One of favorite escapes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Papago_Escape

They built boats to sail down the Salt River, to the Colorado River, and to Mexico. Of course the salt river is almost always just a dry river bed. It's shocking to me that no dramatization of this escape exists

I don't think the Great Papago Escape was that great - "Over the next few weeks, all of the escapees were eventually recaptured without bloodshed."

The thing that makes this balloon escape story is so enthralling is that it actually worked.

Interesting story. The lack of dramatization might have something to do with making Nazis sympathetic characters. Hogans Heroes aside.