RIP Jimmy James

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silverscreenselect · #1 Post by **silverscreenselect** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:37 am

Both of the obits I'm posting today are a few days old but haven't gotten much press.

James was an RAF pilot who was one of the real life escapees in the prison break dramatized in the movie The Great Escape. He spent nearly five years in German captivity and tried to escape 11 times. He actually escaped twice (including the Great Escape) but was recaptured.

76 Allied prisoners escaped on March 24, 1944, through a tunnel. Only three of the 76 made it to freedom, and 50 of the 73 recaptured were shot by the Germans.

After the Great Escape, James was sent to a concentration camp, from which he and several others escaped through a 100 foot tunnel dug using only a table knife. He was again recaptured and sent to two other concentration camps until the war ended.

In 1946, he was awarded Britain's Military Cross. Age 92.

Ritterskoop · #2 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:06 pm

Whew. While I am not glad to hear of anyone's passing, this header made me think of Stephen Root (that was his character's name on News Radio).

TheCalvinator24 · #3 Post by **TheCalvinator24** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:34 pm

Ritterskoop wrote:Whew. While I am not glad to hear of anyone's passing, this header made me think of Stephen Root (that was his character's name on News Radio).

I thought the exact same thing. In fact, I feared that it was about Root.

hermillion · #4 Post by **hermillion** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:29 pm

The Great Escape is one of #1 Son's favorite movies. It kind of jump-started his interest in history and geography.

This obit was printed in our local newspaper this week, and when #1S read it he said he felt like crying. "This guy was really tough. You've gotta admire somebody with that kind of courage."