What was the most daring escape utilizing an aircraft?

[n4gix 4,947]

The more you read, the more you know! I had never heard of this amazing escape from a concentration camp during WWII before this morning. I found the "Title's" question on Quora and read it with great interest.

https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-most-daring-escape-utilizing-an-aircraft

Without recapitulating the entire story here, I'll simply write a brief synopsis of the tale:

Boris Sanochkin, a retired Lt. Col authored the above linked answer. In brief Mikhail Devyataev - a former Soviet P-39 pilot shot down by the Germans on a bomber escort mission in 1944, and 9 other prisoners managed to 'borrow' the camp commandant's HE-111 and after several hours of flight (and being fired at by angry German pilots) they eventually reached the Soviet lines but then were fired upon by the Soviet defenses who shot the bomber down.

Devyataev crashed the plane 8 km (5miles) from the frontline near Woldemberg. Everybody had been wounded but all lived and were rescued by the Russian troops.

Alas, because of the extreme paranoia of the Stalinist era, all of the returning escapee's reports were disbelieved by the NKVD and all of them were sent to a military penal unit. It wasn't until 12 years later that Boris and the other surviving escapees were finally recognized by the Soviet government as "heros" and given recognition in the form of medals.

End of Synopsis

I found another account of this fascinating true life adventure here:  http://aircrewremembered.com/devyatayev-mikhail.html 

As is usually the case there are some very minor differences in the reporting, such as one of the prisoners killing an airfield guard with a home-made shank in the first versus using a crowbar in the second version, but they are mostly are in agreement with the important details.

Personally I think this would make a terrific movie! What say you fellow AVSIM aviators?

[HighBypass 2,339]

Agreed! Although the 12 years in a military penal unit might get a bit tedious - perhaps go with a screen showing...12 years later... 

[charliearon 3,024]

http://www.covertconcepts.com/world-war-2-prisoners-built-glider-hidden-attic-room/

I think this was a Movie and also a crew did a re-construction of the glider and test flight from this castle.

[charliearon 3,024]

I also think Max Klinger did a "Great Escape" from the M*A*S*H camp!

 

[Chock 17,769]