Markle, Alexander Gilmour (Flight Sergeant)

Prisoner of War Escapee 1942-November-08

450Sqn RAAF operated from RAF Station Gambut Egypt from mid-1941. Markle joined the squadron in late Spring 1942.

1942-08-29: He was injured in a scrap with an enemy aircraft over Mersa Matruh, Egypt. 1942-11-08: Markle's P-40 Kittyhawk was damaged in an air fight over Sidi Barrani Road, Egypt, and made a forced landing there following it.

From University of Alberta Alumni Association:

A fighter pilot, Markle was twice shot down in the North African campaign. In August 1942 he was shot down while dive-bombing enemy troops at El Alamein. He crashed behind enemy lines, but luck was with him that dayââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âhe was found and picked up by two British armoured cars. After two weeks in hospital he was back flying in time for the "big show" when Montgomery smashed through at Alamein.

In November 1942 he was again shot down. This time he was not as fortunate. Captured by Italian soldiers, he spent 10 months in Italian prison camps before taking part in the largest mass prisoner-of-war escape in history. He spent seven months hiding from German troops before eventually making it across the Italian Alps to the safety of the Allied lines.

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