Every stalag had its central security committee. At Stalag Luft III it was called the Big X and was run by a charismatic Eighth Air Force fighter pilot, Lt. Col. Albert P. “Bub” Clark, one of the first Americans to be shot down in the war and the officer who had been in charge of security in North Compound for the Great Escape. All escape plans were to be cleared with X. If a plan was given a reasonable chance of succeeding and did not interfere with another escape plan, it could expect to receive X’s approval and active assistance. Each compound also had its own security committee to guard
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