Cross Country
We headed in a southeasterly direction for some time, hurrying as best we could to increase the distance between the aircraft and ourselves. Unfortunately, the terrain was heavily wooded and very rugged, making our progress very slow.
We stopped only to catch our breath momentarily and to bury our Irwin jackets and flying boots. They would have identified us very readily had we been seen still wearing them. We also turned our battledress jackets inside out to further help us look like civilians of the area. I do believe that any German or Quisling spotting us would readily have taken us for what we were, six airmen on the run. We crossed small mountain streams, and even trotted up one for some distance hoping to throw off any dogs should they be used to track us. In short order we realized the wisdom of our move as the Germans were using dogs and it was not long before we heard them barking in the distance.
We continued on for about three hours; finally at the crest of a rather high hill we came upon what looked like a hydro installation with signs in both German and Norwegian indicating that the poles contained high voltage lines. We stopped and studied the maps that we had, to try to determine where we were, but due to the many waterways, islands and peninsulas jutting out into the fjords, we could not pinpoint our exact location.
We took stock of our situation, having attempted to set fire to the aircraft and assuring that we had left nothing behind that would be of any help to the Germans, put as much distance between the crash site and ourselves as possible, and having discarded what clothing that might easily identify us as allied airmen, we had complied with the first three requisites that our escape and evasion training had dictated.
We discussed the wisdom of separating into pairs or staying together and chose to stay as a group for a while longer. Agreeing that our next move was to find help as soon as possible or our liberty would be of very short duration, we continued on.
After once again climbing to the crest of a hill we stopped to discover that we were not too far from the shore of a fjord. Nestled in a small cove at the foot of the mountain were four or five cottages scattered amongst the trees.
We had another conference and it was agreed that Neil should go down and see if there was any possibility of obtaining aid from anyone there. He was to check at the nearest cottage and if all was in order, to signal us to approach.
We concealed ourselves amongst the brush and watched Neil picking his way cautiously down the steep slope, through the heavy growth, towards the house. We lost sight of him and some anxious moments passed while we silently awaited his reappearance. Finally, to our immense relief, he appeared in a clear ing at the side of the house and waved. We took this as a signal to follow him and we started down to meet him. He started towards us and we saw that he was accompanied by a woman. We scrambled down, and rushed toward them in our anxiety to determine where our next steps might take us. We gathered around Neil and the woman, to learn that she spoke English rather well.
We spread out the maps of Norway that we had in our escape kits and showed them to her in the hope that she could point out to us exactly where we were. She could not identify the area that we were in on our map but told us that we had crashed at Haugland on the outskirts of Os, three kilometres south of the city of Bergen, that we were on a very narrow peninsula, with no land route out other than to retrace our steps and to do so would mean walking back into German hands. She explained that as much as she would like to be able to help us she could not, as she knew nothing about the resistance movement. She went on to say that, although she understood there was an active resistance group in the area, it was composed of men only.
We were then told by Neil that in his discussion with her at her house she had explained to him that the only way in which we could buy time was to hide higher up in the mountain in a small cave and if we were agreeable, her niece, who was to join us shortly, would show us the way there. The woman explained that if at all possible she would try to talk to a neighbour to see if he knew any way of contacting the resistance or if any help could be available in whatever form.
As we talked the niece joined us; her aunt explained that she could not speak English and it was obvious that she was a rather shy person. After a short discussion between the two women in Norwegian, the niece motioned us to follow her. She left the little clearing where we had congregated and headed into the brush with the six of us at her heels. The woman walked with us for a short distance during which she wished us luck, and left, promising to contact us later if at all possible.
We climbed in a southerly direction for some time, the young woman in front and the six men hurrying to keep up with her. The rain that had been intermittent picked up and it was not too long before we were soaked through. We finally reached the cave, which turned out to be a small depression in the side of the mountain, just after mid-morning. Biddle, who had developed a bad chill, was able to lie down and get some shelter from the weather but there was little room for more bodies.
We huddled in and about the cave for several hours, in an attempt to stay dry, and out of sight of anyone who might be in the area. We felt thankful to be alive, and were determined that if at all possible we would in some way manage to get out of the plight we were in. We realized that it was impossible for us to able to return to England before our next of kin would receive telegrams advising that we were "missing in action," and wondered what their reaction would be.
Fortunately we were all in pretty good condition considering what we had come through; suffering only minor hurts and bruises from the crash. We changed the bandage on Neil's hand and tended to his head wound. They did not seem to inconvenience him very much. We were, however, concerned for Biddle, who was suffering from the chill he had developed and there was no way for us to help him other than to huddle close together. We could not light a fire as the smoke would draw attention to our position. In the early afternoon Biddle was able to sleep for a short while and we were gratified to learn that he felt some better after he woke.
