(THUDDING)
(SCRAPING)
Stop!
(SPEAKING GERMAN)
Okay.
(THUDDING)
Stop it again.
(SINGING IN GERMAN)
(MUSIC PLAYING LOUDLY)
So you'll settle our bet, huh?
I say the British identity disks give name, number and religion.
My friend says no. Which is it?
Here you are, Mr. Werra, see for yourself.
I win. You see? "C of E," Church of England.
- That's right. - Yes, that's right.
- Thank you. - Okay.
(WHISTLES)
Inspection. Stand to your beds.
- Come. - No, no, look. Look, I hide in here.
- No, no, no, you'll suffocate. - There's no air, you'll choke.
Put the cover on and get out!
- Who's in there? - Unoccupied, sir.
Open it up.
Franz.
Franz!
Let's go over the plans once again? We all meet at the farm, then separate.
- Walter and Heinz. - Sheffield and then Glasgow.
We stow away on neutral ship.
Yes. And Johannes and Ernst, Manchester then Liverpool.
And you, Franz?
I am Captain Wilhelm Van Lott. Dutch pilot.
Mixed Special Bomber Squadron. Based at Dyce, Aberdeen.
Yeah. But, Franz, you never tell us what you going to do.
I'm going to steal a British airplane.
(SIREN WAILING)
Listen.
- Here they come again. - Yeah.
- All right. Where's Walter? - I come.
What is that?
For my girlfriend in Hamburg.
She has a great passion for chocolate. I save it.
Well, that's a beautiful thought, Walter.
Don't forget, at the farm.
(SPEAKING GERMAN)
Excuse. Where's the telephone, please? I crashed in a Wellington.
I'm a pilot. I crashed. Forced landing. Down there.
Get away.
Look, I must telephone the nearest RAF airfield.
- Telephone. - Oh... Oh, yeah, telephone.
- They got one in the office. - Take me there.
- You're not English. - No, Dutch.
Oh, up here.
Can he use the phone? He's a Dutch pilot. He's had a crash.
I must get to the nearest RAF aerodrome, immediately.
Had a crash, have you? Where?
In the fields near the railway.
Yes, it's about... I would say, it's about two or three miles from here.
What about your crew?
Oh, we were very lucky. The crew is with the Wellington.
But I must get them picked up and return to my base in Aberdeen.
So, will you please use the phone, it's very urgent.
No, thank you. The 6:22 is just coming up.
- Do you mind if... - No, no, carry on.
- Give me the police station, will you? - No, no, RAF please...
- RAF. - Hello, police?
Oh, Codnor Park booking office here.
There's a fellow here says he's a Dutch airman,
crashed about a couple of miles down the line.
- He says his name's... - Captain Van Lott.
Captain Van Lott. Yes, Dutch, he says. Wellington.
Yes. He seems all right to me. Better if you do. Right-o.
Why call the police? I must get to an aerodrome.
Well, they won't be long, and they can help you better than I can.
- MAN: Langley Mill, single. - Sorry.
There she is, Jim.
WOMAN: Langley Mill, single.
Oh, I must get to an aerodrome.
Oh, the police won't be long, and then Hucknall's only a few miles away.
- Don't worry. - Hucknall?
Oh, yes, Hucknall. Yeah, that's long-range bombers, isn't it?
A training field, I thought.
Look, I...
I tell you in confidence.
I'm of a special bomber squadron. Last night we tried out a new bombsight.
And now, crash. Understand?
I must return to my base at once.
Nippy.
All right, I'll ring Hucknall for you. After all, it can't do any harm.
Oh, thank you very much. They will send a car for me.
Hello, give me the RAF, Hucknall, please, miss.
Oh, look here, you had better give me your unit and so on...
Write it down there, will you? Who shall I ask for?
Oh, Commanding Officer.
Hello? RAF, Hucknall? Oh, could I speak to the Commanding Officer, please?
Codnor Park Station.
What? No, no, Railway Station. Codnor Park L.M.S.
Yes. Look, I've got a Dutch pilot here, says he's crashed in a Wellington.
Who? Oh. Hold on, will you?
