Great Escape veteran Eric Dowling dies at 92

Great Escape veteran Eric Dowling dies at 92
By JILL LAWLESS • The Associated Press • August 7, 2008
LONDON —Eric Dowling, nicknamed "Digger" for helping excavate tunnels used in the breakout from a World War II German prison camp that became known as the "Great Escape," has died. He was 92.


Dowling played a key role in planning the 1944 escape by 76 prisoners from Stalag Luft III prison near Sagan in eastern Germany — now Zagan, Poland. He forged documents, made maps and helped dig three tunnels code-named Tom, Dick and Harry.

The daring breakout was one of the most celebrated incidents of the war and inspired the 1963 film "The Great Escape" starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough.

All but three of the escapees were recaptured, and 50 of them were shot on the orders of Adolf Hitler to deter future attempts.
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