are there any surviors of the great escape still alive. i mean the real one not the film?

Answer 1

76 POWs made it out the tunnel, of which 50 were executed shortly after capture. Of the remaining 26, at the 60th anniversary in March 2004 there were only six surviving members that I am aware of.

They were: Flight Lieutenant Leslie C.J. Brodrick, Flight Lieutenant S.A. ‘Dick’ Churchill, Pilot Officer Paul G. Royle, Flight Lieutenant Michael M. Shand, Pilot Officer B.A. ‘Jimmy’ James and Flight Lieutenant Sydney H. Dowse.

I am unable to tell you whether those six are still alive but I can find no online mention of their passing.

For a full list of the escapees, see below.

Answer 2

Yes. My father was one of the diggers on the three main tunnels. In the sixties, not having any idea that this was the case, I nagged him into taking me to see the film. I noticed that it was having quite a profound effect on him, and later asked him if he thought it was a good film, and whether it seemed 'realistic' to him. I was aware that he had spent a couple of years as a prisoner of war.

He then, very slowly, and a little reluctantly, told me the story.

And yes, he did think it was a reasonably fair presentation, although the famous Steve McQueen role was a made-up one, my dad had no recollection of there being any American airmen in Stalag Luft III at the time of the planning of the big escape effort.

It should also be remembered that as it showed in the film the were a great deal of on-going 'normal' escape attempts, quite intentionally so, otherwise the German guards would have been very suspicious, this camp had been built especially for the habitual escapees.

Thanks to his constant escape fever, my dad was removed from the camp a few days before the break out, otherwise I probably wouldn't be writing this now.

Answer 3

My uncle was in that same prison camp....he wasn't part of the escape (he was on the other side of the compound) but he was there. I have the book at home. I'll see what I can find out.

Answer 4

What reference do you have that it was real? I was informed that it actually took place. Learn something every day. Nice to know that there are true historians out there. Thank you.