Bidspirit auction | WW2 Rare Variety Escape Belgium

WW2 Rare Variety Escape Belgium cover signed escaper ACM Lewis Hodges DSO DFC. On the night of 04 September 1940, Sir Lewis was returning from a raid on Stettin in his Hampton bomber of 49 Squadron, when the aircraft suffered equipment failures. At about 0615hrs he prepared to make a landing in a field only to be attacked by flak. He started to climb to 2000ft when the fuel cut out and the engines failed. He ordered the crew to bale out. Down at 1000ft he decided on a forced landing in a field at St Brieuc in Brittany, which was good news for his air gunner, Sgt Wyatt, who had not heard the instruction to bale out! Together they burned the aircraft and documents, and headed south east on foot. Assisted by farming people, they moved from farm to farm, were given civilian clothing, which was worn over their uniforms, and made their way to Marseille. Along the route they were stopped by French Gendarmes, and given a good map. At Chauvigny villagers took them to a chateau owned by a Frenchwoman who was married to an Englishman. There they were given clothing, shoes and money. They then travelled to Toulouse and Luchon, where they were arrested, and put into the concentration camp in the Chateau of Ile Jourdain, where many other escapers were held, including Capt Ian Garrow of the future Pat O'Leary Line. On the 18 October they were moved to the prison at Fort St Jean at Marseille. Sir Lewis escaped, stowed away on a French ship in the harbour hoping to reach Casablanca. He was found and thrown off the ship at Oran, placed in prison for a short period, and then returned to Marseille He was next taken in handcuffs to St Hippolyte du Fort near Nimes, which was controlled by the Vichy French. He was now categorised as a 'persistent escaper'. Sir Lewis, together with an old school friend, 2Lt Linklater, made a forged pass giving them both five days leave, making the stamp for the pass from a carved potato. Sir Lewis escaped from the camp and travelled to Perpignan, assisted by a helper called Nancy Wake (GM), forging a friendship that was to last for the rest of their lives. Rather than wait until nightfall to head for the border, Sir Lewis took the bold step of jumping in a taxi in broad daylight and travelled to the Spanish border, using his excellent French to get past border guards. He then crossed the Pyrenees into Spain. His luck ran out in Spain, where he was arrested and interned, firstly at Fiqueras then later in the notorious concentration camp of Miranda del Ebro, where conditions were atrocious. Five weeks later a British Embassy official secured Sir Lewis' release and he made his way to Gibraltar. RAFES SC40 variety cover. 5 Sep 89 BFPS 2209 49th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Royal Air Forces Escaping Society RAF FDC. Tribute Resistance Organizations of Belgium 1940 to 1945. Comete cachet on the front Flown in Lancaster PA 474 Battle of Britain Memorial flight during The Red Arrows 25th Anniversary Air Display at RAF Scampton. Let us never forget those who helped us in our hour of need. Backstamps The Red Arrows and 15 Sep 1989 Abingdon. Good condition Est.