only know that it's obvious that a lot of love was put into it. Aside from being touched by the video, I learned a lot. I'm very grateful that I heard watched this story before getting a Hollywood version of it. I'm not sure if I want the Hollywood version now that I watch all of this video (some parts I wanted to watch "The Great Escape" in tandem as a reference tool, some tool that would have been). Anyways, I think I wrote enough for now. Thank you so very much again. Best Wishes, Mickey.

[DIMickey1]

The "Germans greeted us", breaking for Bourbon, and quite a few other times because of how your Father shared his story. I cried as well. Knowing that your Father passed away heightened my emotions perhaps, but even with out that, I know that I would have been teary eyed at times. This video made me feel as if I knew your father and he was telling me a story. I would like to say that I could feel all the love you put into making it, but only you can truly gauge all that it too.

[DIMickey1]

I don't have a lot of room to comment, Mark but I hope I can convey most of what I want to tell you. First, Thank You for sharing this with me. It took me a few nights at work during breaks to watch it all. But at times it was so captivating that I couldn't wait to watch more. I'm waiting for the "more details" promised at the conclusion of it and I'm saddened with knowing that I might not get to hear them. I laughed at many parts.