Graham Pitchfork - Shot Down and on the Run: True Stories of RAF and Commonwealth Aircrews of WWII

Contents

by Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges KCB, CBE, DSO*, DFC*

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, it did not take too long before RAF and Commonwealth aircrew were operating over enemy territory, with the inevitable consequence that some found themselves behind enemy lines, having been shot down or forced to crash-land. For the great majority, it was the end of the war, and all they had to look forward to was an unknown period of time as a prisoner of the enemy. A relative few managed to evade capture and return home. Their backgrounds and abilities were just as varied as their experiences on the run, but they all shared the common quality of tremendous fortitude, initiative and courage most would also acknowledge that they enjoyed a certain amount of luck as well. Their stimulating stories are the basis of this book.

There have been many books in the past on escape and evasion. Some have recorded individual experiences where others have related a series of accounts. However, unlike many previous authors, Graham Pitchfork has added a new dimension to the evasions he has chosen to describe. Not only has he spread his net very wide to include accounts from every theatre of the air war, but he has provided a fascinating backdrop to the whole evasion business, thus allowing the reader to have a better appreciation of the exploits of the remarkable men and women that appear in this book. His comprehensive review of how the escape and evasion organization was established, developed and operated, the way aircrew were trained and briefed, and the development and provision of escape aids provides an essential background for a full appreciation of just what evaders were faced with, and how and why they were able to successfully combat the problems they faced.

The evaders, however, provide just half the cast of this deeply researched and fascinating book. As the author makes so abundantly clear, the very great majority of evaders would have achieved nothing without their helpers, many of who paid the ultimate price for their gallantry and patriotism. Many readers will be aware of the great deeds of the escape lines of Western Europe, but what emerges from this book is how universal was the attitude of oppressed people to freedom and their willingness to help those endeavouring to restore peace and order on their behalf. In addition to the gallant men and women of those established escape lines, we also read of Italian, Polish and Greek partisans, of Norwegian and Danish fishermen, of Senussi Arabs, natives of the hill tribes of Burma, the tribesmen of New Guinea and policemen in Siam. Notwithstanding their very diverse cultures and attitudes, all were prepared to take the greatest risks in order to help airmen evade the enemy. In my own experience, if it had not been for the help I received from the farming communities in both the Occupied and Unoccupied Zones of France, I would not have succeeded in reaching the Pyrenees and eventually crossing into Spain.

Graham Pitchfork has unearthed some remarkable stories of evaders and their helpers, which will remind other generations, and those in the future, of just what the human spirit is capable of, and sacrifices that people are prepared to make, at times of great adversity. This excellent book is a fitting memorial to all those who evaded and to their helpers.

President

RAF Escaping Society

When I was a school boy in the 1950s, the rapid emergence of books relating the personal experiences of those who had fought during the Second World War attracted my attention like a magnet, and I couldnt wait for my weekly visit to the local library to exchange one book for another. One particular selection had a significant appeal those dealing with escape and evasion. Books such as The Great Escape, Colditz, Boldness be my Friend , The Wooden Horse , Cockleshell Heroes and They have their Exits, to mention just a few from that decade, seemed to encapsulate all the human experiences and qualities that excited a teenage boy adventure, excitement, fear and courage.

A lifetime of service in the Royal Air Force has allowed me to take a wider perspective on an aspect of warfare that was ever present to those of us involved in flying operations the possibility of being shot down, and its consequences. In addition, the opportunity to work alongside some of those who had experience of escape and evasion added to my awareness, and more recently, my role as Archivist of the Aircrew Association has allowed me to discuss with some of them the realities of being shot down behind enemy lines. Some of their stories appear later in this book. Notwithstanding this wider perspective achieved over the past forty years, I still find the pulse race when I recall the daring experiences related in the aforementioned books. However, one aspect strikes me most forcibly the reader of them could be forgiven for thinking that the escapers and evaders had acted almost entirely alone. The books were, of course, written at a time when certain aspects of their escape to freedom could not be told for security reasons. Indeed, conversations I have enjoyed in recent years with those who were shot down and evaded highlight that many of them were completely unaware that there were numerous organizations instrumental in their successful return. Furthermore, many of their courageous helpers were unseen, while others remained anonymous, and their meetings were often no more than brief acquaintances. With the passage of time, the veil of secrecy on these remarkable organizations, and their even more remarkable people, has been lifted and their stories can be told.

There are now books that are the definitive accounts on escape and evasion, and they have become essential reading to those with any kind of interest in the subject. They provide an important backdrop to this book, and the reader is urged to read them. The definitive account is MI 9: Escape and Evasion 19391945 by M. R. D. Foot and J. M. Langley. Other significant books as background reading are Saturday at MI 9 by Airey Neave, and Europe Ablaze by Jorgen Haestrup. There are many others dealing with specific aspects of the escape and evasion scene that can be recommended, and some of them appear in the Bibliography.

The aim of this book is to relate the experiences of RAF and Commonwealth aircrew who were shot down over enemy territory, but successfully avoided capture to eventually return to friendly territory. It does not attempt to include those who escaped from enemy captivity nor does it discuss the significant and fascinating work of MI 9 in support of prisoners of war, their escape committees, and the gathering and passing of intelligence. Of course, once a prisoner had escaped, he naturally became an evader, and his further progress followed the same pattern as those who had avoided capture. For those readers with a particular interest in RAF escapers, they are strongly recommended to read Escape from Germany by Aidan Crawley.

The second aim of this book is to highlight to the reader the scope and scale of the historical documents which are deposited in the National Archives and are available to the general public. With the exception of personal memoirs loaned to me by some of the evaders, and tape recordings I have made during my visits to meet them, all the material for this book has been obtained through documents available at Kew. For a project such as this, there are a number of key documents, and the majority are held in the WO 208 series. Of particular importance are Brigadier Crockatts Historical Record of MI 9 (WO 208/3242) and the MI 9 Bulletin (WO 208/3268). Crucial for the subject of RAF evasions are the interrogation reports compiled by MI 9 officers following the debriefing of returned evaders, and they are found in numerous volumes in the WO 208 series. The Air Intelligence Branch also conducted debriefings on RAF operational matters, and these are contained in the AIR 40 series and complement the MI 9 reports to provide valuable additional information.