Iconic Carry On star revealed as World War Two hero who helped plan Great Escape Carry On legendary actor Peter Butterworth has been revealed as a World War Two hero who helped plan the Great Escape from Stalag Luft camp in Poland.
According to the National Archives, Peter, who was best known for his cheeky one-liners, was a POW [a prisoner of war] who helped 76 airmen flee Poland on March 24 1944, one year before the war ended.
Peter was an airman with the Fleet Air Arm but was targeted and shot down at the beginning of the second World War and spent the remainder of his time as a prisoner of war.
For more than 60 years, Carry On films brought light humour and escapism to the home of many households across the nation and made stars out of actors including Kenneth Williams , Barbara Windsor and Sid James.
The actor, who was then known as Lt Butterworth realised he could pass coded messages to the British Intelligence, as the prisoners were allowed to write letters home to their loved ones.
