The escape tunnel "Harry" dug by the prisoners of Stalag Luft III near Sagan, Germany (now Zagan, Poland) was completed. The audacious plan created by fighter pilot Roger Bushell to escape some 200 prisoners of war was scheduled for ten days later and had involved every man of the 600 prisoners in the camp having a specific role to play. In the event the tunnel was found to end short of a protective screen of trees and only 76 men got out before the Germans discovered the tunnel's exit.
