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The History Hour: World War Two African victory and 'Kai Tak heart attack'

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World War Two African victory and Kai Tak heart attack

13/05/2023 GMT

World War Two African victory and 'Kai Tak heart attack'

BBC World Service - The History Hour, World War Two African victory and 'Kai Tak heart attack'

The Allies' campaign in North Africa and the last flight out of a Hong Kong airport

The Allies' campaign in North Africa in the Second World War and the last flight out of the old international Hong Kong airport.

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

We hear about the Allies' campaign in North Africa in the Second World War in 1943. 

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2025, the BBC is trying to gather as many first-hand accounts from surviving veterans as possible, to preserve for future generations.

Working with a number of partners, including the Normandy Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, the BBC has spoken to many men and women who served during the war. We are calling the collection World War Two: We were there.

We also have the story of the last flight out of the old international Hong Kong airport in 1998. The approach to the airport was known as  'the Kai Tak heart attack' because of it's location between the mountains and the city.

As well as the end of the uprising in the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw, the sinking of the 'Indian Titanic' and the United States' bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

Contributors:
Peter Royle -  British Army Captain in the Royal Artillery.
Dr Helen Fry - author and historian, specialising in the Second World War.
Simha "Kazik" Rotem - a Jewish fighter in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.
Arvind Jhani and Tej Mangat - survivors of the sinking of the SS Tilawa.
Captain Kim Sharman - the pilot of the last passenger flight out of Kai Tak.

(Photo: Tunis victory parade, 20 May 1943. Credit: Peter Royle)

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