REVEALED: DIARIES OF THE MAN BEHIND THE GREAT ESCAPE

WAR HERO: Veteran Eric Dowling

Thursday August 7,2008

By Nicola McCafferty for express.co.uk

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HE was the inspiration behind legendary war film The Great Escape.

But for airman Eric "Digger" Dowling, who was shot down during night-time operations in April 1942 and imprisoned in Stalag Luft III, the story of his breakout never really appealed to him.

The Second World War veteran carved out tunnels, forged documents and prepared maps for the real-life escape of the 250 soldiers, which inspired the infamous 1963 film.

But sadly Bristol-born Digger, who survived his ordeal in the Prisoner of War camp, died in his nursing home last month - just one day shy of his 93rd birthday.

Today his son revealed that his Dad Digger 'wasn't a fan' of the Steve McQueen epic and thought the famous motorbike scene - which wasn't true to life - was "well over the top."

During the 1944 escape plan from the PoW camp, Digger had three roles - document-forger, map-maker and, of course, tunnel-digger.

Airman Eric "Digger" Dowling

The scheme involved hollowing out three tunnels, codenamed Tom, Dick and Harry, with each entrance carefully selected to ensure it was not spotted by guards.

Despite this, Digger was not one of the men selected for the final breakout.

In January 1945 the camp was evacuated because of the Russian advance and the men were marched to a second camp where they were freed later that year.

His son, Peter, 60, said: “My father was happy to talk about his wartime experiences at some length, when he was asked, and wrote down his memories in great detail.

But really the film blends fiction and fact

Digger's son Peter

"But he had two memories which caused him great sorrow and pain.

“The first was when he had to go on a bombing training mission in Ireland.

"He was supposed to be in the Wellington but missed the flight.

"The entire crew died and he felt a sense of guilt that he had survived it.

“He also felt angry, more than angry, that Hitler had 50 of the 76 escapees shot, and my father was friends with seven of them.”

Three men made it home to the UK, while 23 were recaptured.

Digger’s diaries revealed that among his executed friends were Thomas Kirby-Green, John Stower and Gordon Kidder.

In the 1980s, he had an “emotional meeting” with a Norwegian escapee. He enjoyed reminiscing but the cinematic version of his exploits left him unimpressed.

Peter Dowling, a retired NHS accountant, said: “He wasn’t a fan of the Steve McQueen film.

"He wasn’t the greatest admirer of Americans and it didn’t go down too easily that one of them should be playing the starring role.

Digger with a friend at Stalag Luft III

“Parts of it he acknowledged were quite realistic but then he felt it turned into something that was completely untrue. For someone who was actually there, that was upsetting.

“For instance, he thought the scene with the motorbike was well over the top. A lot of the reality of digging tunnels was left out too.

“It’s a ridiculous question to ask who depicted my father, but Donald Pleasance, The Forger (Flight Lt Colin Blythe) I suppose comes closest."

He added: “But really the film blends fiction and fact."

The letter to Digger's dad saying he was MIA

THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH HOLLYWOOD FILMS.

06.08.08, 10:47pm

They think they won the war. Don't get me wrong; I am very grateful for them coming in on our side, albeit, a bit on the late side but we could not have done without their resources and money. Neither could we have done without Uncle Joe but it was an unholy alliance that we had to go along with to halt the spread of Nazism throughout the whole world.

I have an idea about what should go on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square. Either this chap or Airey Nieve of Colditz fame. That will upset the Republicans.

• Posted by: Harveymiff • Report Comment