Escaped German Prisoners-of-War Stole A Plane

Many thanks to High Flight for Miles Magister footage. For more great footage of WWII aircraft today, visit the High Flight channel:
/ @highflight
This is the amazing story of two Luftwaffe POWs who managed to escape from their camp in England and steal an RAF plane to fly to German-occupied Europe.
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
Visit my audio book channel 'War Stories with Mark Felton': • One Thousand Miles to ...
Help support my channel:
www.paypal.me/markfeltonprodu...
/ markfeltonproductions
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Photos licensed under Wikimedia Creative Commons: Lowgaz; Carl Bendelow; Rosser1954; Alan Wilson; High Flight

[@wardaddyindustries4348]

"Sorry gentleman you deserve better luck" what a British line.

[@josephking6515]

Bloody stupid line IMO. If they had got back to der Fatherland they would have got back on ops and killed how many RAF (or commie) pilots or bombed civilians. Interesting that German POW officers got to stay in a former luxury hotel but I bet the enlisted guys got crappy nissen huts full of drafts and piss poor heating.

[@moses2009100]

They don't know it but they did had the best of luck if they flew back to German line they'll probably fight to the end of the war and get shot down killed or something to actually good that they stayed in the p o w camp and survived and got to live

[@MrHoefnix]

@Zoomer Waffen Why would an all knowing, all loving Gott do that, Doofus?

[@donbow450]

@@josephking6515 There are other videos explaining that such accommodations were bugged and used to get intel from the prisoners. Also it is not said wether the interior was kept. There is also a story about a German pilot letting a crippled bomber escape to england. That sure did go on killing civilians. Sometimes the fate of single persons outweights the rational in perception.

[@samkangal8428]

Na ja, schätze wir haben angefangen.

[@T-34_Chan]

I swear Hollywood would be making much better movies if they just watched a few Mark Felton videos and used those as inspiration.

[@richardm3023]

All those white males they'd have to replace with minority, trans, women, single, gay, moms.

[@toddsmith293]

Could not agree more!

[@Otokichi786]

The Michael Bay types would have a full German bomber crew steal a Lancaster, fight swarms of RAF fighters, bomb Buckingham Palace, then reach German-occupied France, where they would "fold parachutes at night."

[@uglyduckling81]

@@richardm3023 Could you imagine how the soldiers would look? It wouldn't be men in uniforms battling. It would be Black Transvestite woman in rainbow dresses fighting the white male oppressors. All the Nazi white male oppressors would be bumbling idiots tripping over and generally making fools of themselves. Then it would be universally praised by woke media shills for it's accuracy and excellent story telling. The the IMDB would end up with 100% reviewer scores and 2% user reviews, they would then delete user scores so it's just a 100% movie. Then go on a media rampage attacking white males for troll voting it down.

[@paulnicholls8683]

Hollywood would jazz it up so much that the story would lose its charm !

[@josephthomas8318]

Being impressed with the effort and then giving the escapees a nice officers dinner as a consultation prize is the most British thing I've ever heard.

[@davethompson3140]

Surprisingly, the luftwaffe treated their prisoners better than the other branches of their military.It’s only when the gestapo and/or the SS got involved were airman in big trouble.

[@rocknral]

Ah well, you got to admire pluck, whoever it is. "well played chaps, but, better luck next time..." Got to love the poms. LOL!

[@davethompson3140]

@@rocknral -What the hell does that mean, I’m not an enigma machine!

[@rocknral]

@@davethompson3140 "poms"... Was that the bit that was lost in translation?

[@davethompson3140]

@@rocknral -Yur erl on ya grits musta bena to high cas yur not makin much puttin

[@LancasterResponding]

Arrives at RAF base and is greeted by guards “Hello is me, George David. I am pilot RAF. God save the Queen yes. Let me have plane please” “Seems legit, welcome sir”

[@twotone3070]

Sounds like a scam call to me. Jim Browning would have spotted it.

[@matti3051]

hmmm they didnt have a queen back the

[@thriftstorechicken3395]

@@matti3051 But they did.

[@scapingby]

@@thriftstorechicken3395 not until 1952

[@thriftstorechicken3395]

@@scapingby Oh ... I thought he meant they didn't have royalty at all Until 1952. My mistake, sorry.

[@Rustythemouse]

RAF maintenance servicemen havin a chat: -Such a nice lads were took off recently! -Wha'? -Yep, they were so polite! -What did they say? *-Danke Schön, Auf Wiedershen!*

[@greybeard5774]

Lol :)))

[@Simon_Nonymous]

"Crikey - must be Scottish!"

[@markthompson8656]

@@greybeard5774 Me TOO, I busted out laughing!

[@averyrandomllama6516]

So they were speaking Australian?

[@murkywateradminssions5219]

German officers disguised as Dutch officers speaking German in an Australian accent me: *confused screaming*

[@yudodis]

Our Mark Felton, absolute unit mind you, doesn't just have "1 million" subscribers now, he has a *"subscriber strength equal to 1/3 of the Operation Barbarossa invasion force" and growing*

[@landeny65]

Nicely done

[@WaltherPPK909]

If Mark says we invade, we invade. It's as simple as that

[@Tyler-gv6zf]

@@WaltherPPK909 If Mark says jump, I say, “How high shall I jump Dr. Felton?”. I won’t question why.

[@abercrombieblovs2042]

We can already easily annex Czechslovakia :D

[@tyrionlannister4920]

everytime i read Barbarossa, i get flashes of wehrmacht and red army on my mind and in the background blasts Sabaton's Panzerkampf :D

[@23Robusto]

"I have good news and bad news" "What's the good news?" "I figured out how the fuel gage works." "What's the bad news?"

