The Great Escape - James 'Cookie' Long

For You The War Is Over · Apr 16, 2026 · 36m

We were joined by the current Commanding Officer of 9 Squadron, Wing Commander Chris Pearson, to share the story of James 'Cookie' Long. Long was a crewmate of John Shore, whose escape we covered in Episode 1 of Series 5, when they were both shot down. He would earn his nickname from his skill at brewing 'kriegie hooch', becoming a tunneller for the Great Escape, and he was to be the last of 'The Fifty' to be murdered.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins…