From Fire to Faith and Freedom

"A major let us jump into his jeep and he took us over to a row of armoured cars.We got in and off we went over a pontoon bridge. It was as though we were being looked after by a guardian angel because five or ten minutes later and they would have been gone. Once over the river they off-loaded us. We were standing by the side of the road when General Simpson himself came along. We saluted and he gave us the thumbs up sign:' things they did after so long on the road, sleeping rough and under straw was to go to be deloused, have a shower and be kitted out with fresh clothes. But there were other memorable moments Jimmy remembers: like spotting a Fokker Wolf 190 German fighter. He couldn't resist going over and climbing into the cockpit. He had earlier been mesmerised when he saw a German fighter f1ying very, very low straight towards him. He remembers thinking "If that opens fire I am dead. It didn't but I plainly remember seeing the pilot. He was a big man and I am sure it was Herman Goering making his escape:' The Americans transported them to a nearby airfield and one of the first

The next part of the journey back to Blighty took them by train to Brussels where they got on a train to Lille.From there it was on to an airfield for the final part of their journey back across the Channel.Twenty four of them were put in a Lancaster bomber and f1own to the Hawker Siddeley airfield.They landed safely. They were home. In a hangar another unforgettable sight met them: rows and rows of tables packed with food. "That was bliss;' remembered Jimmy who during his time as a PoW had been promoted to Flight Sergeant. It was then on to the next leg of their homecoming which took them to RAF Cosford where they were rekitted, given some money and sent on leave. In Wales Jimmy's father received a telegram to say he was on his way home. His father's reaction was so different to the first telegram they had received about their son.

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