42 — Wednesday, April 21, 1999 — North Shore News

~ Fighter pilots meet
yng after the war

RETIRED Luftwaffe
Captain Eckehart
Priebe, a West
Vancouver resident and
at age 82 still a racing
sailboat skipper ( Blue
Mas), recently returned
from London after a
very memorable dinner.

“fe all came about through
my book Thank You,
Canada,” savs Priche.

“I was shot down in my
Messerschmitt I09E over
England, and taken prisoner.
That's how I ended up in
Canada.

“I mentioned the name of
the Spitfire pilor who was
credited with the ‘kill’ on
August 31, 1940. lain
Hutchinson learned about my
book from a friend, asked for
a couple of copics and then
calied me from England to
invite (his wife) Sylvia and me
to help celebrate his &8(th
birthday at the Royal Air
Force Club, in London, last
November.

“It was a congenial family
affair, with about 25 pcople
present. I gave a talk at funca,
and it was well received.

Excerpts from Pricbe's
speech:

"This time I came to
England with British Airways;
last time I came with a
Messerschmitt 109E and it
took me six years, two months
and 23 days to get back home.

“Sylvia and I have come to
London to celebrate your
(Iain Hutchinson’s) 80th
birthday, a landmark in a life-
time, an achievement in itself.
Congratulations! It is our sec-
ond meeting, and this time
much more pleasant, for:

This time I am ahead of
you as you are 80 and I am
82!

In this respect, you. must
agree, you'll never ever catch
up with me!

As much as you try, it'll be
in vain, to come up from
behind again! .

You missed me, Iain, giv-
ing me a second chance in life,
and I cannot congratulate you
on this, your 80th birthday,
without thanking you for

ECKEHART Priabe,

right,

congratulates lain

Hutchinson on his birthday. The two first met in air
combat as enemies during the Second World War.

making Aug. 31, 1940, my
second birthday, a day that
changed my future life radical-
ly, professionally, even geo-
graphically!

“How could you ever
know that you would shoor
me right into Canada, eventu-
ally for good, where my fami-
ly prospered?

In your aggressive way,
you helped me to Canada
where PoWs were the best
kept anywhere in the world,
while you, somewhat fater,
became an involuntary guest
of the German government,
the hospitality of which you
probably didn'r appreciate as
much as I did, the one in
Maple Leaf county.

“That teaches us one les-
son: If captivity is unavoid-
able, try to wind up on the
right side for that. However, it
paid off for both of us in one
way: Flight Sgt. Hutchinson
became Squadron Leader for
chasing me and _ other
Luftwaffe boys in the skies of

fei Kies fro 6-18 ave feoticese, fancy feo and
locking (or diiegs te da, Chock cu? fils sueciai
fone 6b ast sense creat iieas,
Cal Bene @ 925-2131 to book your space.

England while Oberleutnant
Priecbe was made Hauptmann
(Captain) playing hockey
behind barbed wire in
Canada.

“On that August day in
1940 I became part of “The
Much.”

“Bad English?

“Not so when you think of
Wirston Churciill: ‘Never in

See Being page 46

- still move in rhythm with nature.

In our Sunday,
April 25 issue,
we will *:1 what
the Spring
trends are,
what the

must-have

wardrobe pieces
are, and where to

find the buys.

Book your passage today.

This year discover the world next door. Visit the
Liscovery Coast Passage with BC Ferries and explore
the central coast of British Columbia between.

Port Hardy and Bella Coola. A place

where porpoises, whales and eagles Wists Ocean Falls

Satta Baila’. 2. Balla Coola
Sail with us return, or make it part Port Hardy.

of your own Circle Tour including Nanaimo: ~, Vancouver
Vancouver Island and the Coast-Chilcotin- Victoria :
Cariboo. Cail your travel agent or BC Ferries today.

1-888-BCFERRY

BOOK NOW FOR TRAVEL IN JUNE OR SEPTEMBER
AND RECEIVE A FREE TRIP BETWEEN
VANCOUVER & VANCOUVER ISLAND:

Sestte

Oneowuis price per perion,
fawdom car, denver &

sere pussengary. Fan wilel for
1999 sadings. Free mpoffer
apples onby te mavet ww
Port Hands and Nell (aula.

E33 BCFERRIES

www.beferries.bc.ca