Posted on 04/21/2009 8:00:40 PM PDT by nuconvert
April 7, 2009
The history of Canada's Air Force is the story of the men and women who had the guts, determination and vision to serve their country in the aviation arm of the Canadian Forces. Here's a glimpse of that history.
Celebrated in film, the "Great Escape" remains a tribute to Allied heroism, resourcefulness and tenacity. As well, it has a huge Canadian connection.
It was not an easy feat to escape from a German prisoner of war (POW) camp but RCAF Flight Lieutenant Wally Floody was put in charge of digging tunnels to do just that. The camp in question was Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Germany (now Zagan, Poland). It was run by the Luftwaffe exclusively for Allied aircrew who had been shot down and captured over occupied Europe. Those raised on television's Hogan's Heroes might well think that Luftwaffe POW camps offered endless opportunities for comedy at the hands of affable but incompetent camp prison guards, but reality was quite different. Escape was not only the preferred course of action, it was considered the duty of every prisoner.
The "Great Escape" is considered great not because it was largest mass exodus of POWs during the war but because it may have been the most elaborate and its consequences were tragic.
This was a detailed operation that involved excavating three tunnels ("Tom", "Dick" and "Harry") as well as obtaining a vast amount of material and equipment from the camp. After digging out the dirt, the prisoners hid it inside their clothing and spread it around the compound.
The Germans discovered tunnel "Tom" and destroyed it. "Dick" was deemed unsafe. But on March 25, 1944, 76 men escaped through "Harry"; all but three were recaptured. Fifty, including six Canadians, were executed (contrary to the Geneva Convention). Three other Canadians were recaptured but not executed.
Meanwhile, F/L Wally Floody, who had supervised the engineering feat of excavating the tunnels, never had a chance to flee. He was transferred from Stalag Luft III just two weeks before the Great Escape. In 1946, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to the Great Escape.
Read more in On Windswept Heights: Historical Highlights of Canada's Air Force at www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/hist/index_e.asp .
One of the best films ever...
What an amazing and inspiring true story.
AFAIK there were no Americans in the camp. Changed for hollywood. Steve McQueen was great in the film. Great cast.
Was Garner’s character a Canadian? Another great actor. He did his own driving in Gran Prix as McQueen did in LeMans.
For the Fifty!
I saw the movie with my grandfather at the Fox theater in Atlanta when it came out.I was 5 years old at the time and I still remember it like it was yesterday.What a great movie.
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