Delousing break

Model of the set used to film the movie The Great Escape. It depicts a smaller version of a single compound in Stalag Luft III. The model is now at the museum near where the prison camp was located.

The Delousing break was a mass escape attempt by Allied aircrew officers of British and American nationalities who were held as prisoners of war during the Second World War. It occurred on 12 June 1943 from the North Compound of Stalag Luft IIIPrisoner of War Camp in Germany.^[1]

Main Party

The plan was masterminded by Squadron LeaderRoger BushellRAF, who also organized the Great Escape from the same camp.^[2]

Twenty-four officers, escorted by two fake guards (Allied POWs disguised as Germans), left the camp through the main gate to proceed to the neighbouring compound to be deloused. All twenty-six escapees were recaptured, many within hours. Twenty-four of them were returned to the camp, but Flight LieutenantLorne Welch and Pilot OfficerWalter Morison were sent to Oflag IV-C at Colditz for attempting to steal an aircraft.^[3]Flying OfficerHenry BirklandRCAF and Flight LieutenantJohn Stower also took part in this escape attempt; both were later murdered following the Great Escape in March 1944.^[4]

Second Party

A second party of six officers, again escorted by a fake guard (Flight LieutenantBram van der Stok), also attempted to escape whilst en route to the neighbouring compound shortly after the main party had left, however, the forged pass carried by Van der Stok was out-dated, and the alarm was raised. This party included RAF fighter ace Wing CommanderRobert Stanford Tuck.^[5] All participants in the escape were held for a period of time in solitary confinement.

References

1. "AIR40/2645 Stalag Luft 3". The National Archives.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. Brickhill, B (1950). The Great Escape. New York: Norton. ISBN 0393084450. Chapter 6.
3. Morison, W (1995). Flak & Ferrets. Sentinel. ISBN 9781874767107.
4. "AIR40/2645 Stalag Luft 3". The National Archives. Chapter 2 Para 24(b) pp. 49-50.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. "AIR40/2645 Stalag Luft 3". The National Archives. Chapter 2 Para 24(a) p. 44.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)