Tony Bethell
R. Anthony Bethell | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Tony" |
| Born | 9 April 1922 Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika Territory |
| Died | 17 February 2004 (aged 81) Canada |
| Buried | Metis-sur-Mer, Quebec |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1945, 1949–1955 |
| Rank | Flight lieutenant |
| Service number | 120413 |
| Unit | No. 268 Squadron No. 16 Squadron No. 145 Squadron |
| Battles / wars | Second World War Cold War |
| Spouse(s) | Lorna Bethell |
| Known for | One of the "Great Escapers" |
Richard Anthony Bethell (9 April 1922 – 17 February 2004) was born in Dar es Salaam in the British territory of Tanganyika. He joined the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. After his Mustang was shot down he was taken prisoner and held in the German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III at Sagan where he participated in the Great Escape, being one of the 76 officers to break out and make some distance across enemy occupied territory before being recaptured. His name was not one of the 50 who were picked to be executed and he, with 25 others, went back into captivity. He retired from the RAF in 1955 and worked in financial services in Canada. He died in Canada in 2004.