Mr Smith (aka Herr Schmidt) the german spy had been active along the south coast; he had made contact with a group of british fascists in Freazingham-by-the-Sea; they had been put on standby as special aerial mission to take photos of the nearby MTB base was planned - the crew of the plane was instructed that if they got into difficulty they were to get the plane down as best they could to the north of Freazingham and head for safety at Nooks farm (suitable maps and code phrases had been provided).
---oXo---
The sound of ack-ack from the area of the MTB base disturbed the late afternoon calm of Freazingham, followed by the sound of an misfiring aircraft engine heading north....the home guard patrol try to figure out where the plane is going down ....
The grounded german plane, belly flopped, but the crew get out unharmed ...
The aircrew weren't far from Nooks farm and then carefully confronted the farmer and said 'the cigar is burning' to which the farmer replied 'the ashtray is empty' - knowing they were safe they went with the farmer who hid them in the barn. The farmer carefully sent a quick radio signal.
A lorry from the town arrived at the farm, (the local 'nuns' had arrived and acted as lookout), a small group of fascists from Freazingham had arrived to take the aircrew to a safe house.
Meanwhile the home guard had located the grounded plane and was conducting a search...
The aircrew get into the lorry....
A pistol shot is heard and movement seen by the hedge, the home guard move to investigate
The 'nuns' return to the convent ....
Having found nothing by the hedge, the home guard assume it was poachers and head back to their transport - they must get back to town to make a report by phone to the local command centre ....
One poor chap is left to guard the plane..
Meanwhile the lorry is on its way back to Freazingham, the home guard at the road checkpoint make a cursory search of the lorry - but fail to find the airmen who are hidden under sacks of potato's from the farm
The lorry reaches the outskirts of the town.....
The town patrol passes the factory on the outskirts of Freazingham, and head off back towards the sea front (and a pint at the Hog's Head).
The lorry makes it way into the town ...
Finally reaching the factory, where the airmen are led into the cellars - safe for now...
to be continued ....
