Last survivor of the Great Escape dies aged 99: RAF airman Richard Churchill who escaped death as Nazis thought he might be related to Sir Winston Richard Churchill crawled through tunnels to escape Nazi camp Stalag Luft III The airman, who was among 76 men to escape, has now died at the age of 99 Only three got away cleanly, but Mr Churchill was recaptured three days later By Daily Mail Reporter Published: 23:36 GMT, 14 February 2019 | Updated: 23:36 GMT, 14 February 2019 Viewcomments Airman Richard Churchill, the last survivor of the Great Escape, has died at 99 The last survivor of the Great Escape has died aged 99. Airman Richard Churchill was among the 76 men who crawled through tunnels in 1944 to escape Stalag Luft III, a Nazi prisoner of war camp. However, only three of the men got clean away and 50 were rounded up and shot on Hitler’s direct orders. Mr Churchill was recaptured three days after the escape. He and his comrade Bob Nelson were found by farmers hiding in a barn and were handed over to the Germans. The RAF man believed he was not shot because the Nazis thought he may be related to Winston Churchill. After his recapture Mr Churchill, of Crediton, Devon, was forced into gruelling winter marches across Germany. The Great Escape was immortalised in the 1963 film starring Sir Richard Attenborough and Steve McQueen. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility