These often involved pilots charged with dangerous flying. After a period, Bushell was appointed to military cases in prosecuting RAF personnel charged with various offenses. From the outset of his legal career, many commented on his ability as a lawyer, particularly in criminal defence. Īlthough Bushell was pursuing a career with the RAF, he was not hampered in his attempts to become a barrister-at-Law of Lincoln's Inn, London. He was commissioned on 10 August 1932 and promoted to flying officer on 10 February 1934, and flight lieutenant on 20 July 1936. 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), which was often referred to as 'The Millionaires' Mob' because of the number of wealthy young men who paid their way solely to learn how to fly during training days (often on weekends). RAF Auxiliary and legal career ĭespite his sporting prospects, one of Bushell's primary wishes was to fly. Squadron Leader Roger Bushell (right) with Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck. īushell became fluent in French and German, with a good accent, which became extremely useful during his time as a prisoner of war. Although he recovered from this accident, he developed a dark drooping in his left eye as a result of scarring from his stitches. Īt an event in Canada, Bushell had an accident in which one of his skis narrowly missed his left eye, leaving him with a gash in the corner of it. He additionally won the slalom event of the annual Oxford-Cambridge ski race in 1931. Moritz, Switzerland, in memory of his efforts to organize the Swiss-Anglo ski meetings. After the war he had a black run named after him in St. One of Bushell's passions and talents was skiing: in the early 1930s, he was declared the fastest Briton in the male downhill category. Keen on pursuing non-academic interests from an early age, Bushell excelled in rugby and cricket and skied for Cambridge in races between 19, captaining the team in 1931. In 1929, Bushell then went to Pembroke College, Cambridge, to study law. He was first schooled in Johannesburg, then aged 14 went to Wellington College in Berkshire, England.

His father, a mining engineer, had emigrated to the country from Britain and he used his wealth to ensure that Roger received a first-class education. He masterminded the 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III in 1944, but was one of the 50 escapees to be recaptured and subsequently murdered by the Gestapo.īushell was born in Springs, Transvaal, South Africa, on 30 August 1910 to English parents, Benjamin Daniel and Dorothy Wingate Bushell (née White). Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell (30 August 1910 – 29 March 1944) was a South African-born British military aviator. Bushell in his Royal Air Force uniform shortly before his capture

The Great Escaper by Simon Pearson