"We took off from Kirmington at 2300 hrs on 19 May 44 in a Lancaster aircraft on a bombing mission to Orléans. When we were north of Paris on the outward journey at 0020hrs on 20 May the starboard inner engine caught fire. After a few minutes someone said over the intercom that we ought to bale out.

I baled out and landed in a field about 250 yards from our crashed aircraft near Arnouville (NW Europe, 1:250,000, sheet 7, R 6052). I hid my parachute, harness and buoyancy suit in the field. I ran West and hid in a wood N. of Goussonville (R6353). I remained there until 1700hrs (20 May) when I approached a French farmer who was tending sheep nearby. He agreed to help me and brought his son about 1900hrs with food.

I remained in the wood that night and at 0600 hrs on 21 May, the farmer came to me. He was accompanied by a girl and her grandfather. They gave me food. The farmer then contacted a friend in Mantes-Gassicourt (R6060), who agreed to supply civilian clothes. When the farmer returned from Mantes Gassicourt he escorted me to an outhouse near his farm. I remained there till the evening of 25 May, when I was moved into the farmhouse. I was sheltered in the farmhouse till 23 Aug when I contacted American Forces at Goussonville (R 6353). I was accompanied by Sgt William Koenig, 9th USAAF, who had been at the farmhouse since 26 Jun."