Found this wonderful print made in memory of the 50 men lost in this March 24tth 1944 escape. Thirty two families have been found and recieved a copy of this painting.
Its good to see the memories will live on in the fine work of this artist.

BlueNoser352!
http://www.rcafmuseum.on.ca/great_escape.htm

Thanks Jason will do for sure and don’t worry I had done the same kind of expanding as well, now I can’t fit into any of my A-2’s …oh well ! The men of WWII all seem to wear size 36 to 38 ….very small compared to sizes worn today. Guess no Mickey D’s or Pizza places dominating the landscape around Cambridge in the 1940’s ! Congrats on the marriage & new business !

Tom Colones
BlueNoser352!

Rob Davis Great Escape site..thanks !

Yes his research is most extensive and here is a link to the page he wrote about what happened at Stalag Luft III. I always make it a point to visit the RAF museum at Hendon each time I am in the UK , inside the museum is a memorial to the Fifty men who lost their lives in The Great Escape. A great book about the escape is by Canadian writer & historian Jonathan F. Vance called, “A Gallant Company”. His research into what took place during and after the escape and what became of he men after the war. I admire the fact that these men contiuned to fight the enemy behind the wire and did all they could to take the war to the Nazi’s even as pow’s. Their deeds should never be forgotten, in the Uk today I am sure those men who lived this experience are thinking about their fellow escapers on this day ! God Bless these men ! Now you all have to watch your copy of “The Great Escape” today in their memory !

BlueNoser352!

Jasonp51D:

Great site and glad I found it yesterday, always delighted to find links to any Eighth AF site on the web. That A-2 you spoke of, one of my areas of interest, was the A-2 found intact, or just part of the jacket. Also is there a photo of it on the site ? On another matter concerning the 361st Fighter Group, I have been in contact with secretary of the 361st, B.J. Joe Redden . It was about a documentary that ran on the
Discovery Channel back in the early 90’s called “Whispers In The Air” who’s main theme was concerns during the war of the large amounts of B-17’s 7 B-24’s going to Switzerland & Sweden. One of the group’s aces Urban Drew was interviewed and his comments in the documentary set off a fire storm of protest. In the documentary he said in a briefing with the group, they were told to watch out for stagglers heading for neutral countries without battle damage. This issue was raised by American intellegence in Sweden early during the war and was investigated by USAAF high command. The documentary also delt with the subject of (LMF) Lack Of Moral Fiber as the RAF called it . Individual crew members who reached the break point and were unfit for futher air duties and what happened to them. The comments by Urban Drew was the topic of much debate during one of the groups reunion’s here in the states , the orders were never written , just given in a presentation to the pilots. If you go to the Mighty Eighth message board under March, you will see the topic and what comments I have recieved all over the world about this. In the end it turns out that 99.9 percent of those who went there did so because of battle damage and crews in need of urgent medical attention. PLus better to be interned in a neutral country than sitting in some Stalag Luft or in the hands of angry German civilians ! Great site and loved the color photo’s..hope you post that A-2 photo on the site and love to see any futher photo’s of jackets belonging to members of the 361st on the site !

A Salute from:
BlueNoser352!

Yep….old BlueNoser352 got shot down on ebay as he bid on Dave T’s book on the making of the Battle of Britain. Maybe another one will pop up soon ! Forgot to watch my six in the bidding war ! What was it that Rober Shaw said….’never fly straight and level in the combat zone for more than 30 seconds ” ! Something like that !

BlueNoser352!