[@voornaam3191]

What fuel? We're now in glider mode. And flying at only 2,000 feet, you will run out of options pretty soon. Compare it to driving your car downhill to the pub, without the engine running. Hairy, to say the least.

[@fekkyb]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🛩

[@genericpersonx333]

Oh this is a classic. Thanks!

[@GP-fw8hn]

Strange how when you hear stories from the other side's perspective you find yourself rooting for them even though they were the enemy. In the end we are all the same.

[@mjrv5719]

If everyone had this perspective their wouldn't be such a thing as war.

[@mjrv5719]

There*

[@bobreams5178]

Yes, while admiring these fellows plan, I admit I was disappointed at the point in Mr. Felton's commentary when he said their luck had run out. Gotta hand it to them for trying.

[@terryknutson3202]

"We are all Brothers."

[@maxdecphoenix]

speak for yourself. I sure wasn't 'rooting' for these war criminals. The Luftwaffe was instrumental in the Spanish civil war, flying defense for spanish pilots to murder their fellow country men. Amoung the other 9 or 10 countries they either invaded outright or violated neutrality. Wonder how many hospitals Wappler bombed in Poland and England before being shot down, or how many homes or schools Schnael straffed before he got it. But hey, they got a plucky attitude, amiright? Just overlook all that murder and root them on to get back to their unit to murder some more... But alas you were correct, you ARE strange. You are definatly not normal for cheering on the people who were engaged in trying to murder your ancestors.

[@EthanKnight97]

One's got to love the British sense of sportsmanship.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

Its a wonder the two germans wernt 'Knighted'.

[@skybot9998]

A German bomb exploded near Buckingham palace and the royals commented on good the bombing was.

[@labla8940]

Jolly good show Chaps Quit sorry but we will have to ask you to please finish your bath have a spot of Tea and when you are ready come with us back to that Castle Mansion private room Pressor holding facility Chip Chip

[@labla8940]

@JZ's Best Friend I dont know that was after Battle of Britain I think Pretty sure the Germans were in control then. I would say June 6 44 was a definitive Turing point

[@labla8940]

@JZ's Best Friend Wow your kidding right? You say its easy being sporting when you win. Well Britain was dangerously close to being beaten at the time. So ya it has everything to do with it.

[@thebeatnumber]

Thanks to Mark Felton my 70 year old Dad no longer misses the History Channel.

[@Rob.Martin]

I got Sky for the History Channel. There was no history on the History Channel (at least in NZ). Dr Felton is way better than Sky.

[@richardhart9204]

The history channel was abducted by aliens.

[@samiam619]

@thebeatnumber, Introduce yourDad to “The History Guy” here on YT. He is just as good as Dr. Felton.

[@destubae3271]

Legacy media like that is dying-- this is much better

[@rbeard7580]

The History Channel became just rubbish.

[@BeachFishingAnticsUK]

He crashed on my step father's family farm in Aldington. The Wanstall family still own the farm today.

[@djmech3871]

He didn’t crash.

[@BeachFishingAnticsUK]

@@djmech3871 He crashed his ME109, that's how he became a prisoner.

[@voornaam3191]

@@BeachFishingAnticsUK That reminds me of Roald Dahl (he wrote The Big Friendly Giant and many other things, including the script for a Bond movie.) He was a Meteor pilot during that war. And he also crashed. Those fighters simply flipped over, upside down, and killed you, when landing goes a bit too rough. Keeping those two wheels up, was a lot safer.

[@christoguichard4311]

Paul O Grady lives there now.

[@keithmountain9437]

@@voornaam3191 The Meteor was not operational in WW2. Dahl flew Spitfires in the Desert Air Force.

[@alainchampot6421]

"I'm sorry gentlemen, you deserve better luck" You are amazing, you, British! ....

[@daibach2774]

the worst part of his ordeal was that he landed in newport

[@fauxhound5061]

11:29 "the Germans needed fuel" , an explanation to a lot of things that occurred during the late years of WW2 lol

[@ghost-jesus]

An explanation for most of the eastern front too

[@KumaBean]

Fun fact, I live on the once German occupied island of Jersey, and there are places where you can still find rusted-up shell casings near the surface of the ground, but if you go deeper, they're in much better condition and not all rusted-up. It's a good demonstration of the decline in the availability of raw materials and the subsequent decline in quality of the casings towards the end of the war. 🍻

[@ritvikupadhyay7120]

I laughed hard when Mark mentioned that they wasted their time in a cinema. Entertainment before escape. 😂

[@Perktube1]

I wonder what they saw. If the date was known, and if cinemas kept records…

[@Trek001]

Well it makes sense really. If they were being searched for, you'd be looking on the roads and fields. By wasting time in a cinema, they would have thrown off the search parties

[@Barkevshadian]

They went to the Cinema to find and blend with other RAF pilots to return to their base with them.

[@soundmind192]

@xirsamoht x your probably right about the drunk. War is hard on one.

[@sergiogregorat1830]

Considering the quality of British films of the time, it must have been more pain than entertainment.

[@johnbuckberrough5915]

There has actually been little written about the experience of German (and Italian) POWs in Canada during the war. At least one managed to escape from a camp in Ontario to the then-neutral United States in 1941. Anecdotally, many grew to like their surroundings and immigrated to Canada after the war.

