One military officer was once quoted “It takes less time to build an aircraft than it does to train the crew.” For those flying raids in World War II, it was imperative and vital for pilots and their crew who were shot down to return to fly again. One historian noted that fifteen percent of aircraft on any given day were downed. That left a lot of airmen on the ground in occupied regions.
Escape lines began to form all across Europe, not only helping downed pilots and soldiers but compromised spies, resisters, and Jewish people. Those that assisted thousands of escapees embarked on an endeavor just as dangerous as fighting on the front lines. And those that fed, clothed, and hidden their charges were mostly teenage women or a bit older.
Andree de Jongh, 24, known as Dedee, formed the Comet Escape Line (Le Réseau Comète) to return airmen, British and American, to the United Kingdom. Although the British were accustomed to European culture, the Americans were not. They had to be taught certain aspects so as not to be noticed. For example, not to put their hands in their pockets, to smoke European cigarettes as the aromas were quite different, and not to be seen eating chocolate as there was none in Europe at the time.
These women who worked the escape lines mainly have gone un-named by historians. The Royal Air Forces Escaping Society estimated the number of volunteers may have been over 100,000 people. Most of the escape lines were headed by women.
And most were arrested, died in concentration camps, or executed while some even needing their own escape lines.
Quotes from some books and articles.
“Participation in the escape networks was arguably the most dangerous form of resistance work in occupied Europe.” Last Hope Island by Lynn Olson
“My name is Andree…but I would like you to call me by my code name, which is Dedee, which means little mother. From here on I will be your little mother, and you will be my little children. It will be my job to get my children to Spain and freedom. “Andree de Jongh, 90, Legend of Belgian Resistance, Dies.” New York Times by Douglas Martin
“Our lives are going to depend on a schoolgirl.” A downed airman said, referring to Andree de Jongh. New York Times by Douglas Marin
Comments