Tuesday 23rd March 2004 -- Great Escaper Jimmy James in the forest that now grows on the site of Stalag Luft III. Now aged 89, he never expected to return to the site of his escape 60 years later.
Posted on 01/19/2008 6:13:38 PM PST by the scotsman
'A World War II veteran who took part in the prison camp breakout immortalised in the film The Great Escape has died.
Bertram "Jimmy" James, 92, of Ludlow, Shropshire, died on Friday at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Sqn Ldr James was one of 76 men who escaped from a Nazi prison camp in 1944 in Poland, which was remembered in the 1963 film starring Steve McQueen.
Military historian Howard Tuck said the ex-RAF Squadron Leader had been "the country's greatest living war hero".'
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
RIP hero!
Cajones de brasso, sir. Godspeed to you as you go west.
A real blow. This guy was immortal. RIP, Sqn. Ldr. James.
Tuesday 23rd March 2004 -- Great Escaper Jimmy James in the forest that now grows on the site of Stalag Luft III. Now aged 89, he never expected to return to the site of his escape 60 years later.
The greatest revenge is to LIVE. And this fine man did that and so much more. May choirs of angels sing him home.
My dad survived that camp, too. Living well is the best revenge. A bit different than Daisy Buchanan but my dad lived to 75, had four children, four grandchildren and a pretty happy life. RIP all those from the Greatest Generation.
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