Just whose side are you on?

I’ve posted this elsewhere but I thought people here may find it of interest and have some input to the thread too – Here is an interesting story from ‘African Experience’ by Trevor Howells which I’m currently reading. He was an RNZAF pilot who was posted to a ferry unit in Africa, where they flew newly assembled aircraft off the ship from Takoradi in West Africa across the continent to Cairo in a continuous supply line. They usually flew in groups of five or six, which they called convoys. Though well away from the Germans this supply route was dangerous due to the weather, the remoteness should they crash in jungle or desert, the sandstorms, and the fact that some of the towns they passed over or near such as Lome in Togo were run by the Vichy French (Nazi sympathisers) who would fire anti-aircraft guns at them.

Anyway, his story goes thus:

“Towards the end of 1942, several French Air Force officers were posted to our ferry unit for a term of duty. They mixed with us all and carried out their duties as directed, but complained that owing to their poor command of the English language they would like to make up a convoy of their own, so that they could communicate better in flight. They had flown Blenheims previously, before joining our unit, and so, after flying checks etc, were sent to Takoradi, where five new Mk. V Blenheims were allocated to them.

It so happened that at Takoradi aerodrome on the morning that they were due to leave, a Hurricane convoy was lined up ready for take off, and one of the pilots was having difficulty starting his aircraft. It was decided that, rather than wait for his problm to be rectified, he should wait behind while his aircraft was being serviced, so the convoy departed without him.

About an hour later the French aircraft were ready to leave so the Hurricane pilot, his aircraft now serviceable, was detailed to join their convoy as far as Lagos, where his own convoy would be staying overnight, and he would be re-united with them for the remainder of the journey to Cairo.

All went well until the French convoy was due soth of Lome then, suddenly, they did a 90 degrees turn to port and appraoched the aerodrome, and one by one landed, taxied in and switched off their aircraft. FIVE BRAND NEW BLENHEIMS FOR THE VICHY FRENCH AIR FORCE!

Our Hurricane pilot by now guessed what it was all about and set course back to Takoradi. On landing he reported what had happened and all hell broke loose. Takoradi had its own defence flight of Hurricanes and were airborne quickly. They did the 240 miles in record time and, just as our pilot had said, they were there. Five Blenhems were destroyed by cannon fire in a few minutes so the French got nothing out of their treachery.”

Interesting tale isn’t it? I wonder if there were many other cases out there of aerial treachery where a squadron or unit had traitors in their midst, or an individual turned the tables and worked for the opposition. Stories of sabotage and turncoats in the Air Force at war.