Browse Items (157 total)
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Letter to all prisoners of war
Letter stating that escaping is no longer a sport. Accuses England of opening a non military form of gangster war due to information found in captured English military pamphlet on irregular warfare. States shoot on sight orders.
Wartime Halifax operations
Written for Cornish aviation society. Welcomes Philip Jenkinson and gives account of his training and operations on 10 Squadron Halifax. Describes being shot down and baling out. Mentions evading, capture and as a prisoner being on a tour of his…
Reg Miles
A head and shoulders photograph of Reg captioned 'Escape photo for use in false documents if shot down taken March 1944'.
Reg Miles
A head and shoulders portrait of Reg used as an escape photo. It is annotated with his name, trade and other details.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form: no better quality copies are available.
This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form: no better quality copies are available.
Button compass
Two small buttons that can be used as a compass.
John Leadbetter's Evasion Photographs
An envelope containing three head and shoulder photographs of John. On the cover is handwritten 'To be given to French underground movement in order to facilitate escape'.
List of Phrases in French, Dutch, German and Spanish
A wallet containing cards with phrases in useful languages.
The Responsibilities of a Prisoner of War
Instructions and guidance for all ranks in the event of capture by the Enemy.
An English air force mechanic shot down in 1943 returns to the place where his plane fell
Recalls shooting down of James Lee's aircraft where he was the only survivor. Subsequently rescued by French people and medically treated then became a prisoner of war. Notes he returned to the place and people who rescued him had no idea what had…
Behind Enemy Lines
A biography of Alan Green with personal photographs and headlines. It covers his training in Canada and UK. First squadron was 218 at Marham flying Wellingtons as a navigator, then Stirlings. He flew 22 operations and was shot down by friendly fire.…
Postcards from Victor Mendelski and two Newspaper cuttings
Four items from a scrapbook.
Item 1 is a postcard from Victor to his mother.
Item 2 is a newspaper cutting referring to the small number of prisoners who escaped back to Britain.
Item 3 is a postcard addressed to Victor.
Item 4 is a cutting about…
Item 1 is a postcard from Victor to his mother.
Item 2 is a newspaper cutting referring to the small number of prisoners who escaped back to Britain.
Item 3 is a postcard addressed to Victor.
Item 4 is a cutting about…
Jack Marsden, Paul and Gaston Charruet
A celebration of an act of heroism involving Jack Marsden, Paul and Gaston Charruet. An introduction to the story of Jack Marsden's escape. The second part is a history of the events by Michel Hallard. She describes the screams of Gaston Charruet and…
My experience as a prisoner of war in Germany 1943 - 1945
Describes life on 428 Squadron, being shot down 20 December 1943, and his life as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 3 before his liberation.
Letter to Jack Newton
Thanks him for letter and congratulates him on his escape. Encloses a letter of recommendation for Jack's commission. Mentions that he is very busy in the Middle East.
Newspaper cutting
Reports that helpers at his first rendezvous had retained Jack Newton's kit. On his return to Belgium he recovered his flying boots and other crew's equipment.
Le Flight Lieutenant Jack L Newton est revenue a Liege
Article about Jack Newton, their Wellington's landing on fire in Antwerp and his subsequent escape with help from Belgian citizens.
The escapers prayer
Cutting with prayer from Psalm 107. Captioned 'Cutting from Penguin paperback which I was reading to Mlle A Becquett whilst being helped by her, Sept 1941'.
Map of Comete line
Map showing air route from England to Aachen then escape route through Belgium, France, Spain, Gibraltar and back to Pembroke Dock and London. Top left - badge of Comète with aircraft in flames and star on blue background.
Six locations and people in Belgium
Top left - view over concrete captioned 'Runway, Deurne, concrete, said by Mr Dum[..]in to be the place where we landed'.
Top centre - view down a lane with trees/hedge either side. Captioned 'Lane leading to Mr dr Voegt's house'.
Top right -…
Top centre - view down a lane with trees/hedge either side. Captioned 'Lane leading to Mr dr Voegt's house'.
Top right -…
First airman to travel via Comète
Describes events leading up to and including Jack Newton's last operation before crash landing in Belgium. Lists his crew and gives account of their attempts at evasion, meeting with Belgian helpers, moving to various safe houses and Jack Newton's…
Newsletter of the Royal Air Forces Escaping Society
Cover consist of a number of headline cuttings. Inside contents include diary of functions, details about the society, notices, aims and history of the society, translations of Christmas cards received from helpers in Belgium, Denmark, France,…
Mlle Andree De Jongh goes to palace for GM
Photograph and account of Adree De Jongh going to Buckingham Palace to receive the George Medal. Helped 200 servicemen escape along the "Comet Line". On the reverse a list of her decorations.
Account of crash of Wellington W5421 and Flt Lt Roy Langlois's crew and Belgian Comet escape line
Includes photographs of twelve squadron officers, the crashed aircraft, some of the crew, Jack and Mary Newton and Sgt R D Porteous. Recounts the last sortie of the crew to Aachen when they had to jettison their bombs, an engine caught fire and they…
Letter from Emile Witmeur to Roy Langlois and report of crash landing and subsequent attempted escape of crew aided by Belgian escape line
Writes that he had not found out how Langlois was arrested but it seem that the Belgian he was with had been betrayed. Asks about his activates after the war and tells a little of his own. Says he is enclosing report. Report covers the crash landing…
Letter from Emile Witmeur to Roy Langlois
Thanks him for his letter and says that he had not been helped in his enquiries by the Belgian escape service. Writes of a member of his group that was shot by the Germans and that he had now traced the escape line from the beginning. List names and…