All Photos and Quotes from "Le Réseau Comte," where information was gathered through interviews of the airmen, resistors, and family members.
Research and website led by Édouard Renière.
Research and website led by Édouard Renière.
Airmen Successfully Evacuated
Joseph Hager
S/Sgt, USAAF 323 Squadron Bomber Group 453, Ventral Gunner
Duration: 2 weeks
Through the Pyrenees: August 14, 1943
"Hager remembers that during one of the trips, in a heavy silence, Crowe and he were sitting in front of two German soldiers eating apples, their knees brushing against theirs. The tension was high and was lifted only when the convoy was fired upon. August 09, a man comes to question them and identify them. This man takes them to Paris and led them to a church, telling them they are going to meet a woman. Hager and Crowe are likely guided by Marcel Paris Roger and are then supported by Comet. They pass him their photos in the church for making false papers." |
Lorin F. Douthett
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Kenneth F. Fahncke
Sgt, 92 USAAF Bomber Group 327 Bomber Squadron, Rear Gunner
Duration: 10 weeks
Through the Pyrenees: October 3, 194
"Besides Fahncke, three other members of the crew manage to escape: James Berry, Harry Richards, and Georde Mikel, the latter being arrested later. The other six will be arrested and taken prisoner. A doctor arrived the next day to treat Fahncke injuries. The doctor was accompanied by a man from whom the two airmen receive photographs, plainclothes, and their escape kit for the preparation of false documents." |
Marian Henryk Zavodny
Sgt, RAF Bomber Command 301 Polish Bomber Squadron, Gunner
Duration: 13 weeks
Through the Pyrenees: July 21, 1942
"The group leaves the farm around 9:30 pm and as they walk in the dark in the rain, two "German soldiers" arise shouting. Zavodny turns back, Evans throws himself behind a bush. Very nervous, one of the policemen fires a shot before they start talking to each other for about twenty minutes. Evans finally got out of his hiding place and joined Zavodny and the others afterwards." |
Airmen Captured in their Escape
James Arthur Davies
Sgt RAF 101 Special Operations Squadron RAF, radio specialist
Duration: 8 months
Arrested August 10, 1944 in Antwerp (Van Muylem)
Milton Wallace Stern
Lt Grade, USAAF 381 Bomber Group 532 Bomber Squadron
Duration: 2 ½ month
Arrested in Liège, May 27, 1944
"Stern is awakened...by noise on the floor below and hears running footsteps on the staircase. German soldiers burst into his room and he was arrested. Under the cries of "Jew, Jew, Jew!" He is struck in the head and face and collapses. Afterwards, he is allowed to dress and is pushed down the stairs to find Burrows [one of his helpers] on the ground floor where he is chained with him to a radiator.
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Ashley Alfred William "James" Bruce
Fl / Sgt, RAF Bomber Command 419 Squadron, mechanic
Duration: 5 weeks.
Arrested on 24 November 1943 to Larressore
Before they could reach the end of these defenses, the Germans were on them and asked for their papers. Bruce...knew a little French, which could go unnoticed by the German soldier's lack of knowledge of [French.] Bruce thought himself safe until Buinicky, questioned in turn, was unable to answer in French. They were arrested and taken to the border post.
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Airmen Hidden Until Liberation
Peter Edmund Knox
F/Sgt RAAF, RAF Bomber Command 619 Squadron, Bomber
Duration: 4½ months.
Hidden In Brussels
Louis Hyman Abramowitz Abbot
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Beirne Lay Jr.
Lt. Colonel, USAAF 487 Bomber Group 838 Bomber Squadron on board as head of the 72 Wing B-24 Group
Duration: 3 months
Hidden in Mazangé in France
"They are stopped by a young German soldier who does not understand and eventually lets them go. A farmer takes them home and feeds them. Germans, in their quest [to find the downed airmen] arrive at the farm, they [the airmen] will hide in a room while the Germans question the farmer. He convinces them that he does not hide airmen and the soldiers leave. Lay leaves the farm the next day." |