ESCAPE BY BLUFF

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1940, Page 8

ESCAPE BY BLUFF

SHOT DOWN IN BELGIUM.

AIRMAN’S GREAT COOLNESS.

Coolness in lighting a cigar in the darkness when challenged by a suspicious German sentry, who was reassured by the action, probably saved the lives of a Royal Air Force pilot and a member of his crew who landed in German-occupied territory, in Belgium. Pilot-Officer Alexander Macleod, aged 24, of Glasgow, and LeadingAircraftsman Cox had been engaged in a dog fight when their aeroplane was damaged and forced to descend. It was landed successfully, although •in flames, and the two occupants jumped clear without injury.

The officer said: “We went into a house. While we were drinking a cup of coffee a German armoured car came into the village, so we retreated into the cellar. Almost immediately German soldiers came into the house where we were hiding and commenced to search. It was apparent that they were looking for us. “Through the cellar grille we could see them searching in the courtyards adjoining. Eventually they went away. We decided to make for Antwerp, about 30 miles away. “It seemed as if our number was up when we came across a river. When we were about 300 yards from the bridge a German sentry .shouted a challenge. Pretending not to hear we sat down near the riverbank.

“To heighten the atmosphere of nonchalance which we were desperately anxious to create I pulled a cigar from my pocket and began smoking. That seemed to satisfy them.”

Thereafter by devious routes PilotOfficer Macleod and his companion reached Antwerp, and a destroyer brought them to Britain.