Black Smoker was hit by several enemy nightfighters as we reached Germany. The first to attack us put some holes in us and knocked out the oxygen supply, so F.O. Lincoln descended to about 3500m. Near Frankfurt, Germany, another enemy nightfighter punched holes in our port wing fuel tank and they began to drain. F.O. Lincoln, decided to drop our bombs and head for home. Sgt. Merck, our flight engineer determined that we would have enough fuel to fly to the Channel. F.O. Lincoln decided that bailing out or ditching in the Channel in the midst of winter in poor weather was not a good option. He ordered me I to plot a course for the French/Belgian frontier.
We headed northwest and using various navigational practices, I determined that we were at the French/Belgian frontier. F.O. Lincoln told us we could bail out there and take our chances, or stay with the aerocraft and go down at sea. Everyone said they would bail out. I bailed out.
I was lucky to come down near Sgt. Merck. We started walking down a road and it wasn't five minutes of walking and we heard vehicles approaching. We ducked into the brush alongside the road as several Jerry trucks drove past us. A few minutes later, we heard shouting and a couple of gunshots. I guess Jerry found some of the Black Smoker's crew. Sgt. Merck and I wanted to stay put for awhile, but it was damn cold, so we took off again. As dawn approached, we heard something coming down the road behind us, so we ducked into the brush again. It was a farm wagon and the chap driving it stopped near us. "Amis" he said, "Come to me." I am Marquis, "we get you home to kill more Bosch."
Anyhow, we ended up making a long journey to the French coast and eventually being picked up by some RN chaps and returning to England. We were asked not to say anything about our time in France, so's not to endanger the French underground or the route they used to get us back here.
Respectfully Submitted,
George Howington, Sgt., RAF
The International Red Cross has informed RAF Command, that F.O. David Lincoln, Sgt. Lawrence Brown, Cpl. Evert McCann, Cpl. Regional Tanner and Cpl. Christopher Mickleson are listed as German P.O.W.'s, being captured in n.e. France on 24 Jan. 1944.