Sergeant Maurice Muir
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3325/88
Name: 1194501 Sgt. Muir, Maurice (now 184469 P/O Maurice Muir).
Unit: 424 Squadron, Bomber Command, R.A.F.
Left: Paris, 12th September 1944.
Arrived: Heston, 12th September 1944.
R.A.F. Service: Since 12th November 1940.
Post in Crew: Flight Engineer.
Peacetime Profession: Engineering apprentice.
Private Address: 32 Stapleford Lane, Toton, Beeston, Notts.
Other members of the crew:-
F/Lt. MALLETT, R.C.A.F. (pilot) (IS9/WEA/MB.1358),
F/O. ELLIOTT, R.C.A.F. (2nd pilot) (IS9/WEA/MB/1317),
F/O. IRWIN, R.C.A.F. (navigator) (fate unknown),
W.O. SWEATMAN, R.C.A.F. (bomb-aimer) (IS9/WEA/MB1359),
W.O. WAKELY, R.C.A.F. (wireless op) (fate unknown),
Sgt. FREEMAN, R.C.A.F. (mid upper gunner) (fate unknown),
F/Sgt. POPPA, R.C.A.F. (rear gunner) (believed P/W).
We took off from SKIPTON-ON-SWALE in a Halifax aircraft at 2345 hours on 27 May 44. The aircraft was attacked by a fighter near BOURG LEOPOLD (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 3 K 2782) and set on fire. I saw another member of the crew baling out and I followed him.
I baled out at approximately 0200 hours on 28 May 44, and landed a few kms. S.W. of OLMEN (K 1986). I hid my parachute, harness, and mae west and walked S.W. until dawn, when I hid in a field. I remained there until 1500 hours, when I resumed walking South. I arrived at the ALBERT CANAL, and after watching a bridge for about two hours I crossed it and continued walking South across country.
I arrived on the outskirts of TESSENDERLOO (K 1578) at dusk, when I met three Belgians and a girl. They told me to remain hidden until they should return. They went away and two of them returned at 1500 hours on 29 May. They brought civilian clothing, food, etc., and one of them escorted me to a nearby house.
I moved to another house on 30 May, where I met F/O. ELLIOTT of my crew. F/O. ELLIOTT remained with me until our arrival in the U.K.
We stayed in various houses until 22 Jun, when we were taken on bicycles to the outskirts of VEERLE (K 0879), where we were to be met by a car. A car containing two men (names unknown) came to the meeting place and we were taken to BRUSSELS. We stayed at 19 Rue Forrestiere, BRUSSELS, until the afternoon of 3 Jul, when we were taken by car to the outskirts of BRUSSELS, where the driver (name unknown) took us to a house (location unknown). On arrival there we met five men and we were told that we were to have our photographs taken. Four of the men escorted us to a car outside the house. As I was getting into the car a German soldier appeared. At that moment the four men produced revolvers and we were instructed to get into the car. The German soldier was the car driver. We were taken to the Luftwaffe Secret Police Headquarters on the Avenue Louise, BRUSSELS, where we were searched and then taken to ST. GILLES PRISON, BRUSSELS.
We remained there until 2 Sep. During this time I was interrogated by an Unteroffizier of the Luftwaffe re places where we had stayed, names of helpers, etc. I did not give any information.
On 2 Sep two other P/W (names unknown) and I were taken by lorry to a railway station in BRUSSELS and put into a coach containing 38 other Ps/W from ST. GILLES PRISON. The train left BRUSSELS at 1400 hours and returned to BRUSSELS about 1700 hours. Shortly afterwards we again left BRUSSELS and travelled to North of MECHLIN (J 7175), where we arrived at 2100 hours. We remained there until approximately 0900 hours on 3 Sep, when we were taken back to BRUSSELS, where we arrived about 0900 hours. We remained back on the train, which left BRUSSELS at 1400 hours. As the train was starting three of the P/W (names unknown) were able to get out of the carriage. The train arrived at MECHLIN at 2000 hours and then returned to SCHAERBEEK, on the outskirts of BRUSSELS, where it was derailed at 0100 hours on 4 Sep. The German guards then disappeared.
At 0430 hours F/O. ELLIOTT and I left the train and walked into BRUSSELS, where we went to a house. We remained there until 9 Sep.
On that day we went to the HOTEL METROPOLE, where we were interviewed by an Army Captain. We stayed there until 10 Sep, when we were sent by air to PARIS. We were interrogated by I.S.9(W.E.A.) and sent by air to the U.K. on 12 Sep. 44.