Paul Chester Jerome Brickhill (20 December 1916 – 23 April 1991) was an Australian fighter pilot, prisoner of war, and author who gained fame for writing several notable books related to World War II. His acclaimed works include The Great Escape, The Dam Busters, and Reach for the Sky.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Brickhill initially pursued a career in journalism before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force. During World War II, he flew missions against the Germans in Tunisia. In 1943, Brickhill was shot down and subsequently became a prisoner of war in Luft Stalag III, Silesia. It was during his captivity that he and fellow prisoners developed an audacious escape plan, leading to a mass escape attempt that remains one of the great heroic stories of the war.

Of the 76 officers who managed to escape, only three reached safety. Unfortunately, 47 of the recaptured men were executed on orders from Hitler himself. This daring escape was later immortalized in Brickhill’s book The Great Escape, which along with his other works, was adapted into successful films.