Flight Lieutenant LC Pipkin's Diary

Flight Lieutenant LC Pipkin's Diary

A diary kept by LC Pipkin and subtitled Bomber Command, London. It records his time after baling out of aircraft after a fighter attack. He managed to evade capture and reached Spain.

One handwritten diary

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MStewartEC87436-170727-02

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1/9.

F/LT L.C. PIPKIN
BOMBER COMMAND
[underlined] LONDON [/underlined]

[table]

[crest]

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NOT P/WAR LECTURE – NO NEED TO GO TO A CAMP.

A TALK ON MY EXPERIENCES WHICH MIGHT HELP YOU.

[inserted] IF YOU KEEP FIT [/inserted]

FEEL SURE YOU CAN ALL EVADE THESE COWARDLY STUPID PEOPLE.

LECTURES.
IMPRESSED UPON ME:- GETTING FAR AWAY FROM CHUTE OR AIRCRAFT ON FIRST NIGHT.

BEST IS SAFE HIDING PLACE FROM SEARCH LASTS 0600 – MIDDAY OVER VAST AREA.

[underlined] STARTING FROM BEGINNING. [/underlined]

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[underlined] FIRST NIGHT [/underlined]
FIGHTER ATTACK
LOSING BOOT AND SEARCH LIGHT
SEARCH POCKETS AND £5
ALL CLEAR
MEETING SENTRY – RETRACE STEPS –
CROSSING FIELD – FARMER SHOUTING.
RHUR WIRE DEFENCES – CUTS – TREATMENT.
CLOTHS [sic] WET DUE TO DEW
CYCLISTS ON ROAD 0530 GREETINGS

[underlined] FIRST DAY [/underlined]
MAKING FOR WOOD AND SEEING TROOPERS
TO COPPICE
SENTRIES AT 0600
COMMANDER SHOUTING ORDERS
TROOPS OVER HEAD
THE SEARCH
15 HOURS UNCOMFORTABLE WAIT
DURING DAY SINGING GERMANS
UNABLE TO RECCO [sic] DUE TO SENTRIES
KNEW VILLAGE NEAR BY CHILDREN.

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[underlined] SECOND NIGHT [/underlined]
FIRST ATTEMPT TO MOVE (TROOPERS)
GET AWAY
BUILT UP ROAD AND DITCHES
FIGHT WITH TROOPERS
GET AWAY
DRY MOUTH AND EXHAUSTION (ENDURANCE TABLETS)
CAMP UP OTHER SIDE OF ROAD AND CAMP

[underlined] THIRST [/underlined]
HORLICKS – CABBAGE – DEW

LIGHTS AND FARMERS GUARDING FIELDS

UNIFORMED CYCYLISTS [sic] ON ROAD AT 0400

[underlined] SECOND DAY [/underlined]
BLISTERS ON FEET VERY PAINFUL
SLEPT IN DITCH UNDER TREE BY RAILWAY AND WOOD
THIRST AND MILKING COW ATTEMPT
RECCO SAW SENTRIES ON RAILWAY LINE
INSECT PEST

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[underlined] THIRD NIGHT [/underlined]
WALKING DIFFICULT USED HANDKERCHIEF.
CABBAGE FIELDS AND THIRST
GETTING TIRED USED ENDURANCE TABLETS

MAIN ROAD RELIEF TO FEET AND SEEING TWO UNIFORM MEN ACCROSS [sic] FIELDS TO HAYSTACKS

ATTEMPT TO GET WATER DOG

WATER IN CABBAGE FIELD
RUBBER BAG AND CHLORINE TABLETS

[underlined] DAY [/underlined]
SLEPT IN UNDERGROWTH
GERMAN TROOPS SINGING
PEOPLE WORKING IN FIELDS
NOTHING EXCITING.

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[underlined] 4th NIGHT [/underlined]
UNDER THE WEATHER
DIFFICULT TO WALK
PASSED TROOPER AND GIRL IN LANE
RESTED AT BASE OF HAYSTACK (ENDURANCE TABLETS)

MUST GET TO BELGE OR WATER AND FOOD

MEASURED DISTANCE ON MAP IC FOR POSITION

[underlined] 4th MORNING [/underlined]
IN HOLE BY BUSHES IN SAND OUTSIDE FARM.
OLD FARMER STARTLED
WONDERFUL FAMILY
(POOR) FOOD THEY OFFERED BUT THEIR BEST (BREAD UGH!!)

