Edward Arthur Tovrea

Military

Lost flying with the Biggin Hill Sector in Spitfire 19 August 1942. Became a Prisoner of War (POW). The National Archives Records Administration (NARA) does not have a POW record for this airman.



Ed was shot down over the channel while flying a Spitfire for the 307th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group. Said to be one of the men used for the fictional character played by Steve McQueen in the move "The Great Escape". He was captured in August 1942 after being shoot down during the British raid on Dieppe. He was sent from Dulag Luft to Stalag Luft III in September of 1942. He was eventually transferred out to Stalag 6B and then finally to Stalag 7A where he was liberated.

Connections

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Units served with

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft VI, Heydekrug
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Tucson, Arizona 16 April 1919

Died

Phoenix, Arizona 11 July 1983

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93121735/edward-arthur-tovrea;
Lee Cunningham 20-Oct-2014 "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Nov-2014. Description edit.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hey p. 26