Signalman Frank Lee Howarth
Name: 14323987 Sgmn. Howarth, Frank Lee.
Unit: 22nd Independent Parachute Company, 6th Airborne Division.
Date of Birth: 31st March 1924.
Date of Enlistment: January 1942.
Captured: 5th June 1944.
Peacetime Profession: Telephone Engineer.
Private Address: 17, North View, Eastcote, Pinner, Middlesex.
1. CAPTURE.
I left the U.K. on the night of 5 Jun 44 for an operation North of CAEN. Somewhere over the CHERBOURG Peninsula (FRANCE, 1:250,000 Sheet 3A & 8) (exact location unknown) we crash landed after being shot down. I do not remember any more until I found myself surrounded by a German patrol. Most of the members of our aircraft were injured, two were killed outright, and my leg was broken.
We were taken to a German front-line hospital for a few days later we were removed to a sanatorium at EVREUX (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 7, R 16). After about two weeks I was moved to a hospital in PARIS that had previously been a lunatic asylum. I was there for about four or five days and then moved to the HOPITAL DE LA PITIE (PARIS).
2. RELEASE.
About four days before the Allies entered PARIS the Germans made arrangements to evacuate all walking cases to GERMANY. This plan was put into operation. While it was going on I hid in a loft. The Germans were so anxious to get the hospital cleared that they did not bother to make a thorough search. I was in the loft by myself, but I know that several other patients hid in similar places and were not discovered.
The same day the hospital was taken over by the Maquis. I remained in the hospital for about three days after the evacuation, being cared for by the Maquis. When the Americans entered the city I was sent to a hospital nearer the coast. After about two days I was sent by air to the U.K. I went first to WHITCHURCH Hospital and thence to a convalescent home at DUNRAVE CASTLE, near NORWICH. I was discharged on 19 Sep and sent on 28 days leave.
COMPILED FROM QUESTIONNAIRE: 17 Oct 44.
My thanks to John Howes for this report.