The Last Escaper

When Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot Peter Tunstall and his crew became lost during a World War II night bombing mission, they were taken as prisoners of war by the Germans. At the POW camp, Tunstall immediately began following the instructions given to RAF officers in such situations, “try to escape” and “be as big a bloody nuisance as possible to the enemy.” What follows is an account of his escape attempts and harassment of the guards as he was shuttled between various POW camps and solitary confinement due to his capers. Over the years, Tunstall escaped and was caught over eight times using various methods, including one where he dressed up as a German guard and brazenly walked through the front gate with his unknowing guards saluting him. From laugh out loud moments of hilarious pranks on the guards, to sobering accounts of the physical and psychological tolls on the men, the story provides a personal look at life in the German POW camps. The Last Escaper showcases the ingenuity of one man hell-bent on escaping, and the power of his indomitable spirit; it’s a story that will linger long after the book ends.