BANDAGE AND WASHED FEET

PROPAGANDA [deleted word] LEAFLETS
WIRELESS UPSTAIRS
COUNTING CATTLE – EGGS ETC.
ADMIRED MY FLYING CLOTHS [sic]

[underlined] FIFTH NIGHT [/underlined]
[underlined] ENGLISH SPEAKING MAN AND SUGGESTION OF ROUTE TO FOLLOW [/underlined]
SLEEP IN BED

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5th MORNING
LOUNGE COAT OVER UNIFORM UNDER SHIRT
CROSSING MAAS AND CYCLES TO HOLLAND

MEETING DUTCH FAMILY
MORE PROPAGANDA PAPERS
DIEPPE RAID

GERMAN SOLDIERS STAND AT DOOR

[underlined] 6th NIGHT [/underlined]
WALK TO ANOTHER FARM NEAR BELGE FRONTIER

INTERVIEW WITH [deleted word] GOVERNOR AND TALKS OF VENLOW – COMMANDOES – OSNABROOK – ROTTERDAM – DUSSELDOLF

I LOVE HITLER TALE

[underlined] 6th DAY [/underlined]
SLEEP WITH GERMANS EATING
BELOW
MEETING FRENCH PRISONERS

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[underlined] 7th NIGHT [/underlined]
WALK TO COLLECT BYCYCLES [sic]
MEETING SENTRY ON ROAD

CROSSING FRONTIER ON BYCYCLES
[underlined] IN BELGIUM [/underlined]
CYCLING WITH GERMAN TROOPS ON BYCYLES

LEAVING CYCLES AND WALKING TO AN ORGANISATION
TORCH SHONE ON US BY TROOPERS

[underlined] SEVENTH MORNING [/underlined]
TRAVEL WITH WORKERS TO LIEGE

[underlined] LATER [/underlined]
TRAIN TO BRUSSELLS
WORKING IN ORCHARD AND GARDENS
SEEING THE TOWN

JOURNEY TO LILLE AND PARIS
CUSTOMS BARRIER
TROOPS PUSHED IN TRAIN AT LILLE
FOOD AND BEER AT LILLE

(OVER)

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[underlined] PARIS [/underlined]
PROPAGANDA POSTERS

METRO – PICTURES – SHOW – VISITING FRIENDS

CHURCHILL – ENGLAND DAGULLE [sic]
COLONIES AND PROPAGANDA BY GERMANS
WIRELESS MUSICAL BOX

[underlined] CROSSING TO SPAIN [/underlined]
GUARDS RIVER ON FRONTIER
SHEEP WITH BELLS
KEEP FIT FOR THE JOURNEY
LIGHTS AS GUIDE TO TOWNS

CIVIC[deleted letter] GUARDS – GRAY UNIFORM – GESTAPO
DANGER OF RAIL TRAVEL

COSTOME [sic] OF PEOPLE – COAT SHOULDER – ADIOUS

BANANAS AGAIN

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[underlined] SUMING [sic] UP [/underlined]
RAILWAYS: CAREFUL OF SENTRIES
ROADS:- CURFEW AND GUARDS
FIELDS:- FIELD GUARDS - GERMAN BAD
[underlined] OCCUPIED GOOD [/underlined] – MAYBE!!

POLICE IN TOWNS:- OLD GOOD – YOUNG DOUBTFUL
INSTANCE IN PARIS

ON TRAINS:- CONTROLLER GUARDS USUALLY GOOD IF NOBODY NEAR

HELP IN TOWNS:- PROSTITUTES – ELDERLY WOMEN – JEWS

IDENTY [sic] CARDS: DIFFERENT IN BELGE AND FRANCE
[inserted] GUNNER:- [/Inserted]
CONVERSATION WITH BELGE PILOT:- STOMAR B.B.B F.F.F

HEIL HITLER NOT USED

HORLICKS – CHLORINE – ENDURANCE TABLETS
MAPS AND COMPASS NEED FOR ALL CREW TO USE COMPASS

NEED FOR: MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN PARACHUTE FOR SORE FEET – SCRATCHES – INSECTS.

[underlined] SOAP [/underlined]