Flying Officer Joel Matthew Stevenson
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/51
Name: C.27788 F/O Joel Matthew Stevenson.
Unit: R.C.A.F., 419 Squadron, Bomber Command, R.A.F.
Captured: Paris, 14th July 1944.
Escaped: 18th August 1944.
Left: Bayeux, 4th September 1944.
Arrived: U.K., 4th September 1944.
Date of Birth: 6th January 1923
R.A.F. Service: Since 7th August 1941.
O.T.U.: 24, Stratford on Avon.
Conversion Unit: 1664, Wombleton.
Post in crew: Pilot.
Peacetime Profession: Delivery clerk, Western Union Telegram.
Private Address: 404 East Arkansas, Sweetwater, Texas, U.S.A.
Other members of crew:
F/O PRUDHOMME, (navigator) )
F/O SMITH (bomb aimer) )
W.O.I HEAD (wireless operator) ) Baled out safely,
Sgt. VINECOMBE, (flight engineer) ) believed P/W.
Sgt. PETT (mid upper gunner) )
Sgt. GIBSON (tail gunner) )
We left MIDDLETON ST GEORGE in a Lancaster aircraft about 2000 hours on 4 Jul 44. All the members of the crew baled out safely, landing in the neighbourhood of CHARTRES (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 7, R 30) in the early hours of 5 Jul.
Having buried my parachute in a wheat field. I set off with my tail-gunner, Sgt. GIBSON, walking N.W. for about 18 miles. As it got light we hid in a wheat field and slept until noon. I got rid of my revolver and ammunition, but was still wearing uniform. About 1700 hours I approached a French farmer who brought us some food, and later took us to his house for a few hours. In the evening this farmer led us to another farm house, where we spent the night.
Next day the first man bought my wireless operator in to the farm, and also provided food and civilian clothes for us.
On 6 Jul the mid-upper gunner of F/Lt. YUNKER's crew arrived, and told us that we were in the care of the underground movement. He advised us to await further instructions. I understood that he had been shot down the same night as we were.
On 10 Jul we were taken to another farmhouse where we met F/O PRUDHOMME, our navigator, also the bomb aimer and the mid-upper gunner from F/Lt. YUNKER's crew. The next day F/O HARVEY, of F/O BAIRD's crew was brought in.
On 12 Jul the six of us were taken to PARIS in a car driven by the son of a French doctor. We stayed the night in an empty house with a member of the movement. Next day we were split into groups, GIBSON and HEAD together, and PRUDHOMME with me. We two were taken to a hotel on the outskirts of PARIS, and there told how we should proceed through SPAIN.
During the afternoon of 14 Jul we were visited by an American who said he had just arrived from BARCELONA. He asked questions about our Air Force, and we were immediately suspicious. I had been told by HEAD that an American, who stated that he came from PASADENA, had tried to get information from him, so I refused to talk.
Later in the afternoon the four of us were driven to Gestapo Headquarters by the same driver who had driven us to PARIS. Here I was asked questions about my civilian employment, age, religion and my feelings towards the Russians. We were then taken in a police wagon to FRESNES prison, outside PARIS. F/O BAIRD and the bomb aimer and mid upper gunner from F/Lt YUNKER's crew, were also in the wagon with us. In prison we were deprived of everything except our underwear, shirts, and trousers. While in FRESNES I tried to escape by cutting the bars with my escape saw, but someone reported my attempt to a German officer.
On 15 Aug 44 we were taken by truck from the prison to the GARE DE L'EST and there loaded into box cars, 70 men to a car. In the car were all the people I had previously travelled with, including the wireless operator, engineer and mid upper gunner from F/Lt. YUNKER's crew, also F/O HARVEY, F/O PRUDHOMME, F/O SMITH, W.O.I HEAD, Sgt. GIBSON, Sgt. VINECOMBE, and the wireless operator of F/O FRAME's crew. Also the navigator and bomb aimer from F/O VICKERMAN's crew (432 Sqn.). On the second day 20 more men were put into the car. We were given one loaf of bread every three days, but the Swiss and the French Red Cross provided us with extra food.
I sawed a hole through the floor and on the morning of 18 Aug I dropped out while the train was travelling at about 25 miles per hour. Two French officers escaped with me, and we made for the undergrowth. It was about 0240 hours when we left the train, and we were about 40 km East of PARIS at the time I think.
We walked to MEZY-MOULINS (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 8, S 96) and I spent the next two nights in a house there. The two Frenchmen went back to PARIS. The owner of the house fetched a woman who arranged for me to go to CHATEAU THIERRY (S 86), and I hid above a shop until the Americans arrived on 28 Aug. I was interrogated by I.S.9 (W.E.A.) and returned to the U.K. on 4 Sep 44.