“Great Escape” survivor Ian Tapson, 84
Posted: Thursday, April 5th, 2007 3:35 pmJOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Ian Tapson, one of the last survivors of a team of World War II soldiers who planned and executed a breakout from a German POW camp later immortalized in the film “The Great Escape,” has died. He was 84.
The escape was immortalized in Paul Brickhill’s book “The Great Escape” and in the movie of the same title, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough.
South African born-Roger Bushell, a squadron leader, decided to organize a mass escape by tunneling to a point outside the perimeter fence. … Read full obituary
