Safe at Last
Albin Larsson, the Home Guard armed with the rifle and bayonet, neared the area of the smoking plane and called out to the crew of ten in his foreign tongue, “Are you wounded? Are there any bombs?”
Before anyone knew what was happening, the machine guns started to explode inside the plane and the startled crowd, including crew, all dove for cover.
Gunnar Jonsson taught at a “people’s high school” in Hemse … adult education for pupils 18-20 years of age. The school taught the adult youth of the peasantry in order to give them a good all-around education.
He had not immediately recognized the bomber flying overhead as an American plane. In fact, when he saw the star he suspected it to be a Russian plane, not remembering at first that the Russian star is red.
When the village boys cried out, “He will land in the marshland,” Gunnar pedaled to the scene on his bicycle as quickly as he could.
Our wounded Lady ... crashed and burned
Once the explosions were over and everyone understood what had happened, Home Guard Larsson noticed that the teacher was approaching. He beckoned him over so the teacher could explain to the frightened young airmen, in English, that they were indeed in Sweden on neutral soil. Hearing this, Captain Charles W. “Smithy” Smith spontaneously gave the teacher several thumps of joy on his back.
Yes, although for several days some members of the crew were still doubtful, the boys were … safe at last!
So, if Sweden was ‘neutral’ territory and they were ‘safe at last’ why were they interned as prisoners of war?
That’s a great question, and I’ll be answering it in one of my next couple posts!
They were interned, but not as POWs. In fact my Dad (Charlie Smith) and others seemed to have had a wonderful time in Sweden. We have pictures of them on the street in Stockholm, skiing in the countryside, and having a good time in cafes. It sounded like a pretty nice four months. Then they caught a “night flight” back to Britain, and started flying missions again.