Mick Shand, a Battle of Britain fighter pilot, was 92.

Mr Shand was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in September 1942 after his 60th sortie, but the same month his Spitfire was shot down while trying to destroy a train in Holland.

Imprisoned in the notorious Stalag Luft 3 at Sagan, southeast of Berlin, Shand took part in the 'Great Escape' of March 1943 when 76 RAF officers tunnelled their way to freedom.

Almost all the escapees were recaptured and 50, including three New Zealanders, were then shot dead on Hitler's orders.

Mr Shand, who spent four days on the run, said in a recent newspaper interview that it was only by the grace of God that he was not singled out to be shot after his recapture.

The escape was the basis for the 1963 film "The Great Escape" starring Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Richard Attenborough.

Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.

Copyright 2009 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More Military Headlines

• Normandy Vets Look to One Last Remembrance
• Kosovo Revisited
• Pentagon: No Purple Heart for PTSD
• Baseball Greats Recall WWII Service
• A 40-Mile Long Salute to Veterans Ends With a Medal