Journey to the Horizon

CONTENTS.
Foreword: Patricia J. Willis-Giles, wife of Donald Kenyon Willis. 7
Foreword: Angela Barnes, Amanda Burrows and Glynis Spencer, daughters of Len Barnes. 8
Maps: Silk Escape map; Escape and Evasion Lines to Gibraltar; The Journey. 9
The People: The Travellers and their aircraft; The Lancasters and the crews. 12
Introduction: Hans Onderwater MBE and Brian Lissette. 15
1. A VIOLIN FOR FINLAND. 20
American furniture maker Don Willis goes to Finland to fight with the Fins against the Soviets. He joins the Finnish Air Force. After the ceasefire he escapes to Norway, joins the Norwegian Naval Air Service and escapes again, this time to the Shetland Islands.
2. EAGLES FOR ENGLAND. 52
Pilot Officer Don Willis’ adventures in Canada and in Great Britain as a fighter pilot with No.121 Eagle Squadron RAF; his transfer to 4th Fighter Group of the USAAF.
3. MY NAME IS MONTGOMERY. 66
Saturday 13 November 1943. American bombers attack Bremen. Lieutenant Colonel Tom ‘Speed’ Hubbard of 355th Fighter Group lands by parachute near Mariënberg, Holland and finds helpers.
4. AIRCRAFT FAILED TO RETURN. 77
The night of Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 March 1944. The RAF bombs Stuttgart. Lancaster ND530 LE-P Peter, No.630 Squadron crashes near Mont-sur-Courville, Marne, France. Pilot Officer Barnes and Sergeant Walker land by parachute and evade capture.
5. TELL MY WIFE I’M OK. 99
Monday 10 April 1944. The first successful American Droop Snoot mission against Gutersloh airfield. The forced landing of Major Don Willis of 67th Fighter Wing and his successful escape from the town of Oud-Gastel, in the south of the Netherlands.
6. STRAFING. 120
Thursday 27 April 1944. P-47 Thunderbolts of 361st Fighter Group attack the airfield at Etampes-Mondésir. The forced landing and evasion of 1st Lieutenant Cornett, who is on his third mission.
7. BLIND! 129
Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 May 1944. The RAF attacks a German tank training camp at Mailly-le-Camp. Lancaster ND556, EM-F for Freddie of No.207 Squadron crashes in flames. Pilot Warrant Officer Lissette, struggling with the controls to enable his crew to jump, dies with rear gunner Sergeant Ellis. Flight Sergeant Pittwood and Sergeants Emeny and Stockford evade capture. Sergeant Wesley is captured.
8. LANCASTER AIRCREW AFTERMATH. 152
The story of the surviving air crew members of Lancasters ND530 and ND556 and that of some people and situations connected to them.
9. THE LAST TO LEAVE. 181
The journey from Paris via Bayonne and the Pyrenees, to Madrid, Gibraltar and to England by Hubbard, Willis, Cornett, Barnes and Emeny.
10.DISASTERS AND SALVATION. 199Comète is infiltrated by German agents; many members are arrested, incarcerated, tortured, or killed. The fate of the organisation is in the balance.
11.EPILOGUE. 207
The end of World War 2. Reconstruction of an escape; conversations and meetings between March 1978 and February 2020.
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12.APPENDICES. 230
A. Eagle Squadrons; Yanks in the RAF. 230
B. Escape and Evasion; A duty at all times. 233
I. General instructions.
II. What information should be given to the enemy?
III.What the enemy will try to find out from you.
IV. How the enemy will try to learn these things from you.
V. How can you defeat the enemy?
VI.What else you can do to defeat the enemy.
C. Another successful evasion. Crewmembers of Lieutenant Victor Ferrari 236
D. Comète. 240
E. Security checks in and Escape and Evasion Organisation. 244
F. List of successful transport of evaders, compiled by Comète. 246
G. Escape and Evasion Reports. 248
1. Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas H Hubbard USAAF
2. Pilot Officer Leonard A Barnes RAF
3. Major Donald K Willis USAAF
4. 2nd Lieutenant Jack D Cornett USAAF
5. Flight Sergeant John Pittwood RAF
6. Sergeant Ronald T Emeny RAF
7. Sergeant Ken Walker RAF
H. Service record of Donald Kenyon Willis. 254
I. Information about Thomas H. Hubbard. 255
J. Targets on the day the evaders came down. 256
13 November 1943 Bremen – LtCol Hubbard
15/16 March 1944 Stuttgart – P/O Barnes and crew
10 April 1944 USAF Droop snoot against Gutersloh – Maj Willis
27 April 1944 USAF Bomber escort and suppression of German fighters – 2Lt Cornett
03/04 May 1944 Mailly-le-Camp – W/O Lissette and crew
K. Letters written by relatives and airmen before and after crash (Ken Walker). 258
L. Acknowledgement and biography. 266
Abbreviations and Photo credits.
Acknowledgement.
Bibliography.
Abbreviations and photo credits.
Other books and articles written by Hans Onderwater MBE