- Eric Dowling
Eric Perry Dowling (22 July 1915, Glastonbury, Somerset - July 21 2008, Stoke Bishop) was a British
Royal Air Force navigator who participated in theWorld War II breakout known as "The Great Escape". He earned the nickname "Digger" and was a partial inspiration for both theCharles Bronson andDonald Pleasance characters in the film, of which he was critical. While imprisoned he became fluent in five languages. He achieved the rank ofSquadron Leader .He later worked in Norway as an air crash investigator for the RAF, where he met his wife (Agnes) Marie (d. 1997). They married in January 1946 after a six-week courtship. They had a son, Peter, and a daughter, Susan. After leaving the RAF he worked for
British Aerospace at Filton, Bristol.External links
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2510732/War-veteran-who-helped-inspire-The-Great-Escape-film-dies.html Obituary]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2510037/Eric-Dowling-inspiration-for-The-Geat-Escape-dies.html Obituary]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2518460/Eric-Dowling.html Obituary]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Obit-Great-Escape-Veteran.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=%22Eric%20Dowling%22&st=cse&oref=slogin Obituary]
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