- Will the Duty Officer do? - Yes, yes. Just as good.
Oh, hello, Codnor Park booking office here.
Look, about this Dutch pilot who's crashed in a...
Well, somebody's got to do something about him.
Well, he said he wants transport to Hucknall. All right, hold on.
He wants to talk to you.
Oh, thank you. Thank you.
- Captain Van Lott. Who's that? - Duty Officer, Hucknall, here.
I gather you've had a spot of trouble. What's it all about?
Yeah.
I see. Where are you based?
Dyce? Where's that?
Oh, Aberdeen. Yes, I know.
It's funny, we haven't heard of the crash.
Special what?
Oh, no, no. Mustn't talk about it over the phone.
So, if you shall send a car for me, please.
There will be a plane to come from Aberdeen.
- It's very urgent. - Yes.
I suppose we'll have to.
All right, old boy. I'll get the duty car to come and fetch you.
Oh, about a quarter of an hour.
Goodbye.
(BUZZING)
- Duty car, sir? - Oh, yes.
Look, I want you to run over to Codnor Park Station
and pick up an officer called Captain Van Lott.
- Captain Van Lott, sir? - Yes, he's Dutch.
Or so he said.
And bring him here.
You'd better take my pistol. He may be genuine,
probably is, but you never know.
Don't let him catch on. Treat him as you would a British pilot.
- All right, you can go. - Yes, sir.
And he's not to leave the car
until you've dumped him here at HQ, got it?
All right, sir.
And how was the new bombsight?
Oh, excellent! Wish I could tell you, but you know.
So, suddenly we were caught in the searchlight
and... When is that car coming?
Oh, shouldn't be long now, Hucknall's not far away.
Oh, there's the car. Thank you very much, gentlemen,
and, oh, would you please explain to the policeman that I cannot wait.
Thank you very much.
Oh, I'd given you up. There's a car coming for him from Hucknall, now.
(SPEAKING GERMAN)
A little.
Most Dutch people do.
- Coastal Command are you? - Yes, yes, we bombed Esbjerg last night.
- I nearly bought it, I tell you. - Pancaked a Wimpey, did you?
Yes, we were very lucky, came back on one engine.
WOMAN: Single to Langley Mill.
You say they're sending a car from Hucknall?
- I spoke to the Duty Officer myself. - Yes, I had a word with him, too.
- Seemed satisfied, did he? - Why not?
What's the hurry to get to Hucknall?
Oh, I have to return to my base at once.
You see, we tested a new bombsight last night.
Now, I have to report immediately.
You better keep that to yourself.
Why didn't you bring the rest of your crew with you?
And leave secret equipment not guarded, huh?
What I don't understand, sir, is why the crash hasn't been reported.
- What time did it happen? - About 4:00, I think.
- Where? - Oh, it will be in the fields,
west of Langley Mill.
There was one crashed there a month or two back, remember?
Well, how could you see where you were coming down?
- Airman's luck, you know. - Did you hear the all clear?
Yes, of course, about an hour after we crashed.
- Now, let's look at your identity papers. - Sergeant!
You know as well as me, airmen are forbidden
to take personal papers on bomb attacks.
And I'm of a special squadron.
- Captain Van Lott? - Yeah, that's me.
Your transport to Hucknall, sir.
Oh, thank you. Thank you very much. I'm coming.
Gentlemen, I thank you very much. Excuse me, please.
Good luck and so long.
Better drive me straight to the control tower.
Perhaps they have news of the plane that comes for me from Aberdeen.
Sorry, sir, my orders are to take you straight to HQ.
But I shall be only a minute.
Beg your pardon, sir. Must obey orders.
Well, it doesn't matter. Would have saved time.
- Oh, Hurricanes. - Oh, yes, sir.
Experimental works, that is. Civilian, very hush-hush.
Oh, yes?
- Captain Van Lott, sir. - Good.
- Would you like me to... - No, no, you needn't wait.
I'm so sorry to trouble you.
- Van Lott. - Oh, good morning.
I go and wait by the control tower for my plane from Aberdeen.
Oh, no, no, it's warmer in here.