[@StevenBanks123]

Even though I’m Anglo-centric, one can’t help rooting for these two.

[@j-dub618]

If Dr. Felton didn't exist, history fans would have to invent him

[@walterweiss7124]

this remark reminds me of Dr.Fell aka Hannibal Lecter and his WWII childhood

[@deltavee2]

Hmmm, are you absolutely sure they didn't? He's bang on all the time.

[@fromontario6954]

Fascinating story! I love how the brits were basically like I’m not even mad I’m actually kind of impressed... but I gotta do my job.

[@TheRoybeasley]

I think there was a similar attitude from Luftwaffe forces when dealing with Allied PoWs - even those who attempted to escape. However, once they had attempted to escape and been labelled as "troublemakers" they would eventually be handed over to the not-so-tender mercies of the SS.

[@jasonharryphotog]

No planes were harmed in this story

[@uglyduckling81]

@@TheRoybeasley That's the impression you get from The Great Escape. Who knows if that's real though.

[@TheRoybeasley]

@@uglyduckling81 I try not to be influenced by Hollywood films (I'm not much of a war film watcher anyway, but I don't think I've ever watched The Great Escape). I get most of my impressions from autobiographies and also from the output of Dr Felton among others.

[@htos1av]

It's called "honor". The Germans practiced that too, believe it or not.

[@davidkreutzberger7118]

Great video Mark my dad was a German POW so l was rooting for these two but glad they turned back ,my dad was Wehrmacht soldier and first went to the states as POW when the Germans saw the industrial capacity of the US they knew they could never have prevailed. It was right that Nazi regime failed ,shame so many ordinary people died .

[@jamesworrall6499]

Who else clicks the “thumbs up” before even watching the video? You just know it’s going to be another brilliant video from Dr. Felton!!

[@bradleyokane]

Defo! I've watched almost all of Marks content on both channels, it's simply unrivaled quality

[@waksdan]

I can’t believe we are one million strong. So glad this channel exists

[@bobsjepanzerkampfwagen4150]

Yea man i was here at 43k i remember

[@tallthinkev]

Almost time to invade Russia!

[@rebelliongaming8232]

@@bobsjepanzerkampfwagen4150 Yes this channel got really big.

[@lonniebailey4989]

@@tallthinkev *laughs in Russian Winter*

[@GAIS414]

Indeed!

[@samkangal8428]

It's impossible not to admire this, as well as the fair british treatment after they captured them again.👍

[@davesy6969]

28 days of solitary confinement means no tea and biscuits for 4 weeks.

[@samkangal8428]

@@davesy6969 ah, we don't like tea anyways.

[@Milliardo5]

@@davesy6969 Still far better treatment than what Germans would do to whoever tried to escape in their camps...

[@samkangal8428]

@@Milliardo5 True

[@rimshot2270]

You have to give them credit for trying. It is the duty of a POW to try to escape if at all possible.

[@julianmarsh2758]

Years ago in Nuremburg inadvertantly dressed as a German cop with green pants, mustard shirt and a big green rucksack, a man spoke to me in German, then realising I was English, in English, he was 90 tall, fit, white hair but still blonde, Hans had been a Dr with the SS brigade that parachute dropped into Crete, his tales were amazing, I saw him one more time the following year, he will be gone now, bless you Hans.

[@teslashark]

Crete!

[@captainhindsight8779]

SS though, evil.

[@MrQ454]

if you checked your story, you would have discovered that there was no SS parachute brigade! the paratroopers who landed in Crete were Fallschirmjäger, German paratroopers. 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division and 5th Mountain Division (German: 5. Gebirgs Division participated at the operation, no other troops, morever SS participated!

[@julianmarsh2758]

@@MrQ454 Why would I check what he said, it was yrs ago, yes faallschrimjager, glad you got your knickers in a twist over something as special as this.

[@MrQ454]

@@julianmarsh2758 why would you wrote something which is not true?

[@manfreddreschflegel1067]

It reminds me of Franz von Werra who tried something similar.He nearly managed to steal a plane.He was caught and transported to Canada where he escaped again and made it back to Germany.Amazing story and well worth telling.

[@aow1860]

...he made it back to Germany und nachdem er zunächst an der Ostfront eingesezt war, ersoff er dann in der Nordsee, mechanical failure oder einfach Wasser zu kalt, RIP Held

[@johnjephcote7636]

He resumed flying but like so many others, disappeared on a mission.

[@cstlbrvo5615]

"Both men survived the war". Considering how WW2 turned out. These guys had fantastic luck!

[@teslashark]

I think most WW2 stories should come with headers on whether the audience's investment will pay off

[@dx1450]

Yeah, they were better off being POW's than flying in the Luftwaffe through the rest of the war.

[@nobilesnovushomo58]

Especially for Luftwaffe pilots. By the end of the war most of their planes were destroyed, and with influx of replacement planes and fresher pilots over the years, the likelihood of pilots from 1941 still among the ranks would've been even lower in 1945.

[@bootlegga69]

Surely I'm not the only person who listened to this, silently rooting for these two gutsy fellows. Their moxie deserves a movie about their escapades.

[@skybot9998]

You only get a movie if your American.

[@wingy200]

@@skybot9998 All Quiet on the Western Front, A Bridge Too Far, The Pianist, Dunkirk, Defiance, 1917 to name a few non-American-centric war movies.

