He is notable for the part he took in the 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III in March 1944 and as one of the men re-captured and subsequently shot by the Gestapo.

Sea traffic was closely monitored by the Germans who were aware of significant numbers of young Norwegians wishing to continue the fight from the United Kingdom, frequent checks and searches were made and penalties harsh for anybody caught.

[6][7] On 27 August 1942, Espelid took part in a mission over Occupied France flying Supermarine Spitfire Mark Vb (serial number "BL588", squadron codes "FN – A").

A fellow pilot (Bjørn Ræder) stated that "he was seen to be hit by anti-aircraft fire at 20,000 feet and his Spitfire plunged out of formation.

643 held at Stalag Luft III in the province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan (now Żagań in Poland).

[14] Nearing the Danish border on 26 March 1944 a suspicious policemen insisted on carefully examining their papers and checking their briefcases which contained newspapers and escape rations.

[15] Although the four escapees had split up to pretend to be travelling individually they were all in the same railway carriage, more policemen arrived and closely examined every passenger, soon arresting all four suspects.

Post had his driver stop the car in the countryside outside Kiel about 1630 hours and called Catanach out into a field where he promptly shot him.

[18] The second car drew up in the same place shortly afterwards and Post told his agents to get the hand-cuffed Christensen, Espelid and Fuglesang out,[19] stating that they should take a break before their long drive.

It was not published in the supplement to the London Gazette on 8 June 1944 when the British and Commonwealth personnel were honoured for fear of reprisals against his family in German-occupied Norway.