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| Great Escape prisoner of war Frank Stone dies aged 91 | Great Escape prisoner of war Frank Stone dies aged 91 |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| One of the few remaining survivors of a German prisoner of war camp immortalised in the film The Great Escape has died. | One of the few remaining survivors of a German prisoner of war camp immortalised in the film The Great Escape has died. |
| Frank Stone, who died aged 91, was taken to Stalag Luft III in Zagan after his bomber crashed in Germany in 1940. | Frank Stone, who died aged 91, was taken to Stalag Luft III in Zagan after his bomber crashed in Germany in 1940. |
| The 18-year-old RAF gunner was housed in hut 104, home to 76 airmen who attempted escape via a tunnel in 1944. | The 18-year-old RAF gunner was housed in hut 104, home to 76 airmen who attempted escape via a tunnel in 1944. |
| However, the alarm was raised before Mr Stone, who had helped dispose of soil from the tunnel, could join them. | However, the alarm was raised before Mr Stone, who had helped dispose of soil from the tunnel, could join them. |
| During an interview with the BBC in 2009, Mr Stone, of Hathersage, Derbyshire, said the atmosphere on the night of the escape had been "electric". | During an interview with the BBC in 2009, Mr Stone, of Hathersage, Derbyshire, said the atmosphere on the night of the escape had been "electric". |
| "It was all very tense - but at 5 o'clock, a shot rang out and we knew they had been discovered." | "It was all very tense - but at 5 o'clock, a shot rang out and we knew they had been discovered." |
| Of the 76 who made their break for freedom using the tunnel, known as Harry, 50 were subsequently shot after being recaptured and only three men managed to get away successfully. | Of the 76 who made their break for freedom using the tunnel, known as Harry, 50 were subsequently shot after being recaptured and only three men managed to get away successfully. |
| Mr Stone said: "It was very sad and we were advised not to make any further attempts to escape." | Mr Stone said: "It was very sad and we were advised not to make any further attempts to escape." |
| He was finally freed towards the end of the war. | He was finally freed towards the end of the war. |
| His widow, Jane, said: "He gave lots of talks about the escape and always said he was doing it in memory of those 50. | His widow, Jane, said: "He gave lots of talks about the escape and always said he was doing it in memory of those 50. |
| "Frank could never understand why people where so interested in him but they were. We often had to put extra talks on so more people could come." | "Frank could never understand why people where so interested in him but they were. We often had to put extra talks on so more people could come." |
| Stalag Luft III, which was 100 miles south-east of Berlin, held about 10,000 RAF crew at the height of its occupation. | Stalag Luft III, which was 100 miles south-east of Berlin, held about 10,000 RAF crew at the height of its occupation. |
| In 1947, 18 soldiers who shot those who were recaptured were put before a military tribunal in Hamburg. | |
| Thirteen of them were executed, while the rest received long prison sentences. | Thirteen of them were executed, while the rest received long prison sentences. |
| The story of the escape was made into a film in 1963, starring Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Donald Pleasence. | The story of the escape was made into a film in 1963, starring Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Donald Pleasence. |