[@OldFellaDave]

@@skybot9998 The One That Got Away - 1957 movie about the only German who escaped and made it back to Germany. Excellent movie with Hardy Krueger

[@donovanburkhard]

@@skybot9998 get rekt

[@bootlegga69]

@@skybot9998 It certainly seems that way most of the time.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Again, Mark’s documentaries are the best ever made. It’s as simple as that. So well researched, great photos and film clips, his no nonsense narration, and always the most interesting topics!

[@austint7533]

I really wish he would make full length ones

[@timg2088]

@@austint7533 He has another channel with full length stories.

[@lexiheart6558]

"To the amazement of the apprentice" More like " oh bloody hell. "

[@shooter853]

"They survived the war" -- That's more than can be said about a LOT of other German pilots.

[@jasonx-ray3921]

They did turn out to have better luck. When they got back to Germany and saw the massive devastation, they were probably glad with how it turned out.

[@at6686]

Being taken prisoner by the brits or Americans was probably the best luck a German could have.

[@ajayray4408]

Contrast that with the fate of the recaptured escapees from Stalag Luft III, executed on Hitler's orders.

[@dibaldgyfm9933]

And more than can be said about thousands of Allied soldiers. Why should the germans attack in the first place?

[@brianmitchell999]

@@at6686 Yes , getting put up in a luxury hotel ,our boys were never so lucky no wonder most POW's stayed put.

[@andyvalenzuela9763]

Imagine if Mr. Felton ran the History channel.... How grand would that be...

[@christophertelford]

We wouldn't get all those documentaries about aliens until they actually discovered aliens for one thing.

[@richardm3023]

@@christophertelford HEY NOW! There's also plenty of documentaries about Bigfoot, and pawn shop shows too.

[@bromazepam781]

I wouldn't want to see Sir Felton on the abomination that is "H", but a nice 30-minute documentary show on Viasat History... now that would be WHOLESOME.

[@Aerospace_Gaming]

You must be mistaken, I thought it was called the conspiracy channel

[@christophertelford]

@@richardm3023 Call me a lunatic but I'm pretty sure pawnshops are real. It's a conspiracy by ebay to make you believe otherwise.

[@agafoorsyed]

My grand father escaped a British camp in what was then called 'Black Water' now Andaman and Nicobar islands. He took off with the Jailer's wife and married her later. All my uncles including myself have light eyes and fair skin. Thank you, dear Grandma. RIP. 😊

[@julesmo323]

That story requires more details. This could be a movie.

[@DinnerTimeFan]

Cellular Jail?

[@TillyOrifice]

OK, this sounds like an even better story.

[@Ponen77]

Sounds interesting...would like to know the details

[@SpaceShipDeathstar]

Nice!

[@johnharris7353]

I'm a 68 years old product of U.S. schools, so I don't know beans...but I was smart enough to press "subscribe!"

[@IAMN0TGAY]

based boomer

[@lordgarion514]

I wouldn't worry too much about what people say about our education system. That education system turned out the people that made, and has kept America the richest, most powerful nation in history, for a long time now. How bad can it really be?

[@lordgarion514]

@Colt Sassoon Geographical isolation...... The entire world's economy was trash shortly before WW2. Since WW2, just how many enemies have our EU dependants attacked by exactly?? What's isolation have to do with anything? And the EU isn't short on very many resources.

[@slavenrasic2173]

@Robert Pruitt If your country had better schools you wouldn't be writing that idiotic comment of yours

[@lordgarion514]

@@slavenrasic2173 And if your country had better schools, then maybe your country wouldn't need so much help from Americans....... Don't ever think your system is better than the system that helps support your ass....😜 Obviously, if you were right, your country wouldn't need help from Americans, would it??

[@danielregnard882]

You can tell these guys have guts when the stop off in a cinema in the middle of their escape attempt.

[@quintrankid8045]

It sounds like a great place to hide. Probably plenty of military in there, and I suspect the searchers would be unlikely to think of looking in a cinema.

[@thelastroman7791]

It’s very interesting to hear about the often forgotten German POW escapes during the Second World War. Keep up the great work Dr. Felton.

[@FunnyThingsHapenedOnTheWayto]

That because it doesn't fit the narratives. They don't like to make heroes out of NAZIs.

[@LongJ22]

@@FunnyThingsHapenedOnTheWayto who says that they where nazis? wtf german not equal to nazi

[@randomstranger7202]

@@FunnyThingsHapenedOnTheWayto You are correct!

[@thelastroman7791]

@@FunnyThingsHapenedOnTheWayto It’s unfortunate that people can’t get past their own biases on this matter. Good and evil men fought on both sides of the war. German soldiers were just as capable of being chivalrous and courageous as their allied counterparts, many times even more so.

[@carl48uk]

@@FunnyThingsHapenedOnTheWayto There is a story about a German Officer ( on the eastern front I think) being ordered to massacre some towns people. I can't remember his reply but he refused. Not all German soldiers were evil.

[@junejuly532]

This one felt like a movie. Still sitting in the cinema watching the casts roll up.

[@priitriisman5381]

British officers to the germans - "Heh, GG, nice try. Lets wine and dine and tell us more about your fine plans of escaping our great nation before we send you back north."

[@ArcticWolf00Alpha0]

Only Mark Felton could make a History Video and make you feel like you learned more in a single video than you would in school. AMAZING JOB!

[@slavicman-bd7jn]

"Hanz,we have few hours until the planes start taking off, what will we do?" "Lets go watch a movie!"

[@davidhorn6008]

Yes, and it's on You Tube, "The One That Got Away" -1957 film about the only German whom successfully escaped a British POW prison.

