75th Anniversary of the ‘Great Escape’

[Ken Scott]

Seventy five years ago tonight 200 POWs, all aircrew, at Stalag Luft 3 took their places in tunnel ‘Harry’ and the hut above the entrance ready to make their breakout from the camp. In the event ‘only’ 76 would get away before the tunnel exit was discovered of which 3 would complete ‘home runs’ and reach freedom.

The remaining 73 were recaptured and 50 of them were executed by the Gestapo on Hitler’s orders.

Tonight I will be thinking of them and raising a glass.

[langleybaston]

They were murdered, not executed.

Remembering.

[air pig]

The story behind the detection and capture of the murders/executioners is quite facinnating. The RAF SIB under Wing Cmmander Bowes and Flt Lt McKenna later Sqn Ldr, and their small team did an amazing job considering the state of post war Europe and the erection of the Iron Curtain. Those they caught were tried and found guilty of war crimes which is what this was and handed over to Lt Col (hon) Albert Pierrepoint for implementation of the sentence passed by the court.

Nebe, who ordered the implementation of the murders was head of the German criminal police and President of Interpol, former head of an einsatzgruppen in the east, never met his fate at the hands of the British, but at Hitler's orders in March 1945 at Poltenzee on a piece of piano wire. He was implicated in the 20th July plot in 1944.

May those 50 forever rest in peace.

[BEagle]

Ken Scott wrote: Tonight I will be thinking of them and raising a glass.

As will I. With a large glass of Scottish water of life to hand, the DVD of the movie is ready to roll....

[treadigraph]

Got the film on too. No drink here to raise unfortunately but thinking of the ingenuity, resourcefulness and determination of all those involved in making the escape happen. I sometimes feel they were a very different breed...

[air pig]

Got the film on too. No drink here to raise unfortunately but thinking of the ingenuity, resourcefulness and determination of all those involved in making the escape happen. I sometimes feel they were a very different breed...

I think today there are those of the same breed just in a different way. You just have to look at the acts of gallentry since 1945 and in particular in the more recent years in the operational areas of Iraq and Afghanistan from people of all of the forces. Outside of the forces there are people in the police, paramedics fire crews etc who run towards danger, remember the BTP officer who with just an asp ran towards terrorists in the incident in London without thouht of his safety and continued totry to stop then despite being seriously injured. Yes there are people who are of that breed.

[Cat Techie]

Put people in stressful positions and they will excel. I saw it in Basrah in 2008. People react to their training and instinct, usually to the good.
I was very lucky to recieve a lecture by Vic Stevens, a WWII veteran when I was an air cadet in 1981. Vic was the flight engineer of Halifax W1048 on its attack on the Tirpitz in 1942. Of course W1048 is a famous airframe (and was being recovered when Vic gave his talk). He was the only member of the crew that was captured and ended up at Sagan. I cannot remember if he was a player in the X operation, but he told the stories of Stalag Luft III and the aftermath. Somehow the camp had a camera (for identity shots), but other photos of camp life had survived. As the son of an engineer, my main memory was the little tin steam powered mode boat l that someone had built using the tin from the bully beef cans, the solder and anything else they could get hold of. There was a picture of it on the water supply reservoir in the compound. It was not hard to see the general skill set of people in the camp. Add the dynamics of Bushell and Day, they had the skill set behind them to do what they did.

[Tankertrashnav]

Although I fully admit I enjoyed the film as an entertaining mix of fact and fiction, I was nevertheless pleased that in the BBCs coverage of today's event, clips and stills from the film which were shown did not include the more fanciful episodes, including the entirely fictitious attempted motorcycle escape by the character Hilts played by Steve McQueen. Such a shame that Dick Churchill, the last surviving escaper, died only a few weeks before today's commemoration.

[oldpax]

I read the whole account of the escape(yesterday!!)from the book "Men of Air"by Kevin Wilson.A book to read and think about the horrors aircrew suffered.

[SASless]

As notable as the "Escape" was....with all due credit to the many that worked to see the few escape....my thoughts go to those who were murdered by the Nazi's in revenge for the escape.

They personify the meaning and cost of Freedom.

We must not forget them.

From a former Soldier and Airman.....Hand Salute!

[Wander00]

A few years back I had an unusual opportunity to honour those who had been incarcerated in Stalag Luft III. At the time I was Secretary (Ch Exec) of a large "Royal" Yacht Club. One of my elderly members, a retired FAA Observer in Swordfish, and former Qheen's Sailing Master, sadly died. He had been in Stalag Luft III, but in the "cooler" at the time of the Escape. With the help of a former RAF Chaplain, probably know to several on here, Ray H, I organised the wake and ashes scattering on the River. Not only did we give the deceased a good send off, we also hosted three other former inhabitants of the prison camp. A humbling experience, and proud of having been able to show my respect for these brave men, those who were murdered (and I am pleased the BBC used the correct term yesterday) and those who survived.

[rolling20]

The story behind the detection and capture of the murders/executioners is quite facinnating. The RAF SIB under Wing Cmmander Bowes and Flt Lt Lyon later Sqn Ldr, and their small team did an amazing job considering the state of post war Europe and the erection of the Iron Curtain. Those they caught were tried and found guilty of war crimes which is what this was and handed over to Lt Col (hon) Albert Pierrepoint for implementation of the sentence passed by the court.

Nebe, who ordered the implementation of the murders was head of the German criminal police and President of Interpol, former head of an einsatzgruppen in the east, never met his fate at the hands of the British, but at Hitler's orders in March 1945 at Poltenzee on a piece of piano wire. He was implicated in the 20th July plot in 1944.

May those 50 forever rest in peace.
I thought Squadron Leader Frank McKenna was the person responsible for the rounding up? There was a programme on Discovery about him a while ago.

[kiwi12]

My Old Man was one of the engineers in the Great Escape, fortunately for me he lost the straw drawing and ended up well down the sequence, the one he lost too was one of the 50 shot by the Gestapo. His stories of camp life were fascinating , much more interesting and amusing than the movie which annoyed him considerably. He was shot down in 1941 so spent some considerable time in the camp (among others)

[air pig]

I thought Squadron Leader Frank McKenna was the person responsible for the rounding up? There was a programme on Discovery about him a while ago.
Thank you, my error so I have ammended the original post.

[rolling20]

Thank you, my error so I have ammended the original post.
Pleasure air pig.

[filbey1944]

During my posting to the Airforces own Island in the Sun (RAF Gan for the uninitiated) 1966/67 the Station Commander was WgCdr HK Rees who was apparently just about to go out of the tunnel when it was discovered so he did not get out. Very lucky in the circumstances. He was an absolute gentleman, loved his rugby and still played seven a side when he could.
RIP the murdered 50

[Tankertrashnav]

As I said I did enjoy the film, and I'd have loved to see McQueen getting over the wire. Same with James Garner nicking that aircraft - bloody spoilsport Germans leaving aircraft parked with tanks nearly empty!

Tosh, but enjoyable tosh.