Posted on 08/10/2014 10:46:14 AM PDT by DFG
The man believed to be Britain's oldest surviving prisoner of war, who was held captive at the camp immortalized in The Great Escape, has died five days after turning 100.
Sergeant Reginald Drake was one of the few remaining British survivors of the infamous Stalag Luft III camp in Zagan, Poland, where 76 men attempted to escape to their freedom in 1944.
The airman was based there for 11 months, during the four years he was held captive by Germans during the Second World War.
Sgt Drake was captured in August 1941, after his bomber was shot down and crash-landed in a field during a raid in Rotterdam, Holland.
During his captivity, Sgt Drake endured forced marches across Eastern Europe, as the Germans moved prisoners from the Russians who were advancing from the east.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Britain's oldest WWII prisoner of war - who survived notorious Great Escape camp Stalag Luft III - dies just days after his 100th birthday
RIP to this man, he went on to live a long life, so that’s a poke in the eye to the Nazis right there.
Wow, why didn’t the Germans just let him go home already?!?
Rest in peace, Sergeant Drake, and thank you for your service and sacrifice.
LOL, being a trained enemy air crew member during the war probably had something to do with it.
An English prisoner of war was held by the Germans. The Englishman was shot all over the place, and okay until one day when the German told him, “Englander,your arm is infected with gangrene vee must cut it off.”
The English prisoner said, “Well, okay, but could you drop it over England when you go bombing?”
The German replied, “Ya, that vill not be a problem.”
A few weeks later the German tells the Englishman that they have to cut his other arm off. The Englishman says, “Well, could drop it over England like you did last time?”
“Ya, that vill be done,” says the German.
The next day the German tells him that they have to cut his leg off. Once again the Brit says, “Well, could you do the same as before?”
The German replies, “Vhy, ya.”
The next the German tells him they have to cut his other leg. “Well,” begins the Brit, “could you just...”
The German snapped, “No! We think you are trying to escape!”
;’)
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