The following notes, in typescript in WO 208/3449, Advanced A Force HQ in North Africa, bear neither date nor signature. They are clearly intended for RAF operational aircrew new to the North African desert, and were probably prepared about November 1942.
MOST SECRET1
My talk to you today is on the subject of your own safety and wellbeing, not whilst you are actually flying, but in the event of your being unlucky enough to have to bale out or forced land behind the enemy’s lines.
Now I had better explain that there is an Inter-Service Branch in the M[iddle] E[ast] whose job it is to try and drill Air Crews, and indeed personnel of all three services, in their conduct as P/W, and to try to do everything possible to help evaders and escapers if they are unfortunate enough to find themselves P/Ws.
In order to do this, certain ‘Aids and Devices’, as they are called, are issued to all Air Crew, and to a limited scale in the Army and Royal Navy, and the experiences of many escapers and evaders are collected and passed on to Air Crews via the Branch representatives.
Of course the actual rescue or help given to evaders is the side of the Inter-Service Branch which naturally appeals to Air 357Crews, rather than the other side of its work, but never-the-less the work devoted to drilling personnel of all three Services in their conduct as a P/W is of prime importance to our War effort, and in this talk we will take that side first.
Do not imagine, however, that direct questioning is the only method the other side employs to obtain the information he wants.
You all probably know what happens if a German or Italian Air Crew bales out or forced lands anywhere near a R.A.F. Unit. They are promptly, but quite wrongly, from the official Interrogation Branch point of view, invited to the Mess where they are given food and drink and an air of friendliness prevails.
Similarly with yourselves, and you will find that the amount of drink consumed will loosen your tongue. A few indirect questions put by the German or Italian Interrogation Officer, or other officer if he is not present, leads you to say things you would much prefer to keep quiet about.
358Again after three years of war both sides have been able to build up records and personnel of Units, and it is a shaking experience to find that the Interrogation Officer asks you how so-and-so is of your own particular Squadron, or says that last week so-and-so was taken P/W.
The natural reaction to all this is ‘Well, if he knows all about us, why should I worry to be careful’.
But you must realise that it is only because others have talked, or have carried documents with them against orders, that such records can be built up.
Quite apart from direct questioning there are many other methods employed in order to obtain information – stool pigeon etc…
Another means still used successfully is the phoney Red Cross Form.
Therefore be always on your guard and give nothing but RANK, NAME and NUMBER.
The film on the subject which a number of you have seen in U.K. is very true to life and should be remembered…
Now when one looks at the map of Europe and the countries occupied by the enemy one might be forgiven for thinking ‘What the Hell? We haven’t a chance.’ That is wrong, for although difficult, the task is not impossible as has been proved by so many. There is still a trickle of escapers coming back to M.E. and to U.K.
It is impossible to set out how this is done but you will find in all P/W Camps in Europe an Escape Committee who will give you all the necessary help and advice.
What we can do now is to give you one or two hints and possible routes.
Initiative and luck play a great part in any escape work, but remember that the task is not impossible. 359
Of course hundreds of P/Ws make an escape from P/W Camps and the average time ‘out’ for those recaptured is about five days. Even if recaptured they have had a good deal of fun and excitement, their punishment is maximum thirty days in the Jug; (actually, from letters received, this is twenty-one days).
All those having a crack are doing a good job of work, for more guards have to be used and these might otherwise be used as active fighting soldiers.
A few hints …
ROUTES.
SICILY.
The chances of getting away from Sicily are slim, but the inhabitants are likely to be anti-Fascists and some may be found to give help. The less closely guarded coastline is between palermo and messina and there may be a chance of stealing a boat along that coast. Make for tunisia West of bone.
ITALY.
The east coastline along the adriatic is more open and less populated than the rest of italy. The foggia area is likely to be more friendly and anti-Fascist and it may be possible to stow away or to steal a boat. Make for the yugoslav border in the split Area. Where the yugoslav guerrillas are operating.
