GERMAN AIRMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1941, Page 6

GERMAN AIRMEN

ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY IN BRITAIN POSSESSION OF PLANE OBTAINED. *■ OFFICIAL INQUIRY ORDERED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.mJ LONDON, November 26. An official inquiry is being held into an incident in which two German airmen escaped from a British prison camp, obtained possession of a plane, with the apparent object of setting out for Germany and were then recaptured. The “Evening News” says the Germans flew a R.A.F. Miles Magister training plane for 250 miles before they were forced down near the East Coast. They posed as Dutch airmen and were being entertained at a R.A.r. mess in East Anglia when they wore rearrested. The Miles Magister had a range of 600 miles, but the petrol tank was only half full. The Germans were unable to attempt a straight flight to Germany, so-they flew, hugging the coast and intending to reduce the sea crossing to a minimum. When forced down they told the authorities they were engaged in special training. The older prisoner posed as an instructor. Their very circumstantial story was at first believed. The Germans were taken to a R.A.F. aerodrome, where, while the plane was being serviced, they were given a. meal. An official signal, warning all aerodromes to watch out for the missing plane, came out while the Germans were dining. The commander of the aerodrome promptly invited the guests to take off their overcoats and then found that they were wearing Luftwaffe tunics.