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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: jigsaw on April 03, 2006, 10:22:51 AM

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: jigsaw on April 03, 2006, 10:22:51 AM

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Great Escape Pilot Dies

A former RAF pilot who cheated death much more than most of us ever will finally passed away at the ripe old age of 102. Sqn. Leader Eric Foster died peacefully at his home in England, outliving Steve McQueen, the actor that played him in The Great Escape, by more than 50 years. McQueen died of lung cancer in 1980 at the age of 50. Foster's never-say-die attitude when it came to his distaste for German prisoner of war camps prompted his legendary status and was an influence in the creation of the movie. After surviving the crash of his Wellington bomber in Germany in 1940, Foster escaped from various enemy prison camps a total of seven times. Of course, the fact that he was a repeat escaper means he was better at the escaping part than he was at avoiding capture but it all made for a fascinating tale. After escaping by masquerading as German officer, a member of Hitler Youth, and shimmying down a fire escape, to name a few, he ended up in Stalag Luft III where his exploits formed the basis for the movie. It is perhaps fitting that it was Foster's acting ability that finally won him release. In 1945, he managed to convince his captors that he was insane and they sent him home. He was promoted to Sqn. Leader shortly after.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/607-full.html#191901 (http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/607-full.html#191901)

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: Sandman on April 03, 2006, 10:29:20 AM

Hmmm... didn't McQueen play an American pilot in the Great Escape?

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: Maverick on April 03, 2006, 10:41:43 AM

Sandy,

What is the greatest truism from hollywierd??? Here let me refresh your memory.

"Never let the truth get in the way of the story".

At any rate, back to the subject of the thread.

Sqn. Leader Eric Foster. Fair skies and tailwinds forever.

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: soda72 on April 03, 2006, 11:25:41 AM

U-571

:D

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: Mighty1 on April 03, 2006, 11:49:40 AM

Pearl Harbor

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: Hawklore on April 03, 2006, 04:24:03 PM

To a War Veteran.

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: Holden McGroin on April 03, 2006, 08:28:14 PM

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Sqn. Leader Eric Foster died peacefully at his home in England  

WTG Sqn. Leader...

Now for you knit pickers, there were Americans in SL III who worked on the Great Escape, although they were transferred before escape day.

Title: Great Escape Pilot Dies
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on April 03, 2006, 09:43:26 PM

The Hilts character was a COMPOSITE. There were MANY who claimed they were THE inspiration for Hilts, but he was just a composite. And Hilts was further enhanced/modified to suit McQueen as well. It was a movie, that paid tribute to heroes, and even those heroes realized it was a movie meant to entertain as well as inform, and they appreciated it. At least those who are not history buffs but saw the movie got SOME idea that something similar to the movie actually happened, which is more than might have happened had a strict documentary been filmed instead. Sure, WE know the truth, but most people don't, and never would know anything happened at all, were it not for a movie like that.

In any event to Sqdn Ldr Foster.