Fred Pryor sadly passed away on the 2nd. Sept 2019 aged 86. The film "Bridge of Spies" will be aired in U.K. today on "More 4" at 17.00 today (Boxing day). The film shows Fred Pryor being arrested after meeting a girlfriend in East Berlin. and his dissertation being taken by the police. The true story is that he had gone to return a library book, and attend a speech by Walter Ulbricht. He was arrested at his new red Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Sports car after the Police had found a copy of his dissertation in the back. I am not sure what happened to the Karmann Ghia. Mrs Vogel seems to think that it may have been confiscated.
Wolfgang Vogel had a Wartburg 311 coupe at the time, He delivered Pryor to Checkpoint Charlie in a borrowed Mercedes, in which he invited Frank Meehan to sit, as it was very cold , awaiting the release of Gary Powers at the Glienicke bridge.Vogel never owned a Volvo sports car as depicted in the film. Pryor was not happy that he had not been consulted by Spielberg, and that the reality had been changed considerably.
N.B. For those not from the British Empire. Boxing day is the day families would give their servants a boxed gift on Dec.26th. For those not having servants, it was time to reflect on the parents and family you had been born into.
Lance Shippey