[@3.k]

@@davidhorn6008 I didn't check it right now, but that sounds like the story of Franz von Werra. I read the book about his escape when I was young, it's really good.

[@fortnerbuiltmotorsports444]

Who is disliking these videos? Mark Felton has done seriously extensive research and much respect!

[@JP-cy1lw]

Woke Liberals who want all WW2 history to be banned. The dregs of our society, that's who they are.

[@chriswatson3464]

Why does it matter? They're a small minority and I've disliked videos by mistake.

[@fortnerbuiltmotorsports444]

@@chriswatson3464 it matters because it’s true genuine history not opinions and he puts it across in the best possible way.

[@thriftstorechicken3395]

@@JP-cy1lw Normally I would say this is strawmaning, but I've seen enough crap on the internet to know this is accurate.

[@bobreams5178]

There's always a naysayer who can't be pleased.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Looking at the film clips of the Magister I was reminded of something. During the making of the film "Battle of Britain" in the late 1960's the filmmakers had all the aircraft they needed except for Stukas. So, they got the idea of taking Miles Magisters and cosmetically altering them to look like Stukas! Not a real stretch when you look at the airplane. In the end they decided against it, I think as it would have been a budget-buster, and went with 1/2 scale radio controlled Stuka models. Also, they were offered the Stuka from the Imperial War Museum and even got as far as getting the engine started, but making it 100% airworthy again would have been another budget-buster.

[@normantas_bataitis]

Mark Felton always bring stories that we never thought to be happened

[@Trek001]

What legends... I was almost hoping they had made it to be honest with you Also, fair play to the station commander who must have been a jolly sort to place two escaped prisoners under arrest but still gave them a send off dinner

[@simonh6371]

I knew from the beginning that they didn't make it. Only 1 German POW escaped from British captivity in WW2, on his 3rd attempt, in Canada. There was a film made about it in the 1950s starring Hardy Kruger, called ''The one that got away''. It's very accurate (I read the book many times as a kid) and worth watching even though it's an old black and white film.

[@Trek001]

@@simonh6371 Seen it many times...

[@dp-sr1fd]

Yes, they had slightly better treatment than the British escapees from Stalag Luft 111 didn't they.

[@randallfabian6640]

Had they escaped and returned to the Luftwaffe, it is unlikely they would have survived the war.

[@robinbrowne5419]

Thanks Mark. A great story of German ingenuity and British honour.

[@rickicoughlan8299]

Damn that was daring! They were probably lucky to get caught as the war didn't work out too well for Luftwaffe pilots anyway . . .

[@bobstevens9040]

There are some similarities with the story of Franz von Werra , "the one that got away". A film was made about him in the fifties starring Hardy Kruger. The photograph of the downed Bf 109 is his plane I believe , and he was interred at Grizedale Hall like the two POW's in the story. Similarly he hatched a plot to escape and steal a plane posing as a Dutch officer and very nearly pulled it off only being apprehended in the cockpit of a fighter plane ready to take off. He actually did successfully escape later on but from Canada , where he had been moved to , into the USA which was still neutral at this time. He made it back to Germany by a circuitous route but was killed later in a flying accident.

[@jerribee1]

Interned. Interred is something very different.

[@simonh6371]

I wanted to post a similar comment, having read the book ''The one that got away'' many times as a boy, and having watched the film of the same name, starring Hardy Kruger. As well as also being interned at Grizedale, he also phoned Swancote RAF base from a railway station, and got a lift to the base, posing as a Captain van Lott. He realised the game was up when the Adjutant asked him to show his ID disc, and reaching inside his flying jacket, found that it had turned to a pulp, being made of cardboard glued to a disc cut from a toothpaste tube, as the RAF officer, having his suspicions already, had ensured that the heating was on full blast in an attempt to get him to remove his flying suit. Von Werrra made an excuse and went to the toilet, and jumped out the window, and went on to a civilian testing facility next to the airfield, and actually managed to get into the cockpit of a Hurricane, whilst waiting for a civilian worker to bring an accumulator to start the aeroplane, but by this time the Adjutant had been advised that there was an escaped German airman on the loose who matched Von Werra's appearance, and forced him to get out at gunpoint.

[@b212hp]

That photo is indeed von Werra's 109.

[@capcompass9298]

Said he'd "pancaked a Whimpy", no less.

[@uttaradit2]

good film

[@alainarchambault2331]

Considering how the war went for Germany, they're lucky they didn't make it back.

[@TheMrgoodmanners]

I think the german army or the SS wouldnt have believed them had they succeeded. They may have thought them double agents or something

[@ErsteKlasse]

But imagine the guilt and regret they might have felt when they learned of Germany’s defeat and the bombings of German cities. Now I don’t know how hardlined they might be, but as Luftwaffe officers who came close to escaping and potentially aiding the war effort if anything, they certainly might have felt bad.

[@StumpyVandal]

There was another notorious escaping German Franz von Verra who eventually succeeded and was killed in battle only 6 months later.

[@oveidasinclair982]

These two Jerry's almost made, if they made it back they would most likely never have survived the war, but they had a great story to tell their grand kids

[@cymro6537]

The biggest German P.O.W escape was at Island farm ,camp 178 at Bridgend, South Wales . On the night of 11th of March 1945 ,70 German prisoners escaped through a tunnel .All were caught within two days - but two almost made it - they were apprehended at an airstrip near Birmingham - both were intending to steal a plane.. *SUBSCRIBED* 👍

[@caw25sha]

Lucky they were caught. If they had made it back to Germany they could have changed the course of the war. Seriously though, March 1945!

