Bram van der Stok was born in the Dutch East Indies back in 1915. He attended school at Lyceum Alpinum in Switzerland before studying medicine at Leiden University, then he continued his medical studies at Utrecht University. He joined the Netherland’s Air Force just prior to the outbreak of WWII.
When Germany invaded the Netherlands, he was able to stowaway on a Swiss merchant ship reaching Scotland in 1941. He trained with the Royal Air Force. Between December 1941 to April 1942 he qualified as a flying ace having shot down 6 aircraft of the Luftwaffe. In 1942, he was flying a mission in Northern France when he was shot down and immediately captured.
He was incarcerated at Stalag Luft III, where he was assigned to work in the medical facility due to his medical training.
He attempted to escape twice but was caught, on the third attempt he and 76 other men were successful, all but three were either caught or killed, Bram being one of those three who reached neutral Sweden.
After the war, he completed his education as a OB-GYN in Syracuse, New York. He died in 1993.
What you may not know about Bram is that he is the most decorated aviator in Dutch history. His escape was the basis for the move “The Great Escape”.
Until tomorrow give someone the free gift of a smile
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