We headed in a southeasterly direction for some time, hurrying as best we could to increase the distance between the aircraft and ourselves. Unfortunately, the terrain was heavily wooded and very rugged, making our progress very slow.
We stopped only to catch our breath momentarily and to bury our Irwin jackets and flying boots. They would have identified us very readily had we been seen still wearing them. We also turned our battledress jackets inside out to further help us look like civilians of the area. I do believe that any German or Quisling spotting us would readily have taken us for what we were, six airmen on the run. We crossed small mountain streams, and even trotted up one for some distance hoping to throw off any dogs should they be used to track us. In short order we realized the wisdom of our move as the Germans were using dogs and it was not long before we heard them barking in the distance.
We continued on for about three hours; finally at the crest of a rather high hill we came upon what looked like a hydro installation with signs in both German and Norwegian indicating that the poles contained high voltage lines. We stopped and studied the maps that we had, to try to determine where we were, but due to the many waterways, islands and peninsulas jutting out into the fjords, we could not pinpoint our exact location.
We took stock of our situation, having attempted to set fire to the aircraft and assuring that we had left nothing behind that would be of any help to the Germans, put as much distance between the crash site and ourselves as possible, and having discarded what clothing that might easily identify us as allied airmen, we had complied with the first three requisites that our escape and evasion training had dictated.
We discussed the wisdom of separating into pairs or staying together and chose to stay as a group for a while longer. Agreeing that our next move was to find help as soon as possible or our liberty would be of very short duration, we continued on.
After once again climbing to the crest of a hill we stopped to discover that we were not too far from the shore of a fjord. Nestled in a small cove at the foot of the mountain were four or five cottages scattered amongst the trees.
We had another conference and it was agreed that Neil should go down and see if there was any possibility of obtaining aid from anyone there. He was to check at the nearest cottage and if all was in order, to signal us to approach.
We concealed ourselves amongst the brush and watched Neil picking his way cautiously down the steep slope, through the heavy growth, towards the house. We lost sight of him and some anxious moments passed while we silently awaited his reappearance. Finally, to our immense relief, he appeared in a clear ing at the side of the house and waved. We took this as a signal to follow him and we started down to meet him. He started towards us and we saw that he was accompanied by a woman. We scrambled down, and rushed toward them in our anxiety to determine where our next steps might take us. We gathered around Neil and the woman, to learn that she spoke English rather well.
We spread out the maps of Norway that we had in our escape kits and showed them to her in the hope that she could point out to us exactly where we were. She could not identify the area that we were in on our map but told us that we had crashed at Haugland on the outskirts of Os, three kilometres south of the city of Bergen, that we were on a very narrow peninsula, with no land route out other than to retrace our steps and to do so would mean walking back into German hands. She explained that as much as she would like to be able to help us she could not, as she knew nothing about the resistance movement. She went on to say that, although she understood there was an active resistance group in the area, it was composed of men only.
We were then told by Neil that in his discussion with her at her house she had explained to him that the only way in which we could buy time was to hide higher up in the mountain in a small cave and if we were agreeable, her niece, who was to join us shortly, would show us the way there. The woman explained that if at all possible she would try to talk to a neighbour to see if he knew any way of contacting the resistance or if any help could be available in whatever form.
As we talked the niece joined us; her aunt explained that she could not speak English and it was obvious that she was a rather shy person. After a short discussion between the two women in Norwegian, the niece motioned us to follow her. She left the little clearing where we had congregated and headed into the brush with the six of us at her heels. The woman walked with us for a short distance during which she wished us luck, and left, promising to contact us later if at all possible.
We climbed in a southerly direction for some time, the young woman in front and the six men hurrying to keep up with her. The rain that had been intermittent picked up and it was not too long before we were soaked through. We finally reached the cave, which turned out to be a small depression in the side of the mountain, just after mid-morning. Biddle, who had developed a bad chill, was able to lie down and get some shelter from the weather but there was little room for more bodies.
We huddled in and about the cave for several hours, in an attempt to stay dry, and out of sight of anyone who might be in the area. We felt thankful to be alive, and were determined that if at all possible we would in some way manage to get out of the plight we were in. We realized that it was impossible for us to able to return to England before our next of kin would receive telegrams advising that we were "missing in action," and wondered what their reaction would be.
Fortunately we were all in pretty good condition considering what we had come through; suffering only minor hurts and bruises from the crash. We changed the bandage on Neil's hand and tended to his head wound. They did not seem to inconvenience him very much. We were, however, concerned for Biddle, who was suffering from the chill he had developed and there was no way for us to help him other than to huddle close together. We could not light a fire as the smoke would draw attention to our position. In the early afternoon Biddle was able to sleep for a short while and we were gratified to learn that he felt some better after he woke.