A message Received. From "Somewhere in France"

 Captain Martin Fairweather, controller Zone Delta (North West France) read the message from Group Pappa, 

       Not for the first time he wondered if the two groups in the Nouvion sector would ever co-operate with each other.  

    Nothing had been heard from group Charlie since the truncated message about the heavy gun location. verified by photo recon. He wondered what had become of Agent Clara Rose, was she still alive? now this message from Group P.

    He looked up at the clock, 2200 hours just gone, by now the first wave of bombers would be in the air en route to the identified Gun position. Hopefully it would catch this second gun as well.

     Only events "Somewhere in France " would tell

The Guns of Nouvion, Part 2.

 Robert Odd-Fellowes stood at his desk, in his hand a series of Photos taken by the RAF.

Confirmation of the location of the German heavy guns harassing the coastline in his area of command.

Included in the bundle was a note that a heavy bomber raid was to be launched that evening to deal with the issue.

Not for the first time, he wondered on the fate of the agent responsible for the information.

The Guns of Nouvion. Scene 1.

Daily Briefing. 

  0630 hours. Southern Command HQ.

      Robert Odd-Fellows walked into his office to find, as he expected, his aide John Chard, tea cup in hand, waiting. The usual greetings followed, before getting down to business.

    Item 1.  State of Defences;  Major Chard reported that a large delivery of mines, both anti-personnel and anti tank had been delivered and the previously laid Quaker mines of bully beef tins were being replaced.

   Item 2.   Detailed timetable of the planned inspection tour were finalised. Together with the reports of various exercises under way.

   Item3.   Full details of the High level conference due to take place at Wilton House over the upcoming weekend, and increased security precautions following overflight by German photo reconnaissance.

  Item 4.  Report of the escape of German aircrew with film and capture of enemy agent, currently in hospital awaiting interrogation by special branch officers.

  Item 5.   Final item, passed on to us from the special lot at Beaulieu, regarding the heavy gun that has been playing havoc on the entrance to Poole and Christchurch harbours.

"Railgun position located 7 miles S.E of.........."                                                                                                It appears the security markers were all correct,for our agent in Nouvion, but we  don't know why the transmission was interrupted.   Photo Reccon. have been sent and we wait their report.

Oh, and finally " I found a birthday cake on your desk this morning, it bears the Contessa's mark, but no one knows how it got there."

To be continued; both here and on the sister blog Somewhere in France for anyone interested.

Down at Malachi's Cove ....

continued form the previous post ....

Cynthia, Falconer and the german air men had arrived at Sopley farm, not far from their pick-up point at Malachi's cove. Cynthia and the Falconer considered their options. Across the moor by foot to the cove or down the road by van and smash through the road block perhaps? Would their pick-up be there on time ? Plans made they set off, it was still dark .....

Cynthia took the air men and set off across the moor, a roving patrol passed them by some distance away

Cynthia and the air men had made it across the moor; meanwhile Falconer was driving the lorry across the moor towards the coastal road...

They crossed a field as the lorry approached the check-point near the junction with the coastal road ...

Falconer got out of the lorry, leaving the engine running (to create distraction noise); while he talked to the home guard men manning the road block...

While Falconer was at the road block, Cynthia and the air men crossed the road (after a motorbike/sidecar passed by)

They were soon across the next field and getting near the coast; Cynthia waited by the fence as a two man patrol passed by ....

Falconer, once through the road block headed off to safety down the coast road. As Cynthia got ready to make the signal, the patrol came back - she ducked down behind the tank trap; the patrol stopped looked around then carried on .....

As the home guard patrol moved on, Cynthia signalled out to sea

The inflatables from the waiting U-boat headed towards the signal ...

With the inflatables on their way in, Cynthia headed back inland; as she crossed the fence she fell and let out a cry. A roving patrol nearby came over to investigate....

The wire had been cut by a couple of the U-boat crew and the air men starting making their way through. Cynthia got up but the patrol had reached her - Halt ! she didn't, shots were fired ...they soon captured her.

The shooting attracted another roving patrol, they could just see men moving by the barbed wire...

One of the airmen fired at them, the patrol returned fire and the air man went down; the patrol then opened fire on the rest of the airmen and the U-boat crewmen as they were getting into the inflatables..