[@adjustablesquelch8535]

if somebody escapes with inginuity and doesnt hurt anybody in the process, what isn't there to admire?

[@nicholasmelby5361]

These two had serious moxie, courage and brains. I'm glad they survived the war.

[@mybluebelly]

They`re flyboys, probably just wanted to have some fun and raise the morale, lol.

[@billlansdell7225]

My grandfather learned to fly on the Tigermoth and Miles Magister. I have to wonder how many thousands of allied airmen also learned on them. Unsung heros.

[@debbieverret4033]

Excellent little story, one we wouldn't have heard anywhere else but here. Thank you, Mark!

[@bepolite6961]

Damn good try. Our guys saw it has their duty to try and escape, that is why these guys were treated with respect, they saw them as also doing their duty.

[@vstrom9586]

No one got hurt & it all happened in the middle of a war

[@mushroomsamba82]

It was nice having the modern day footage of the Magister flying.

[@geirholte1222]

What I really love about this channel is that he actually highlights "the other side"'s adventures, skill and heroics.

[@cardi3200]

This is ABSOLUTELY amazing!! I do not need to watch TV!

[@markfryer9880]

This has to have been one of the few times that I have learnt of an enemy aircraft being brought down by a Barrage Balloon wire.

[@chrisbrent7487]

It was reasonably common. They also served to break up bomber formations and make them easier targets for the hurricanes and spits.

[@bigtony4829]

I think they were more for stopping low level attacks and forcing the pilots to climb high and drop bombs higher up missing their targets ...Rather than actually bringing them down

[@Mr-Damage]

@@bigtony4829 pushing them higher gave time for the AA flak to arm itself also plus more time for the AA gunners and range finders to react by forcing them up.

What an amazing story! I would never have known about this plucky escape attempt if it wasn't for your excellent research, Mark. Top-notch, as always! I'm impressed how far they got and the chivalrous dinner is an important gesture, that they still held them in high regard despite being enemies. For all the airmen on both sides, it is their duty to serve, a notion they understood and respected that is often lost on us of the future generations. Great footage provided by High Flight as well.

[@robertrishel3685]

What a terrific story!!!! And really heartening that these men were well treated and respected as pilots and officers. It was a different time for sure.

[@j.d.peppmeier9041]

My dad was a B-24 pilot and POW at Stalag Luft I, adjacent to a Luftwaffe base. He would have admired these two enterprising German pilots and thought about maybe they could have done the same by stealing a German plane. Anyway I hope those two Kraut pilots lived a nice long life free from the horrors of war.

[@aunicornwithglasses3284]

Who needs history books and teachers when we have Mark Felton? My old history teacher would be jealous indeed.

[@hanzup4117]

I weep for the day we are no longer treated to such well-written and informative videos.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Don't worry - I'll be around for a while yet!

[@hanzup4117]

@@MarkFeltonProductions I'm going to hold you to that!

[@StevenKeery]

@@MarkFeltonProductions : I would have thought, Norway was a closer destination to try and reach, or would that have involved them flying too close to Northern RAF bases?

[@donovanburkhard]

Just imagine the adrenaline they must've felt all throughout their journey

[@penultimateh766]

For a brief time, they were soldiers again.

[@JP-cy1lw]

Yes and No. Excited at the prospect of freedom but unperturbed about being captured. They knew the Brits would treat them as human beings, not like the German people treated downed RAF and USAF freedom fighters that were hacked to death on capture!

[@bobshenix]

@@JP-cy1lw No way. If the Germans wanted to they could've massacred an enormous portion of the British forces at Dunkirk but as a gesture of goodwill they didn't... they were almost desperate for peace and Hitler was a well-known Anglophile that admired the Brits.

[@JP-cy1lw]

@@bobshenix I must admit that I tend to agree with you, but I would certainly not call it goodwill. The Germans, to my knowledge, have never shown goodwill towards any nation, never. Their wild barbaric attack on Rome, which destroyed the Roman Empire was a prelude to what is in their psyche and has been ever since. They have eventually achieved their aim, more or less, by now ruling over the whole of Europe in the guise of a 'union'. Some union when every member of their corrupt club has lost its right to self determination and democratic voice. EU 'Evil Union, sums it up. Now they are trying to capture Ukraine as another member so as to gain the lucrative energy and raw materials of the Ukraine, they are simply taking over where Hitler left off. It appears that the facts about the millions that died in Ukraine as a result of WW2 have been subdued by the ruling elite and globalist controllers. I think, and sincerely hope that they will fail in their aims this time.

[@burtelli]

@@JP-cy1lw what a bunch of crap

[@ScottHarbison]

Illustrates that we Brits have always been a soft touch. May that never change. It is easier for compassion to harden than for hatred to soften I reckon. Why this is the best country in the world.

[@SteveM-ly7oy]

I was so silly to doubt Dr Felton - I thought oh here we go, Hans Von Werra story. But I was wrong. Never heard of this one! Don't know how you do it, but every upload is an education.

[@WrightCycloneR1820]

Another great video Mark, many thanks. Three points: the pic of a shot down Bf109 is actually the aircraft of Franz von Werra "the one who got away", secondly the pic of "French pilots" in fact shows Canadian wing leader Jack Charles talking with Renee Mouchotte, they shared Biggin Hill's 1000th victory in May 1943. Thirdly, the best place to see an airworthy Magister today is at the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire, they have two of the world's three last airworthy examples and both feature in this video.

