is there a possibility to find out which man betrayed airmen in Belgium(antwerp)

Post in the Facebook group “Belgian wings” or contact the Stampe aviation museum in Antwerp?

pERHAPS THIS LIST MIGHT BE OF HELP http://www.ww2escapelines.co.uk/research/escape-evasion-sites/

ALSO ON PAGE 14 OF THIS ACCOUNT pIERRE bOULAIN was a mass betrayer active in the time the crew were caught…..http://www.edenbridgetown.com/in_the_past/The_comet_line/index_13_lillys_story.php

Hello lancaster1,

I have been involved in researching one particular crew 619 Squadron crew for around 12 years; & fresh information still comes in even now! http://www.knoxetal.com/ME846/Registration1944/#

In this crew there were 3 fatalities; 1 evader (back to the UK in just over 6 weeks); 3 evaders who were then betrayed & held as POWs.

The post-repatriation MI9 interviews of the 3 POWs (secured by the families IIRC from the National Archive) did not give specific names in Belgium, but they did give clues for further research routes. It’s difficult to point to one specific source, but if you explore the link above you can get some ideas.

The ME846 crew were in the Balen/Turnhout area of Belgium – the evader Peter Knox arrived in Antwerp as it was liberated; he had landed on a different side of a canal to his crew mates who were betrayed. That stretch of water possibly made all the difference.

Hi TwinOtter and I already know the link and i know it is still sensitive ,but I would like to know if there records existing and where can I find it???

This was rather a sore point in the Netherlands. Detailed in Leo Mark’s book, “Between Silk and Cyanide”

Many Thanks Olly for the information which I have. I am looking for the records which could mention the men who infiltrated to the escape lines and betrayed airmen. Are they kept in the Belgian and/or British records??

Cheers,
Adrian

Escapers & evaders are easier to research e.g. good references on sites such as this https://wwii-netherlands-escape-lines.com/helpers-of-allied-airmen/belgian-helper-list/

Collaborators / betrayers are not so easy, and it is still sensitive a topic in some Benelux countries even today; some insight might be gained from MI9 debriefing files but it can be an involved task.

Lancaster ND762 (22/05/1944)
JULY 20, 2017
Lancaster ND762 was one of sixteen No. 35 Squadron aircraft detailed to attack Dortmund on the night of the 22nd / 23rd May 1944.

Its eight-man crew comprised:

E Holmes (Pilot)
JK Stewart (Navigator)
DE Coleman (Air Bomber)
HT Maskell (2nd A/B)
FJ Tudor (Wireless Operator)
AW Cox (Air Gunner)
AS McLaren (Air Gunner)
JR Cursiter (Flight Engineer)
The route was Flamborough, 5315N 0330E, 5307N 0445E, 5212N 0715E, Target, 5110N 0734E, 5100N 0625E, 5143N 0450E, Orfordness

Lancaster ND762 failed to return and the squadron’s Operations Record Book shows “This aircraft is missing, nothing being heard from it after take off”

Maybe this will help?

https://35squadron.wordpress.com/category/1944-losses-and-incidents/ Have a look in this

Air Ministry Casualty Communique No. 582 (Flight 23/05/1944) reported JAC Clarke, RFJ Bright, D Thompson, A Linton, EJ Kiely, FDT Phillips and C Johnson “previously reported missing” as “now presumed killed in action”

That ring any bells with the crew?

Also :

Air Ministry Casualty Communique No. 581 (Flight 23/05/1944) reported JH Thorpe, G Simpson, JA Mathison, JA Wynn and JM Cruickshank “previously reported missing” as “now presumed killed in action”