Another german airman was hit and dropped to the ground; however the inflatables made their way out to sea paddling furiously; the patrol was on the beach firing at them, but missed .....

After what seemed an age the inflatables reached the waiting U-boat - they had got there (with the critical air recon photos).  Once on board the captain issued the order Dive ! Dive ! Dive !...

Just in time the U-boat slipped under the waves, as a coastal patrol boat approached ....

the patrol boat didn't see them; the U-boat set course for France....

The search is on ...

Patrols have been doubled near the coast...

Calling HQ: all clear on coast road ....

A few scouts help in the search ....

Calling HQ: Sopley farm checked, nothing seen so far on Sorbiton Heath.....

Down at Malachi's cove the home guard patrol the low cliff ....

On the move ....

With daylight starting to go, it is nearly dusk and the search is still on... so far no luck in finding the black car. The officer discusses the next move with a plain clothes intelligence man.  "We'll double coastal and harbour patrols and see if we can cover possible landing strips, otherwise we'll just have to trust to luck ..."

The intelligence man had a hunch, he would make a call to HQ for some information ....

---oXo---

Cynthia and the Falconer had a change of clothing and also found some suitable items for the airmen as well. Following a quick meal, after dark they got out the van. The airmen would ride in the back, the other two would take turns to drive ...

They were soon off on their journey to the pickup point ....

To the Castle ...

continued from previous post....

The back car went at break neck speed east down the road from Corley wood for 3 miles then took a sharp right for a couple of miles where it whizzed past a couple of scouts, nearly knocking them over; one of the scouts took the number of the car (something odd was going on he thought)...

Another mile down the road and the car pulled into a yard of Castle Farm....

Cynthia popped out of the house to see who had arrived and had a heated conversation with the 'Falconer' (it had been a big risk to come in day-light). Once she'd calmed down she said "OK then we'll put them in the barn for now - I'll arrange a change of clothes for them; we'll send a signal later...'

Once they were in the barn the black car was hidden round the back of the house under a tarpaulin.

---oXo---

Signal sent to german intelligence by Cynthia later ...

Castle calling: Falconer and Hatchlings in the nest, request collection ...

Response: Received and understood,  at 0600hrs tomorrow, location at rendezvous alpha-2

to be continued ...

Searching Chorley Wood .....

German aircraft radios their base: 

Hawk calling - mission completed, photos taken, aircraft hit on return leg - losing fuel, will bail out - urgent arrange pickup location Z .

Response: Message received Hawk - the Falconer will collect you - if you do not meet go to the Castle and ask for Cynthia.

Some time later: 

HQ phone call to home guard Freezingham: Parachutists seen in your area, location environs of Chorley Wood; plane down nearby - investigate.

---oXo---

Chorley Wood....

The home guard have arrived and are about to enter the wood...  four parachutists are down - the air crew ( position of air crew initially show my green circular tokens)

The air crew move slowly through the woods trying to evade the home guard patrols (and reach their rendez-vous point - a rocky outcrop) ..

One of the air crew disturbs some birds, attracting the attention of a couple of nearby home guard ...

The air crew reach their rendezvous point - the rocky outcrop;  two of the home guard are now nearby...

the air crew plan their next move ..(at this point changed over from tokens to figures, as now in a group)

as they headed towards the road, a motorcyle with side car toddled past;  one of the home guard was closing in ...

'Halt who goes there' shouted the home guard, as the air crew came into view - he fired a shot at them but missed...

Two of the aircrew went for him, pushing him over and knocking him out... (fisticuffs with rock paper scissors dice - rock looses to two paper !)...

As the air crew reached the road, two more home guard had come up moving to the sound of the gun fire...

The german officer turned and shot one of them; as they crossed the road ... two home guard were coming up - down the road in the distance they could see a motorcyle with side car moving their way ...

As they moved into the field, a man in a black trench coat stepped out and identified himself as the Falconer and ushered them into a waiting black car...

The Falconer drove like a man possessed along the field and then back through a gap in the hedge onto the road at off along at breakneck speed...

---oXo---

Home Guard to HQ: German aircrew escaped ...assisted by man in black car .. heading east towards Freezingham....  German recon plane found crashed two miles east of Chorley Wood - camera film canister not located.

---oXo---

Will the german air crew make good their escape and get the recon film back across the channel ?