Yes, but I'm in a hurry, see.
Well, Control will ring me as soon as your aircraft reports.
Come over by the fire.
- Nippy. - Yeah.
Take off your flying suit.
Oh, no, thank you, that's not worth the while.
Thank you very much.
You had breakfast? Would you like some hot coffee?
I had breakfast with the station man at Codnor, thank you very much.
- Oh. - Yes, while we had tea
- The police arrived. - Oh!
- It was very funny. Yes. - The police, they saw you?
- Were they satisfied? - Oh, yes, yes, of course. Yes.
They were angry with the station man because he wasted their time.
But then they wished good luck to me and everybody friends.
Yes, grand types.
By the way, how does your base know that you have crashed?
Oh, I telephoned them before, it's... They said they'll send a plane for me.
Oh, I see. Well, if you'll just hang on a moment, I'll check with them.
Dyce, Aberdeen. But the plane will arrive any minute.
Oh, well, you know how it is. Red tape and well...
Hello? Would you get me the Station Adjutant at Dyce, Aberdeen.
Yes, and hurry it up. There's a good girl.
- Hot, isn't it? - Yes.
You'll ruin your uniform under that flying suit.
No, no, no, perfectly all right, thank you very much.
Well, let's get the gen on the crash.
- What time was it? - 4:00.
0400. The railway yards at Hamm, wasn't it?
Esbjerg, Denmark.
That's the first I've heard of British raids on Denmark.
We started last night.
- Got your 12-50? - 12-50, yes.
Nice flying suit there. It fleece-lined?
Yes, yes, it's fleece-lined. It's... I wore it before the war,
when I was a pilot for KLM, Amsterdam.
(PHONE RINGS)
Duty Officer. Oh, it's you.
Yes, all right.
Air raid green.
Well, you were going to show me your 12-50.
Yes...
I remember, I did not bring it with me.
I cannot take it in the air, you see.
- Special squadron. - Oh.
No, I suppose not.
Well, you must have something to identify you.
What about your identity disks?
Oh, yes, of course! It was silly to forget.
Duty Officer. Oh, yes, good, put me through.
Dyce.
Hello. Hello, Dyce? Station Adjutant?
This is Hucknall. We have one of your pilots here.
- Lavatory, you see. I come back. - Van Lott.
No, Van Lott.
Hello? Hello?
Yes, he's a Dutchman.
Operator, I've been cut off. I was talking to Dyce, Aberdeen.
Good morning, I am Captain Van Lott, Royal Netherlands Air Force.
I have seen the Duty Officer.
He said that you can show me the controls of the Hurricane.
That I can have a little trial flight.
So, which one is ready? This one?
You've come to the wrong place, sir. This is government experimental.
Yes, of course, we know, but the Duty Officer said I must come to see you.
You're one of the ferry pilots from White Waltham, are you?
- Air Transport Command? - Yes, yes, naturally.
Well, that's different, sir. You'll have to see the A.I.D. blokes.
Yes, yes, I see them later.
You show me first the I controls, will you?
I'm afraid I can't do that, sir.
You'll have to sign the visitors book first, and then do a lot of paperwork.
I'll get the manager for you.
Good morning.
You've come to collect the Mk II Hurricane, have you?
- Yes. - Let's get your paperwork fixed up.
Oh, it won't be long, I just want to know the controls.
Well, you can't do anything until you've signed the visitors book.
Won't take a minute.
Here we are. If you'll just fill in the details along the next line, sir.
Yes.
Do you want me to fill that in full?
No, it doesn't matter. Just put, "See A.I.D."
Yes, yes.
Here we are.
Good. Got your written order for collection?
Oh, yes, yes. The parachute and the papers shall come with the plane
due to land any moment now.
I think I'll have the instructions on the controls, to save some time, all right?
Right-o. Quite in order now you've signed in.
Harry!
Take the Captain over to the Hurricane and explain the controls right away.
- He'll fix you up. - Thank you.
- No smoking. - Sorry.
She is bigger than the old Hurricane, isn't she?
Bigger, faster, more guns. Got everything, this has.
