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Jonny956, thank you!!!
… the crew spotted a youth running towards the aircraft. The two Pilots jumped out to speak to him only to learn that they had in fact landed in Germany, 30 kilometres from the French border. Beating a hasty retreat they re-boarded the aircraft and were fortunate that the engines started immediately. Taking off they flew in the direction indicated by the youth, hedge hopping over the Siegfried Line, to land safely at Villeneuve, in friendly France. The youth named Albert Kartes, 17 years of age, was arrested and sent to prison for the offence of ‘Supporting the enemy’. He was released 6 weeks later when the local Constable of nearby Neidersalbach, was arrested for ‘Not fast moving enough in the 15 minutes the Whitley was on the ground.’.
*headshaking*
Paul F, by chance I ordered “We landes by moonlight” about a week or so ago, I´m looking forward to read it.
BTW: The book about the TV-Series “The Secret War” (1978) mentiones a Dakota flying from Italy into Poland in 1944, collecting remains of a V2-missile hidden by the partisans. However, before the Dak was expected to land, two light German trainers landed at the field. Having spent some time there, the planes departed and soon the Dakota came in to land and took the parts on board. Being much more heavier than a light trainer ist sank into the mud, but with the use of full power and the partinsans pushing at the undercarriage it eventually made it out of the field …