Account of Wellington making emergency landing on German occupied airfield

Account of Wellington making emergency landing on German occupied airfield

Gives account of event when Wellington W5421 of 12 Squadron landed on fire at Antwerp Deurne on 5/6 August 1941. Notes that all crew except Jack Newton became prisoners of war He became the first airman to reach UK using the Comète escape line. Includes a copy of a painting portraying the event showing a Wellington about to land with a city with cathedral in the background.

One page handwritten document with colour painting

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SNewtonJL742570v10021

The wellington Mk II W5421 PH – G (12 Squadron) which made an emergency landing on fire, on the German occupied aerodrome at Antwerp Deurne 5/6 Aug. 1941. All the crew became P.O.W.’s except Sgt Jack Newton who evaded capture and became the first airman to reach the UK from Belgium via Spain and Gibraltar on the Comete Escape Line
[signature] J. R. Newton
12 Squadron R.A.F.

[coloured picture portraying the Wellington landing and on fire]
To me this picture portrays something that really happened. If it hadn’t – there would be no [underlined] Jackie [/underlined], No Chris, no Phil – no grandchildren – [underlined] only Mary [/underlined]
P.S. 2001, no great grandchildren either!