Stories from WW2

Jet · 06-08-2010, 05:50 AM

Great Escape veteran dies at 97

Associated Press
LONDON – A survivor of the Great Escape plot by Allied prisoners in a German prison in World War II has died. His family said Jack Harrison died Friday at age 97 at Erskine veterans' home in Bishopton, Scotland. Harrison was a Royal Air Force pilot who was shot down and captured on his first mission in 1942.

He was part of the plot to escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944, retold in the film "The Great Escape." However, he was not among the 76 who broke out. Harrison was 98th on the list to go, but guards detected the 77th escape. Of the 76 who escaped, only three got to safety. Fifty were executed on Adolf Hitler's orders, and 23 others were returned to custody.

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06-08-2010, 05:50 AM	#11
Jet Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: .. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: .. Posts: 3,471 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 292 Thanked 2,647 Times in 1,293 Posts Rep Power: 0	Great Escape veteran dies at 97 Associated Press LONDON – A survivor of the Great Escape plot by Allied prisoners in a German prison in World War II has died. His family said Jack Harrison died Friday at age 97 at Erskine veterans' home in Bishopton, Scotland. Harrison was a Royal Air Force pilot who was shot down and captured on his first mission in 1942. He was part of the plot to escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944, retold in the film "The Great Escape." However, he was not among the 76 who broke out. Harrison was 98th on the list to go, but guards detected the 77th escape. Of the 76 who escaped, only three got to safety. Fifty were executed on Adolf Hitler's orders, and 23 others were returned to custody.