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Re: Liberator shot down off Norway in 02/1942
Michael
This was AM924 coded OH-D from 120 Sq which came down in the Atlantic (Norwegian Sea) on 28.5.1942. Shot down by fighters two of the crew, F/S E.A. Allgood and Sgt B.F. Smith were killed outright while F/S T.J. Culane was badly injured in the crashlanding.
With incredible will the survivors paddled for two days in one damaged and one complete rubber boat before making landfall on the 30th. Unfortunately F/S Culane did not survive the ordeal and had been decided with great regret to place him in the rubber boat which more and more rapidly was filled with water.
When finally getting ashore the four survivors were all captured, but through skill and cunning managed to escape. Finding themselves in fact on an Island they stole a rowing boat and finally managed to reach land.
For 26 (yes 26!!) days they walked east, stole food where they could and lived off nature. On 30 June they finally past the Swedish border and were spotted by three Swedish men from a border patrol.
The survivors, F/O Rae Walton, P/O T.J. Corkran, Sgt E.J. Booker and Sgt J.D. Pickering recuperated quickly and after interrogations and a short internment they were allowed to return back to UK on 26.8.1942
By co-incidence the sinking rubber boat did not sink and F/S Culane was found drifting off Lofoten. The other two crewmembers killed are all still listed as MIA
Story, courtesy Rolph Wegman and Brittiska nödlandare 1940-45.
B Rgds
Stig
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