22553 Thomas Reynolds Royal Air Force 408 Squadron My grandfather, was working in the Belgian underground as a member of the escape line Comete. He moved Clayton Maclachlan and Tommy Reynolds who belonged to the 408 squadron, in Brussels, from one safe place to another. I learned that they had to jump out of their Lancaster in fire and that they fell in Deurne-Tessenderloo on 20th December 1943. They were both hidden in the neighborhood of my grandfather where I am still living. I should be very glad if I could come in touch with one of them or with a member of their family. The crew were: - Les Morrison. pilot RAAF
- Allan Wright. nav.
- Clayton MacLachlan. bomb aimer
- Alexander Dumbbell. W/op
- Thomas Reynolds flt eng.
- William Heaton. mid upper gunner
- Edward Salmon. Rear gunner
Their Lancaster II, DS-704 code EQ-W was shot down December 20, 1943 on Ops to Frankfurt.Heaton and Wright were killed, Salmon was taken POW after spending time with the resistance. The rest of the crew evaded capture. Clayton MacLachlan & Tommy Reynolds evaded arrest with the help of the resistance until Brussels’ liberation. Ted Salmon joined the resistance at Diest, East of Brussels. He was taken to Brussels four days later and stayed at various houses. At the last house the people were engaged in sabotage. One was captured and the house was surrounded in the middle of February. He was taken to St. Giles prison till May 12th. then was moved to an interrogation camp, Dulag Luft. Later Ted was sent to Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug. Moved to Thorn, in Poland and eventually to 357 at Folling Bostel. He was released while on the march, in May 1945.
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