DARING DUTCH AIRMEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 15 October 1941, Page 5

DARING DUTCH AIRMEN

NAZI PLANE STOLEN SAFE ARRIVAL IN ENGL ANTI I HIED ON W Mil l I % N DING (Rec 10 18 urn i Rugby, Oct. 14. The safe landing in Britain by Dutch told by The Netherlands Government Information Bureau. A twin-engined aircraft with German markings dived out of the Clouds above Suffolk fields recently and circled down Behind three Hurricane- roared with their engine full out. There was a hidden machine-gun post in a corner of the field and the rattle of quick firing met the stranger, hut it made a . ate landing though with bullet holes in many places Two men clambered out hastily. They were dressed in grey blue overalls. helmets and carried parachute packs. English soldiers were running at them from all sides with Tommy Guns and rifles at the read. Don t shoot! don't shoot!” cried both men in English. "Wo arc Dutch." Soon afterwards their Dutch identity was established Three hours before their arrival they had left Holland and flown a German aircraft from a Dutch aerodrome under of ;■ • Germai [«u di The men are now serving one as pilot officer in the R.A.F. and the other wdh The Netherlands Government There was a surprising sequence to , this thrilling escape. Within t welve hours of the landing of these men a Fokker floatplane arrived in Britain piloted by a Dutchman who never before had flown a flying-boat but counting on luck and favourable wind had nianaged to bring the stolen German plane across to Britain —BO W.