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| LT Mark T Wilson P-51D Evaded Capture |
Wilson and Oldfield had flown a mission over Germany that rainy Sunday morning,
but they stayed too long in the combat-area near Heidelberg. The P-51's ran out of
petrol and the men decided to make a crash-landing close to the village of
Siegerswoude, in the province of Friesland. Both pilots fled into the woods and the
Germans started searching for them. They shot at every moving object between the
trees. The airmen escaped and first found a shelter in the house of T. Nijboer in
Hemrik. From there they were moved to the small house of Jan Minkes in
Hoornsterzwaag, where they were hidden in the cupboard-beds. Minkes spoke no
English, but the men had a great time with him. Together they sang popular songs
as "lili marlene". In this period they were also hidden in the house of Pier Dijkstra,
who had a farm in Hoornsterzwaag (housenr. 11).
As it was expected that the Liberation would come soon, Wilson and Oldfield
stayed in Friesland until the arrival of the Canadian Army. This part of the
Netherlands was liberated mid-April 1945.
Alexander Tuinhout,
Friesland - The Netherlands"
but they stayed too long in the combat-area near Heidelberg. The P-51's ran out of
petrol and the men decided to make a crash-landing close to the village of
Siegerswoude, in the province of Friesland. Both pilots fled into the woods and the
Germans started searching for them. They shot at every moving object between the
trees. The airmen escaped and first found a shelter in the house of T. Nijboer in
Hemrik. From there they were moved to the small house of Jan Minkes in
Hoornsterzwaag, where they were hidden in the cupboard-beds. Minkes spoke no
English, but the men had a great time with him. Together they sang popular songs
as "lili marlene". In this period they were also hidden in the house of Pier Dijkstra,
who had a farm in Hoornsterzwaag (housenr. 11).
As it was expected that the Liberation would come soon, Wilson and Oldfield
stayed in Friesland until the arrival of the Canadian Army. This part of the
Netherlands was liberated mid-April 1945.
Alexander Tuinhout,
Friesland - The Netherlands"
| Escape and Evasion Report |