[@Mr_Bean_Stalk]

The voiceover is the best TTS I've ever heard.

[@razz0rric106]

The one that got away Franz Von Werra (played by Hardy Kruger in the film) is a good read/film also. And he escaped from Canada to rejoin the German war on the Eastern front as a fighter pilot. This is also a daring amazing story.

[@SafetyProMalta]

Cracking yarn...They were probably very lucky to have not reached Holland. Most likely they would not have survived the war if put back into the Luftwaffe.

[@newtronix]

And not a Michael Palin in sight!

[@bradwilliams7683]

Or been shot down by their own.

[@444mopar]

Little did they know how much better off they were!

[@Deebz270]

@@newtronix Eh?

[@ElmoUnk1953]

@@Deebz270 Look up “Ripping Yarns” with Michael Palin “Escape From Luftstalag 7” none of the English want to escape. 😁

[@Mihalyofficial]

Wow even listening to this story had me sweating...i cant even imagine what they felt...thanks mark

[@Raftjumper07]

This story made me smile and laugh at the determination of these two Luftwaffe pilots! So Good!

[@henryrodgers7386]

Back in the '50s, my grandfather visited a war cemetery in Holland to pay respects to his cousin, then flew to West Germany on a tiny little passenger aircraft... He got to talk with the pilot, who'd flown a Dornier bomber in the war. He also wound up in a Canadian prison camp. He said that the guards' horror stories about bears, wildcats, and "mooses" were very effective at keeping order. (Especially the mooses!) I wonder what that bomber pilot felt, knowing that his imprisonment probably saved his life.

[@joshuamacbeath]

I was chuckling the whole way through this at the sheer audacity of these blokes and just how far they got. Thanks Mark, what a story!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Don't forget the TV program about a German POW camp, "Hogan's Heros."

[@nameunavailable1330]

bump

[@geigertec5921]

I see nothing! Nothing!

[@gregb6469]

They had no desire to escape from Stalag 13.

[@kaykutcher2103]

@@gregb6469 Stalag 17 though.

[@tinkerwithstuff]

Some dig themselves out of prison. Mark Felton always digs out the war stories hardly anyone heard about.

[@dx1450]

I remember watching a documentary on the History Channel (many years ago, obviously, back when they still had history documentaries) about a couple of German POW's who escaped from an American POW camp in Arizona. That would also make an interesting video, even though they didn't stay at large for long.

[@mrtrailesafety]

“You can see where I’m going with this tale...” Dr Felton baits the hook.

[@rhodriowen7135]

Honestly, I’m quite disappointed their escape failed

[@mongoslade5248]

Thanks 4 the heads up.

[@f.dmcintyre4666]

Long term they were better off getting captured, they most likely would have been killed somewhere in combat...............Bless....

[@tyrionlannister4920]

​@@f.dmcintyre4666 valid point. in hindsight im glad they got captured again and survived the war...

[@MrOlgrumpy]

@@f.dmcintyre4666 Or likely killed more allied servicemen/civilians [ one bomber pilot,one fighter ]

[@samkangal8428]

But so they survived the war,They would have probably died otherwise.

[@your_royal_highness]

There is a little known story about a top U-Boat ace who managed to plan an escape for he and three other sub captains from a Canadian POW camp in Ontario and go all the way to the east coast to meet up with a U-Boat. One of the guys made it all the way there. Unfortunately for him, the Canadians had known about the plot from the get go. They wanted to capture the U Boat so they waited. The U Boat captain saw the ships and although he hung around a bit, finally took off. The POW was of course recaptured.

[@msgfrmdaactionman3000]

You might like the 1970 film, The McKenzee Break its fictionally partially based on that story.

[@richardwhite7336]

Was it Otto Kretchmer?

[@your_royal_highness]

@@richardwhite7336 He was one of four, but for some reason only one was chosen to escape and I do not remember that guy’s name. Impressive he made it all the way there. Yes the Canadians were expecting him but they did not help him find his way to Nova Scotia (or maybe it was Newfoundland)

[@briquetaverne]

It's so interesting to see these old birds flying. How amazingly advanced we've become in one century. My Grandfather in the first World war was perched high up in an observation balloon tethered with a cable. He had field glasses and a pair of semaphore flags. He used to tell everyone in my childhood that he was an "airman" until after being pumped for more information where he'd eventually say he was in the signal corps, but he'd say that he had a parachute while pilots didn't.

[@jameslanning8405]

"What pluck!" This would make a good movie.

[@ianwatson194]

While living in Nottingham I remember hearing a story of a German POW who did something similar at RAF Hucknall

[@peterhewson3216]

Franz von Werra

[@simonh6371]

The one that got away, i.e. the only German POW to escape back to Germany from British captivity during WW2. Only that attempt failed, he finally made it by jumping out of a train in Canada, and stealing a canoe and crossing the River St. Lawrence into the USA.

[@LastThree804]

This feels like a Hogan’s Heroes episode... Many Germans who were kept in Canada eventually stayed and married Canadians, often they were put to work on farms and some married the locals. In Quebec (French Canada) it was common for them to convert to Catholicism and change their name so their children wouldn’t bear any stigmas. For example: “L’allemand” (the German) is fairly common if not unoriginal.

[@JohnSmith-vg4jd]

I live in Milwaukee, WI and during the war there were several POW camps in the area, one near the airport. Back then, many people in Milwaukee still spoke a lot of German. One story goes that a couple German POWs "escaped" one night but didn't go anywhere. Apparently they went bar hoping in down town and were picked up by MPD on the street, drunk, laughing and having a good time. They didn't put up fight.

