SYNOPSIS

SPG/LIB/770

[Note: this report was OCRed from the original and then edited]

Members of crew

I was the wireless operator of a Lancaster aircraft returning from an attack on NUREMBERG on the night of 27/28 Aug 43, when we were hit by flak and later attacked by a fighter. We lost height in an endeavour to find cloud cover, and owing to some fault in the altimeter we finally crash on high ground in the ARDENNES, in the neighbourhood of BASTOGNE. The rear gunner, F/Sgt. McGRATH, had been killed when we were attacked by the fighter, and the bomb aimer, F/O PETERS, was killed on impact. The rest of us escape unhurt except for bruises.
The time was about 0330 hrs. and after throwing our gear on to the burning aircraft we split up and made off. Accompanied by the flight engineer, W.O. GILLMAN E.J., I headed North and when daylight came we spoke to a man working in a field who told us where we were and directed us to a nearby village where he said we might find help.
On the way there we met our navigator and mid-upper gunner, the former being a new member of our crew and unknown to me and the latter Sgt. RAMSDEN, O., who came along with us.
In the village we met a friend in a cafe and he took us to an empty house situated in a wood on a large estate. We remained here for three days, our food being brought to us by a girl from the main house to which the estate belonged. In the evenings we visited the main house for a wash and the family there supplied us with civilian clothes.
During our stay here we wore visited by a man who said he was a member of the organisation. He could speak little English but he was vouched for by the family and on the third evening he came and took us to a shack in the woods near BASTOGNE where we stayed for two days, our food being brought to us by a priest. Here too we were visited by a Belgian who spoke good English. He said he was a representative of M.I.9. He told us that our journey would be arranged.
We were next taken to an empty house near BASTOGNE and a few days later we were joined by another R.A.F. evader, a navigator, Sgt. RAINSFORD. After about a week here we all moved into BASTOGNE and after one night in a house there and two nights in a. caravan outside the town we were moved to a summer house attached to a chateau and here we stayed for about eight days. Our food was brought to us from the chateau.
Next we were taken by train to BRUSSELS and here we split up, GILLMAN, RAMSDEN, and I being taken to a house where we stayed for about three weeks, during which time identity cards were prepared for us.
About 10 Oct GILLMAN, RAMSDEN, RAINSFORD, and I were taken by train to MONS and from there we travelled by tram car to a house near the frontier where we stayed overnight. Here we met two French guides, a man and a. woman and next morning we walked to the nearest railway station and took a train to PARIS.
Upon arrival in PARIS we split up, and I was taken to a house in the city where I stayed for several days. During this time I had a visit from a member of the organisation who said that I was to be passed on to another service which would mean a quicker journey and he took me to the SACRE COEUR where I was introduced to my new contact. With him I went to a flat where I met GILLMAN and where we joined by six more evaders, five Americans, and one Englishman.
After staying here the best part of three weeks I moved together with GILLMAN, Lt. DARLING, Carl (U.S.A.) and the Englishman, to FISMES. There we were again split and GILLMAN and I stayed in the area until 24 Dec, the major part of the period being at a farmhouse at CRUGNEY.
During our stay we met a man (a Frenchman I think) who spoke English with a marked Canadian accent and who said he was the area wireless operator for the organisation. He told us that the delay in our movements was entirely due to bad weather which prevented our being flown back to the U.K.
On 24 Dec we were taken to FISMES where we met a man (Belgian, I think) who said that he had just come back from ENGLAND and he was very optimistic about getting us back by air. He took us to PARIS where we lived until 9 Mar 44. We were separated for most of the time and I stayed at three different addresses during this period.
About 2130 hrs. on 9 Mar we left PARIS by train for PAU accompanied by two guides, a woman and a young man. Nearing DAX a control boarded the train and we were asked for our papers by a plain clothes Gestapo. They were not satisfied with our identity cards which were not valid in Southern France and our true identity was discovered and we were arrested. The female guide was not with us at the time and was not arrested as far as I know. The youth was taken into custody, however.

CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED

ATTEMPTED ESCAPES

Nil.

LIBERATION

I was liberated at FALLINGBOSTEL on 15 Apr 45 by units of the 2nd British Army.

APPENDIX A

Date of Interview: 6 Sep 45

Joseph Kenny and James Gillman (RAF) had been staying at Suzanne Bastin's home, but were quickly moved, by M. Rocher, when the Gestapo started conducting house searches. They were then sheltered by the Recoule family in Paris. It was decided to try and get them to Spain, and on 17th [sic] March they left for Pau, to the home of some friends of the Recoule family, accompagnied by their 20 year old son and an escort, Mme. Campion. After leaving Bordeaux, the Gestapo did an ID check and Kenny, Gillman and the Recoule's son were arrested. Mme. Campion survived the ID check and was able to relate what had happened. The whole Recoule family was arrested by the Gestapo on the following Sunday morning.

Note: Kenny's report states that they left Paris on 9th March and were arrested on 10th March.

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