'Digger’ Dowling, "Great Escape", hero dies

It turns out that one of the real-life heroes of the Great Escape never liked the film, particularly the Steve McQueen character. The sentiments of Eric "Digger" Dowling, an English airman who was imprisoned at Stalag Luft III in the second world war and who has died at the age of 92, are revealed by his son, Peter. "He wasn't one of America's greatest fans and said it wasn't like it was in the film at all and that the scene with the motorbike was rubbish."


The Times: Great Escape tunneller Eric Dowling dies aged 92

The Guardian: 'Digger' Dowling, hero of the Great Escape, makes his final exit at (almost) 93