I suspect the creator of Hogan's Heroes got his inspiration from something like this.
Doolittle raider David M. Jones (pilot of Crew 5) was responsible for the digging of tunnel Harry in Stalag Luft III. He was captured by the Germans on December 4, 1942, after being shot down with his plane. The escape tunnel is wellknown from the movie The Great Escape
Doolittle raider David M. Jones (pilot of Crew 5) was responsible for the digging of tunnel Harry in Stalag Luft III. He was captured by the Germans on December 4, 1942, after being shot down with his plane. The escape tunnel is wellknown from the movie The Great Escape