InSpire 2024 - 19th May
This year’s InSpireRide event at the International Bomber Command Centre will pay tribute to the men of Stalag Luft III who took part in the ‘Great Escape’ in March 1944.
On the night of March 24, 1944, and into the early hours of the next morning, 76 allied airmen from German Prisoner of War camp, the Stalag Luft III, made their way along the tunnel codenamed ‘Harry’, one of three tunnels codenamed 'Tom,' 'Dick' and 'Harry' that had been excavated in secret over the prior 15 months.
Led by RAF officer Squadron Leader Roger Bushell , two hundred men were initially chosen to crawl to freedom, however only 76 made it out – as the 76th man was crawling towards the woods, he was spotted by a German guard. Unfortunately, all but three escapers were re-captured and 50 were ordered to be executed by Hitler, who was enraged by the scale and the audacity of the escape.
Twenty eight of the fifty executed were members of Bomber Command and are remembered on the IBCC memorial walls.
The Hollywood blockbuster film, ‘The Great Escape’ was released in 1963 and was loosely based on this true story. The film is widely considered a classic and known for the direction by John Sturges and for a cast that included Steve McQueen in one of his defining roles.
His role as the “cooler king” Virgil Hilts is still best remembered for THAT motorcycle jump scene across a 12ft tall, barbed wire fence on a Triumph TR6 650 Special!
‘That motorcycle jump’ is one of the most famous film scenes of all time and is the link to our motorcycle event, InSpireRide2024, on Sunday 19th May 2024 at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln.
Ticket options
This year’s InSpireRide event at the International Bomber Command Centre will pay tribute to the men of Stalag Luft III who took part in the ‘Great Escape’ in March 1944.
On the night of March 24, 1944, and into the early hours of the next morning, 76 allied airmen from German Prisoner of War camp, the Stalag Luft III, made their way along the tunnel codenamed ‘Harry’, one of three tunnels codenamed 'Tom,' 'Dick' and 'Harry' that had been excavated in secret over the prior 15 months.
Led by RAF officer Squadron Leader Roger Bushell , two hundred men were initially chosen to crawl to freedom, however only 76 made it out – as the 76th man was crawling towards the woods, he was spotted by a German guard. Unfortunately, all but three escapers were re-captured and 50 were ordered to be executed by Hitler, who was enraged by the scale and the audacity of the escape.
Twenty eight of the fifty executed were members of Bomber Command and are remembered on the IBCC memorial walls.
The Hollywood blockbuster film, ‘The Great Escape’ was released in 1963 and was loosely based on this true story. The film is widely considered a classic and known for the direction by John Sturges and for a cast that included Steve McQueen in one of his defining roles.
His role as the “cooler king” Virgil Hilts is still best remembered for THAT motorcycle jump scene across a 12ft tall, barbed wire fence on a Triumph TR6 650 Special!
‘That motorcycle jump’ is one of the most famous film scenes of all time and is the link to our motorcycle event, InSpireRide2024, on Sunday 19th May 2024 at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln.
Our payments are processed using : WorldPay