[@dwlopez57]

If I had to put money on it I would bet that the story is true

[@oktawianciez6481]

What an extraordinary attempt! They were lucky enough, to have failed it though, and survive the war. Thx to dr. Felton for a brief mention of Polish 18% rate of downings of German planes in the battle of England.

[@littlejimmy8744]

18% is quite high number. Its similar to the Luftwaffe bomber gunners who shot down 11% of all the allied fighters in the Battle of Britain.

[@presidentxijinpingspoxdoct9756]

The Free Polish forces fought like lions in the air and on the ground.

[@walterweiss7124]

@@presidentxijinpingspoxdoct9756 and after the war their govt in exile had to pay their logis in gold to the limeys, British gratitude

[@presidentxijinpingspoxdoct9756]

@@walterweiss7124 Blame Germany and USSR for Poland's predicament, not Britain.

[@Jester-Riddle]

@@walterweiss7124 ... Britain however, only just finished paying the Americans back financially in the last approx 30 years, or less. Germany was funded to be rebuilt to save lives and those debts were written off ... Britain joined in War against Germany because Poland was invaded ... and Poland was freed. Any more complaints ... ???

[@peterszar]

You have to hand it to them, they were balls and slick. Pretty cool story, love this channel.

[@percentagon4761]

The background music at the intro on this vid, any time I hear it even on other people's channels I instantly think of u

[@Flurb_Xray]

Quite interesting and amazing story. My German grandfather also became a P.O.W. in Britain by the very end of the war. As far as I know he was in Ledbury Camp in Herefordshire and even involved in a famous British court process (a case of murder). He always pointed out, he was treated well and fair by the British. Due the fact the war was over, he was even allowed to leave the camp and meet locals.

[@jetstreamer374]

Nobody asked them to say "Scheveningen" to check wether they were true Dutch pilots :D

[@sudarshanpujari5503]

So what is the correct pronunciation, just in case I need to escape pow camps

[@dutchdelights]

@@sudarshanpujari5503 Scheveningen, LUL.

[@erhardbaehni1832]

Or how about neuken in de keuken..

[@rubenyoranpc]

@@dutchdelights why did you call him a dick? He only asked about the pronunciation...

[@dutchdelights]

@@rubenyoranpc Oh sorry no, it a quote from a movie, the soldier of orange. Typical dutch 70 ies movie dirty language, always found it funny. The way they d try so hard to stay down to earth instead of high brow. Typical for the generation struggle at the time.

[@Kent28Sep]

Me : *about to sleep YT : Want to know how German PoW stole British Plane? Me : *i wake

[@kevindarroch7332]

Dear Mark, thank you for your very good work. World class. I met a senior German official once who told that one of the best times in his life had been in a particular commonwealth prison time camp. But he told me to never tell certain others what he had said. Well, one day, somewhere there should be the right place I hope.

[@benbaker2965]

So relatable. Any POW just wants to get back home. And these two were very clever. You have to be impressed. And gotta love the Brits for being so darn cordial.

[@Pathfinders_Ascend]

Not gonna lie, I wanted to see them succeed. Good on the British for being such great sport throughout the whole ordeal XD

[@oveidasinclair982]

Hey Brit, Canadian and French POW's were trying to do the same thing in occupied Europe, it was their duty. In most cases the Jerry's treated allied airman the same way, they only started getting nasty towards them in 44-45 due to their country's precarious situation during that time period.

[@FallNorth]

I think the two air forces had a lot of respect for each other, seeing themselves as kindred spirits on opposite sides doing their job. Like the Luftwaffe would protect RAF pilots shot down in Germany, who were sometimes mistreated or worse.

[@pesnevim1626]

In these miserable times Dr Felton regaling us with stories of real men really cheer me up. Thank you.

[@schweddyballs1163]

Can ALWAYS rely on Mark to drop a story I've never heard about.

[@kseel6453]

Sending German POWs to Canada only made it easier for escape. Oberleutnant Franz von Werra was shot down over Britain in 1940, made several escapes, including attempting to steal a plane, was recaptured several times, transported by ship to Canada, jumped off the train in Canada on way to POW camp, made his way to neutral USA by walking over frozen lake, and back to Germany to fly again.

[@HaHawk]

I really enjoyed this uplifting and almost whimsical tale, as compared to the sadder stories we (rightfully, but with some difficulty) usually hear. Thanks Dr Felton

[@kickingmustang]

Here I am laying in bed dreaming of escaping from Covid lockup in England... Feeling this one 😣

[@craigkdillon]

Covid has made us our own prisoners, AND our own wardens.

[@WildVikingMarauder]

Love your videos mustang. You and Mark have always reminded me of each other for some reason haha. Can’t agree with you more from here in Canada. Would like to have some freedom again. Cheers

[@dreispulentraum]

Stay Strong and Healthy. Albion and Hogwarts may be out of EU, but not out of Europa. ^^

[@TheBGjosh]

I hear they make you wear a mask outside in the UK

[@anthropoid2405]

Me too my friend, keep safe.

[@Doughboy842]

Mark Felton's vids is like a treasure cove full of hidden gems of history.

[@jeroenarends5234]

Imposing as Dutch pilots with completely un-Dutch sounding names.

[@georgerobert4709]

To be fair most brits back then would have had difficulty telling one from the other , if indeed they recognised either. Brits are not known for language skills.even today.

[@MrQ454]

most foreign pilots in RAF would used loan names to protect their families in German-occupied territories