Former squadron leader Dick Churchill was one of 76 airmen whose escape from the Stalag Luft III camp in Nazi Germany in 1944 was immortalised in the Hollywood film starring Steve McQueen.
Mr Churchill, who lived in Crediton, Devon, died on Wednesday, aged 99.
Chief of the Air Staff Sir Stephen Hillier said: "He was from a selfless generation who offered bravery and sacrifice to secure our freedom."
"On behalf of the RAF as a whole I would like to offer my condolences to the friends and family of Flt Lt Richard 'Dick' Churchill, one of the RAF personnel involved in the Great Escape.
"He will be sorely missed. Per Ardua [the RAF motto]."
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#4461666 - 02/16/1903:38 PMRe: Last survivor of 'The Great Escape' dies at 99
[Re: F4UDash4]
I started reading this book recently. I was surprised to find out the it was not an American story. They were British and Canadians mostly. In fact no American took part in the actual escape, they were in a different camp by that point. The Great Escape Hollywood loves turning good stories into their own.
#4461670 - 02/16/1904:00 PMRe: Last survivor of 'The Great Escape' dies at 99
[Re: F4UDash4]
