During the five years from May 1940 to May 1945 several thousand Allied airmen, forced to abandon their aircraft behind enemy lines, evaded capture and reached freedom, by land, sea and air. The territory held by the Germans was immense - from Norway and Denmark in the north, through Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg to the south of France - and initially there was no organisation to help the men on the run. The first one to assist the evaders and escapers ('E & E' as the Americans called them) was the PAT line, along the Mediterranean coast to Perpignan and down the Spanish border; named after a naval officer Pat O' Leary, from 1942 it became the PAO line.Next was the Comet line, from Brussels to the Pyrenees. Thousands of brave people were to be involved for whom, if caught, the penalty was death. Theirs is a stirring and awe-inspiring story. Respected historian Oliver Clutton-Brock has researched in depth this secret world of evasion, uncovering some treachery and many hitherto unpublished details, operations and photos. It is a tremendous reference work, written in his own colourful style with numerous anecdotes, which fills a gap of knowledge formerly unavailable to historians, professional or amateur. Packed with information, key figure biogs and listings - 2,094 evaders identified - this is a valuable testimony to the courage of all those involved.
RAF Evaders
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This must be one of the definitive works on the subject. --Britain at War
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is an accurate and historical record of RAF (including RAAF and RNZAF) evaders and escapers. As there were only a very few Australians (RAAF) who were helped by the Comete Line, it is amazing to see part of my father's escape story (Sgt Reg Collins) accurately reflected.
Mary Hockaday
Mary Hockaday
By princessg
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this as a present for someone who will have hours of reading Only downside is the small type which crams the pages too closely so not very relaxing to read
Format:Hardcover
I came across this volume in a bookshop and it was immediately a 'must-have'. In 'RAF Evaders', Mr Clutton-Brock provides a very interesting and in-depth account of the stories of thousands of RAF, RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF, free Polish, etc. aircrew who were forced to parachute into - or crash land in - German-ocupied Europe between 1940 and 1945. Over two thousand individual stories are recounted and they are all fascinating. Mr Clutton-Brock conveys very well the challenges faced by airmen who, in the space of a few minutes, have gone from the relative safety of an aircraft to the loneliness of a county under occupation or, in many cases, to being alone on German soil. It's hard to imagine the scale of the challenge faced by aircrew in such circumstances.
Mr Clutton-Brock's book highlights the bravery of the aircrew and also that of the people of the German-occupied countries in Western Europe who helped them; such help being provided despite the grave risk of punishment by the Germans. Mr Clutton-Brock's history also explains how escape lines were penetrated by the Germans, or compromised by traitors (the Sgt Cole story is particularly interesting). Thoroughly recommended.
Mr Clutton-Brock's book highlights the bravery of the aircrew and also that of the people of the German-occupied countries in Western Europe who helped them; such help being provided despite the grave risk of punishment by the Germans. Mr Clutton-Brock's history also explains how escape lines were penetrated by the Germans, or compromised by traitors (the Sgt Cole story is particularly interesting). Thoroughly recommended.
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