Continuity mistake: In the scene where Ives attempts to climb over the barbed wire fence, a long shot shows Ives in foreground and a line of men, including Hilts, in the background. In this shot, Hilts notices Ives and begins to run towards him. In the next shot, a close up of the line, we see Hilts still standing motionless, before noticing Ives and beginning to run towards him. Again.
Continuity mistake: While describing the escape process, Roger says that "Tom will run north from the 105." He is interrupted, then says, "as I said, Tom will run north from 104."
Continuity mistake: When Hendley and Blythe get into the German aircraft first, the cockpit is tiny and cramped, like you'd expect. However, when they cut to the studio-done flying scenes, it suddenly becomes much larger, nice and roomy.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Hilts is first locked in the cooler, he is eventually let out. It shows him walking out from a view that is inside the cooler, and his coat is on one arm (I forget which arm it is). Then it shows a view from outside of the cooler,of him walking out, and his jacket is on the other arm. He didn't switch it while walking, because the clip is about 2 seconds long.
Continuity mistake: In the famous scene when Steve McQueen jumps the fence, the stuntman riding the motorcycle loses control of the motorcycle shortly after landing and he obviously fell off the motorcycle. They then cut to a scene of Steve McQueen riding off.
Continuity mistake: When Hilts and Ives are put into the cooler for attempting an escape, they are both covered in mud for trying to dig their way out. When they are finally released days or weeks later, both are perfectly clean.
Suggested correction: It's not unreasonable to assume they would have had a shower at some point.
Continuity mistake: When Hilts is put into the cooler at the beginning of the movie, he is given twenty days for going past the warning wire and insubordination. When he is released three weeks later, Hilts is clean-shaven.
Suggested correction: Even in isolation, officers were entitled to basic human rights such as hygiene. Hilts and anyone else would have been able to wash and shave during their time in the cooler.
Continuity mistake: At the beginning, where Steve McQueen puts his bag down and approaches the fence, at first you see him put the bag down. Then, when he's near the fence and you can see behind him, the bag is no longer there.
