The UK site www.thisisexeter.co.uk has published a fascinating interview with former Flight Lt. Geoff Willitt in which the 96 year-old man (who still works as an artist) recalls his real-life experiences in the German prison camp Stalag Luft III which is where the massive breakout of prisoners occurred that inspired the book and film of The Great Escape. Although the movie was a true classic, most plot elements were created through artistic license, most notably the insertion of key American actors Steve McQueen and James Garner as prominent ringleaders of the escape. In fact, virtually all of the participants were from the RAF. The audacious and bold plan saw a large number of prisoners successfully escape the camp only to be recaptured or executed in cold blood. Geoff Willitt, one of the few remaining survivors of the camp, did not draw a lottery number that would have entitled him to be part of the actual escape. Ironically, this twist of fate actually saved his life as he most probably would have been executed along with the 50 other British officers. To read the interivew click here
To read the story behind the making of the 1963 film The Great Escape, see Cinema Retro issue #1