Retracing an RAF hero's 'Great Escape' (From The Oxford Times)

Retracing an RAF hero's 'Great Escape'

7:00am Monday 11th April 2011 in Wallingford By Ben Wilkinson

A TEAM of 12 cyclists from RAF Benson are to retrace the 860-mile escape route of a pilot who was shot down in the Second World War to raise money for charity.

Bomber pilot George Duffee, 87, parachuted into Nazi-occupied Holland in 1943.

The pilot from 78 Squadron followed the Cométe Line for more than 1,500 miles through Belgium, France, and Spain – taking him four months – before reaching Gibraltar and returning to Britain by air. He then flew another 39 missions before the end of the war.

The cyclists, who are also from Squadron 78, will cover 860 miles of the route, from near Eindhoven in Holland, along the Cométe Line through Belgium and France to the border with Spain.

After the five-day ride, they will climb across the Pyrenees on the night of August 17 to mark the 70th anniversary of the first escape down the Cométe Line.

They will finish their trip at San Sebastian and hope to raise more than £10,000 in sponsorship.

Sergeant Jon Bailey, 29, said: “What he did is pretty amazing.

“He not only escaped all this way and survived for four months on his own, but came back and flew more missions.”

The cyclists will be guided along the way by the grandchildren of those who helped British servicemen more than 60 years ago.

Most of the cash will be shared between the British Red Cross and Urology Cancer Research and Education (Ucare). A further 10 per cent will go to the Escape Lines Memorial Society.

Sergeant Peter Hicks, 35, said: “When you listen to this guy’s story it is quite inspirational. It should not be forgotten.

“We want to highlight his story and what they went through.”

Last year eight members of 78 Squadron conquered the six mountains in Britain with a 80kg dummy on a stretcher to raise £9,000 for Help for Heroes and Ucare.

For more information or to donate visit charity giving.co.uk/ exhomerun