JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Frank Grey, a veteran of World War II and Korea who was imprisoned in the notorious Stalag 17 after his plane was shot down, has died at the age of 90.
Grey was nicknamed the "Grey Ghost" by fellow prisoners of war after he spent weeks hiding in tunnels at Stalag 17 before escaping to the outside world.
"Many people say he was an escape artist when it counted and he was," his son, Bill Grey, told First Coast News in Jacksonville, Fla.
Grey, a native of West Virginia, spent 23 years in the military. He was a tail gunner on a B-17 and was captured on his 12th mission.
Two years ago, Grey in an interview said that he was one of the models for Sefton, the character played by William Holden in the movie "Stalag 17,"
Grey also flew 57 missions as part of a B-29 crew in the Korean War.
He received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
