Both stayed at first in the home of resistance leader Dick Bus in Wormerveer. Sergeants Redd and Smith had about the same evader route, although they were never together in the same safehouse. Smith from New York City, who was on his 29th mission. It seems that the youngest had to turn themselves in. Three crew members stayed in hiding: pilot Captain Merril S. They did or did not know nine men had parachuted down, but were pleased with six and stopped the search. The Germans had captured now in total six men. James Cotter and sergeants Adkisson, Missano and Zimmerlin. The situation was explained to the Americans and next day, 15 September, five crew members turned themselves in. It was announced by loudspeaker that another 18 men would be shot when the hidden airmen would not be handed over to the Germans. The names of the resistance men were Johan de Barbanson, Herman Groenendijk and Pieter Hartog. Pamflets claimed they were executed for pilothelp, population was warned. Next day 13 September 1944, Verdonk and three suspected-to-be resistance fighters from Amsterdam jail were shot dead on the side of the Leegwater-road outside Zaandijk. They found a parachute in the store of pharmacist Gerrit Verdonk in Zaandijk, he was arrested. They were furious and rushed into and searched every house in the area for two days. Despite the fact that it took only 10 minutes before the German cars were present, they could not find any airmen besides Captain Crary. The other eight were guided into farms and then to safehouses in Zaandijk and Wormerveer. Only navigator Captain Gerald Crary broke his ankle and could not move (POW). Farmers helped every airman to escape the scene before the Germans would arrive. The nine men that bailed out came down in isolated pastures, full with canals and ponds. Nine bailed out, four executed, six arrests. Dowswell was extremely lucky that the Flak at the Dutch North Sea coastline did not get him. Over Lake IJsselmeer (Old Zuyder Sea) the crew had thrown everything overboard to loose weight, but the bomber kept losing altitude. Aircraft entered the Lake-coastline at Marken Island and left Holland low flying in area of IJmuiden. He probably could not see Amsterdam because he was in the co-pilot seat and looked into northwest Holland. Aircraft responded to controls and I flew back to England".ĭowswell reported jump location of crew was 20 miles north of Amsterdam (see his cross on map below), but in fact it was only 3 miles. I requested permission to try and fly aircraft back to base, which was granted by Olson. Dowswell in MACR: "North of Amsterdam pilot Olson decided that not enough altitude could be maintained to clear the North Sea to reach England and gave order to bail out. North of Amsterdam, north of Oostzaan nine crew parachuted out, but co-pilot flew the bomber back to England. The crew was hidden by locals in Zaandijk (Zaanse Schans) and Wormerveer, but the Germans took reprisals and received five airmen back on 15 September 1944. On the return, the aircraft dropped slowly out of formation and lost altitude. Smith evd, shelteredįlak over Misburg had caused problems to engine no.4.
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