Bill Ash is a genuine American hero whom most people know, although they don’t. I’ll explain. In 1939, this young Texan decided to go and fight Hitler. Since the U.S. hadn't yet joined the war effort, Ash hitchhiked to Canada and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. They trained him and sent him to England where he flew Spitfires on some of the most daring missions.
In March of '42, he was shot down over France. He survived the crash land, and then evaded capture for months with the help of locals. Eventually, he was betrayed to the Gestapo and he was captured. The Luftwaffe moved him to one of the most severe Prisoner of War camps, Stalag Luft III. From there, he became the man they could not hold — a master escape artist who broke out of that camp and many others.
Mr.Ash learned after the war, that by taking money from the crown, he had lost his American citizenship. He then became a naturalized British subject.That's some reward for answering the call, huh?
Any of this sounds familiar? The Steve McQueen movie, The Great Escape was based on Ash's life. Mr. Ash turns 95 years old this week.
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