Veteran World War 2 pilot, Vyvyan Howard, dies at 102

Vyvyan Howard was A World War 2 pilot, who was a prisoner of war at the camp made famous by the film The Great Escape.

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Vyvyan Howard, a Great Escape prisoner, passes away at age 102.

After his plane was shot down in 1941, Banbury native Captain Vyvyan Howard was arrested and detained at the German Stalag Luft III camp. He assisted with efforts made at the time to tunnel under the boundary fences. Following his passing at a nursing facility in Banbury, Oxfordshire, his family paid tribute to his “quiet wisdom.” Prior to the onset of World War 2, Mr. Howard enlisted in the Royal Navy as a pilot. He was shot down and captured during the disastrous Kirkenes raid in northern Norway.

He was held as a prisoner of war by the Nazis for 2.5 years in Lower Silesia, which is today a part of Poland. He participated in escape attempts that were depicted in the movies The Wooden Horse and The Great Escape at that time. Vyvyan and others repeatedly vaulted over a vaulting horse that was blocking the trap door to an escape tunnel during the wooden horse attempt. He wasn’t one of the escapees from the camp during the 1944 Great Escape, but he utilized his fluent German to talk to the guards and divert them from the clandestine tunnels, Tom, Dick, and Harry were being dug.

 The so-called Long March, which began in January 1945, saw the camp move westward in perilous winter weather before being freed by British forces at Lubeck in May. Later, Mr. Howard claimed that a Polish soldier’s suggestion to him to “never take your boots off” in order to keep his feet from swelling had saved his life. He continued his career in the Fleet Air Arm after the war, when he was recognized for his valor during the Suez Crisis with the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).

Naval Translator

His proficiency in Polish, which he acquired while a prisoner of war, allowed him to work as a naval translator before rising to the position of British Naval Attaché in Bonn, West Germany. On the occasion of his 100th birthday in 2019, he reflected on his wartime memories, saying: “It was terribly dreadful, but you were in it, and that was it; you couldn’t just walk out of the door.”

According to his son Vyvyan, who is also named Vyvyan, “a lot of the war experiences only came out later in life, in common with a lot of individuals of that generation. His family came first, and he possessed gentle wisdom. He said, “He was a wonderful man. On September 30, a funeral service for Captain Howard will be placed at Mollington Parish Church.

Vyvyan Howard Age, Family, Early Life

Vyvyan Howard was 102 years old at the time of his death. He holds British nationality and he belongs to white ethnicity. His Zodiac sign and ethnicity are unknown.

Vyvyan Howard has prohibited the media from knowing specifics about his family, therefore there are no details available.

Vyvyan Howard Wife, What about his Children?

Howard was a married man. He has one son but, his son and his wife’s identity still remain unknown.

Vyvyan Howard Career, What was his profession?

Before the outbreak of World War 2, Mr. Howard joined the Royal Navy as a pilot. He was shot down and captured during the disastrous Kirkenes raid in northern Norway. He wasn’t one of the escapees from the camp during the 1944 Great Escape, but he utilized his fluent German to talk to the guards and divert them from the clandestine tunnels, Tom, Dick, and Harry were being dug.

The so-called Long March, which began in January 1945, saw the camp move westward in perilous winter weather before being freed by British forces at Lubeck in May. Later, Mr. Howard claimed that a Polish soldier’s suggestion to him to “never take your boots off” in order to keep his feet from swelling had saved his life.

How much is Vyvyan Howard Net Worth?

Vyvyan Howard has not disclosed his financial details. Thus it is hard to estimate his net worth.

Also Read: Famous English Musician, Paul Sartin, dies at 51

Which school and college did he go to?

There are no available details regarding Vyvyan Howard’s educational background.

Is he available on any kind of social media platform?

We also looked for Vyvyan Howard on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms but were unable to locate her. He must have a social media account under a different name, or he may not have any.

Physical Appearance of Vyvyan Howard’s Height, Weight

Interesting facts about Vyvyan Howard’s should be knows