Compass. How would you set that for a 120 degrees, for instance?
I see. Yes, thank you.
Hydraulic brakes. Injection pump. Starter button.
Don't do that, sir. She won't start without a trolley acc.
Get me one, then.
I'm sorry, but I really am in a hurry.
Contact.
Oh, yes, yeah... Yes, contact.
Get out.
At least the other four are free.
This movement of prisoners to Canada, sir.
POW Administration have asked for a list of any you'd like to keep here
for further interrogation.
- Who were you thinking of? - Well, what about von Werra, sir?
Oh, I wouldn't want to deprive him of a nice healthy sea voyage.
In fact, I'd recommend a special escort for von Werra
to make quite certain he gets there.
And so, our long sojourn in England is over.
As we march out of this camp.
As we begin the long journey to Canada.
- Canada. - I have been to Canada.
Thousands of kilometers away from home.
I know it quite well, it lies next to the United States.
A neutral country.
But as we pick up our burdens, our thoughts turn to our loved ones.
Our hearts go back to the homeland.
And the ultimate victory!
(SHOUTING IN GERMAN)
Collect your sandwiches on the way out.
- Nothing? - Something.
Nobody knows where the camp is. Only that we land in Halifax.
But from Halifax it's a long journey on a train.
Sergeant, where do we go?
Or is that secret?
Well, I guess it won't do any harm to tell you.
The orderlies know, anyway.
Lake Superior, Ontario. Nice, new place.
Thank you.
(WHISTLING)
Here by the river. On the other side, the United States.
Beyond Montreal.
Any time beyond Montreal, huh?
(SPEAKING GERMAN)
Double win...
Double window.
Is it fixed?
Frozen up.
All right. Pay attention.
You're going to be on this train for at least four days.
If any of you got ideas about jumping out, forget them.
We're ready for you inside the train and outside.
You men who speak English, translate. That's all.
Where are we?
- Cold. - Yeah.
- Anybody want an apple? - Oh, yeah.
Help yourselves.
Well, I hope you all don't get belly aches.
Well, I told you!
Well, they haven't seen apples for months.
All right, all right. Come on, stand in line.
Get in line. Come on.
All right, one at a time, you guys, one at a time.
Hey, put your overcoat on.
Not hot enough for you?
You, too?
Could we have some more heat?
All right, all back to your seats. This is a station.
Come on, move yourselves.
Won't be long. We only stop for a couple of minutes.
Come on, you guys, back to your seats. Back to your seats, come on.
Back to your seat, boy.
Smiths Falls, I guess. And we got another two days of this.
MAN: All aboard!
All right, take it easy. Come on, take it easy.
One at a time. Come on, back in line, back in line.
I don't know what you're talking about, boy, but back in line.
- Come on! Wait your turn, boy. - Come on, take your chair.
(CLAMORING)
No, no, too fast.
Get out, go on!
Back in line! Back in line!
Come on, back in line, boy, back in line!
- Thank you. - Right.
Where you heading for, bud?
South. The river.
- Johnstown? - Yes, yes, Johnstown.
I must see my relations there.
- I'm a Dutch seaman. - Oh, you don't say.
Yes.
I have been torpedoed twice in the Atlantic.
Now, I'm looking for a job on land.
Or maybe... Maybe on the river?
Not this time of year, you won't. It's clean froze over.
- So! - Yep.
Imagine that!
Just a little walk across, and there it is.
The United States.
Yep. And emigration patrols.
Me, I don't know if their job's to keep them out or keep them in.
What are you stopping here for?
Quick, where's the phone? One of them's got away.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING)
(CAR PASSING)
Is this America?
Where am I?
You're in Ogdensburg, fellow.
- America? - That's right.
Ogdensburg, USA.
Come on.
Come on, boy.
I am...
I am an officer of the German Air Force.
I am...
I was...
Prisoner of war.
I claim...
The protection of a neutral country.
You aren't claiming anything, fellow, I'm taking you in.
Come on.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you.
Very witty to be sure.
If he gets back to Germany, sir?
Oh, we might have to revise the system of interrogation a little.