A Second World War pilot who was involved in the Great Escape has died aged 101, according to an RAF charity.

In 1941 Jack Lyon’s bomber plane was struck by flak near Dusseldorf in Germany, the RAF Benevolent Fund said.

All of the bomber’s crew survived the crash-landing, only to be captured by the Nazis and taken to prisoner of war camps.

Mr Lyon, who was a flight lieutenant, ended up in the Stalag Luft III camp, where he was recruited by other prisoners to carry out surveillance of the compound ahead of the famed 1944 Great Escape breakout.

The plot was uncovered by guards before Mr Lyon, who died on Friday, was able to make his escape.

My Lyon, who lived in Bexhill-on-Sea, in Sussex, was one of the last surviving prisoners of war from the camp involved in the plot, according to an RAF Benevolent Fund spokeswoman.

In what is believed to be his last interview, which he did with the charity in October ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Great Escape, he labelled the mission “a success, but at great cost”.

Jack Lyon
Jack Lyon did not manage to successfully break out of his prisoner of war camp before guards uncovered the plot (RAF Benevolent Fund/PA)

There was a “terrible aftermath” to the breakout because 50 prisoners were shot, he said.

Mr Lyon, who joined the air force aged 23, added: “We were allocated a position and told not to move until called. It was going to be a long night.

“After an hour or so of this, air raid sirens sounded and all the camp lights went out.

“We were left in total darkness until I heard a single shot.

“We guessed that probably meant the tunnel had been discovered so we did everything we could to destroy anything incriminating – there were maps, documents.”

The odds of successfully breaking out of the camp were “slim”, according to Mr Lyon.

He said: “In a mass breakout, with nationwide hue and cry and bad weather, I would say they were virtually nil.

“Well I suppose I was lucky.”

Air Commodore Charles Clarke, a 95-year-old who was a prisoner of war in the same camp as Mr Lyon, called him an “incredibly remarkable man”.

Air Cdre Clarke said: “He was a great entertainer, even in recent years.

“His eyes sparkled.”

The Great Escape is “something that we must always remember”, Air Cdre Clarke added.

The 75th anniversary of the prison break is on March 24 and is being marked with a commemorative film screening by the RAF Benevolent Fund, hosted by TV historian Dan Snow.

The event will be streamed live to hundreds of UK cinemas, according to organisers.

Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, chief executive of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “Jack belonged to a generation of servicemen we are sadly losing as time goes on.

“His legacy and those of his brave comrades who planned and took part in the audacious Great Escape breakout are the freedoms we enjoy today.

“Their tenacity and determination spoke volumes about the values and bravery of the entire RAF, in helping to win the fight against the Nazis.”

Mr Lyon, who lived in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, died shortly before the 75th anniversary of the breakout, which is on March 24.

Last month Dick Churchill, the last surviving member of the 76-strong group who made it out of the camp, died aged 99.