On the night of June 12, 1962, three men pulled off what many considered an impossible feat: they escaped from Alcatraz, the United States’ most secure prison. The fate of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, John and Clarence, remains a mystery, but their escape continues to captivate due to its ingenuity and sheer determination. Two years later, in May 1964, the BBC’s Panorama returned to the scene to explore the daring breakout.
The Unyielding Fortress
Michael Charlton of BBC Panorama described his journey across the turbulent waters of San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz as “the most feared journey in the criminal world.” Known as “The Rock,” the federal penitentiary housed some of the most dangerous criminals in the United States, earning its reputation as an impregnable fortress. However, in the early hours of June 12, 1962, three inmates accomplished what was thought to be unachievable: they broke free from the island prison.
Originally a naval defense fort to guard San Francisco Bay’s entrance, Alcatraz held Confederate prisoners during the US Civil War due to its isolation, steep cliffs, and swift, cold currents. Rebuilt as a military prison in the early 20th century, it was taken over by the Department of Justice in the 1930s to combat rampant organized crime during Prohibition. Notorious criminals like Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, as well as convicted murderer Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” were among its infamous inmates.
The Mastermind and His Accomplices
Frank Lee Morris arrived at Alcatraz four years before the escape. Orphaned at 11 and convicted of his first crime at 13, Morris spent most of his life in various correctional facilities. Known for his high intelligence and seasoned criminal background, Morris had an extensive rap sheet, including drug possession, armed robbery, and multiple prison escapes. He was transferred to Alcatraz in January 1960 after escaping from Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Morris was soon joined by convicted bank-robbing brothers John and Clarence Anglin and Allen West, who had been an inmate on Alcatraz since 1957. The men knew each other from previous incarcerations and occupied adjoining cells, allowing them to communicate at night.
The Elaborate Plan
Over several months, the men meticulously chiseled away at the salt-damaged concrete surrounding the air vents under their sinks, using tools as simple as spoons. They fashioned a raft and life vests from raincoats, and Morris created dummy heads from soap, toilet paper, and real human hair to place in their beds as decoys.
On the night of the escape, West was unable to remove the grille covering his vent in time and was left behind. Morris and the Anglin brothers made it to the roof, climbed down a drainpipe, and crossed the prison yard to reach the shore. They inflated their makeshift raft and set off into the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay.
The Aftermath
Despite an extensive search, the bodies of Morris and the Anglin brothers were never found. Some believe they drowned in the bay’s icy waters, while others speculate they successfully reached the mainland and vanished. The escape remains one of the most infamous unsolved mysteries in criminal history.
In 1964, BBC Panorama’s revisit to Alcatraz underscored the daring and ingenuity of the escape. It highlighted not only the human spirit’s relentless drive for freedom but also the vulnerability of even the most secure institutions. The legend of the Alcatraz escape continues to intrigue and inspire, a testament to the audacious bravery of those who dared to defy the odds.