Savage is shot down, and he and three rambunctious crewmen, "Baby", "Doc", and "Moxey", are imprisoned in Stalag Luft 12 with other Allied airmen. The camp commander is Col. Max Richter, a Prussian who likes nothing better than to thwart escape attempts. The Senior British Officer (SBO) is Group Captain Maurice Brail, a Canadian in the RAF. To build resentment between the prisoners and Savage, Richter keeps him segregated, gives him special food, and he and Richter go for drives. Brail comes to see Savage and keeps in contact using "Adolf the Cat" as a messenger. Moxey becomes an operator and gets several passes, which the group uses in the escape. After an air raid, Richter orders all officers inside. Some disobey and are going to be shot. Savage risks all to save them.