Another possible outlet is in the heel of italy where it might be possible to get a boat across to greece in the vicinity of corfu. This area is mainly inhabited by albanians and greeks and will certainly give aid to British personnel but remember there is an Italian Seaplane base at corfu. Once in Greece the areas to make for are the:
yannina (or janina) area
larissa and volos areas
Athens area middle peninsular s.e. of salonika
south peloponese
east coast line of Greece
euboea and mt. olympus 360
The general rule is to head for the Eastern Coastline of greece.
In the Mount olympus area there are Greek Guerilla Bands operating.
If an escaper can make for the trieste/fiume area it is likely that help would be given by the inhabitants who are very anti-Fascist.
To cross the Italian-Switzerland border it is suggested that como area is likely to be possible.
CRETE.
The Western end of the Island and among the hills affords the greatest chance of evasion and help will be found there.
GREECE.
The inhabitants of greece are extremely anti-enemy and have given and are giving every possible help to our troops. If help is given, give a chit to the helper stating what was done and sign it giving your rank, name and number.3 This chit will be honoured and a good reward paid when we are in occupation again or possibly before.
GERMANY & FRANCE.
Possible routes through to sweden, france and spain. Help4 is likely in these countries and help in particular might be found at toulouse and marseilles. In both these towns escapers should hang around cafes in the lower quarter. The Pyrenees should be crossed 15/20 miles inland from gerona which is just N.E. of barcelona near Cape s. sebastian.
NEUTRAL COUNTRIES.
If you manage to get to a neutral country demand to see the nearest British Consul and state you are an escaper even though you may not have been actually captured.
Now for Evasion in N. AFRICA and LIBYA.
This Inter-Service Branch has for some months passed organised rendezvous in the Western Desert and tripolitania 361behind enemy lines. At these rendezvous are British Officers and local Arabs, and they are there for one purpose only, to get any person cut off or forced landed back to our lines.
In this work they are assisted by local tribes of Arabs under our influence (and cash).
This rescue work has had a good deal of success in spite of the dangers and during the past few months over eighty personnel of the three Services have been assisted back to their units by means of this organisation, the Arabs, and by means of the Aids and Devices.
(Now to explain the Aids and Devices)
These should not be considered as toys for they have proved their worth time and time again. But they must be carried sensibly. It does not require a great deal of thought or trouble to see that they are hidden away, especially in battle dress. So do please see that you have them with you.
It may be that Jerry knows all about them, but this should only mean a greater incentive really to hide them.
The blood chits should also always be carried whenever you take off on an operation, and have been the means of saving a number of our boys in the Western Desert.
When approaching Arabs in tripolitania do so if possible when they are alone, in case they have recently been beaten up by the enemy and are scared. If in doubt as to their feelings always push off after having accepted a meal.
If you manage to make them understand that you are heading for a certain direction and require to know the way, always ask for two or three different directions, just in case.
The Arabs of tripolitania and tunis are not on the whole so friendly as were the Arabs of cyrenaica, but the more successful our Armies the more friendly the Arabs become.
From time to time check up with your I.O. and your map the latest information and rendezvous sent out by the Inter-Service Branch.
Do remember that if you bale out or forced land out in 362the blue, rest and compose yourself and make a plan of action before starting off. It is essential that you should be feeling as good as possible before starting out on what may be a longish journey.
If you are forced to land by day remain with your aircraft until dark unless you have cause to think the enemy has spotted you. Your aircraft may be seen by one of our own aircraft.
In principle travel by night. In summer you must find shade by daytime and in the winter walking at night will keep you warm.
Before starting out on operation see that you have your Aids and Devices, also your water bottle and your Aid Box.
Now for the final word, and that is SECURITY.
Although the enemy may know of the Aids and Devices he does not know of the existence of an organisation to help evaders and escapers.
We must rely on YOU, who have listened to all this, NOT to talk about the Aids and Devices and the help given by the Arabs, nor the existence of rescue parties operating behind the enemy lines.
You will not only spoil your own chances of rescue, but you will also imperil the lives of our chaps in the organisation who are working on your behalf.
Do not discuss these matters between yourselves or with anyone but your Intelligence Officer.
Remember that the lives of our own boys and the lives of officers and others in tripolitania, tunisia and europe will be in greater peril, if you, through carelessness, spill the beans.