Former RAF prisoner of war involved in the Great Escape dies, aged 101
A Second World War pilot who was involved in the Great Escape has died aged 101, according to an RAF charity.
In 1941, Jack Lyon’s bomber plane was struck by flak near Dusseldorf in Germany, the RAF Benevolent Fund said.
All the crew survived the crash-landing, only to be captured by the Nazis and taken to prisoner of war camps.
Mr Lyon, who was a flight lieutenant, ended up in the Stalag Luft III camp, where he was recruited by other prisoners to carry out surveillance of the compound ahead of the famed 1944 Great Escape breakout.
The plot was uncovered by guards before Mr Lyon, who died on Friday, was able to make his bid for freedom.
In what is believed to be his last interview, which he did with the RAF Benevolent Fund in October ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Great Escape, he branded the escape mission “a success, but at great cost”.
There was a “terrible aftermath” to the breakout because 50 prisoners were shot, he said.
Mr Lyon, who joined the air force aged 23, added: “We were allocated a position and told not to move until called. It was going to be a long night.
“After an hour or so of this, air raid sirens sounded and all the camp lights went out.
“We were left in total darkness until I heard a single shot.
“We guessed that probably meant the tunnel had been discovered so we did everything we could to destroy anything incriminating – there were maps, documents.”
The odds of successfully breaking out of the camp were “slim”, according to Mr Lyon.
He said: “In a mass breakout, with nationwide hue and cry and bad weather, I would say they were virtually nil.
“Well, I suppose I was lucky.”
Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, chief executive of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “Jack belonged to a generation of servicemen we are sadly losing as time goes on.
“His legacy and those of his brave comrades who planned and took part in the audacious Great Escape breakout are the freedoms we enjoy today.
“Their tenacity and determination spoke volumes about the values and bravery of the entire RAF, in helping to win the fight against the Nazis.”
Mr Lyon, who lived in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, died shortly before the 75th anniversary of the breakout, which is on March 24.
The Great Escape became one of the most-told stories from the Second World War, immortalised in the eponymous 1963 Hollywood film starring Steve McQueen.