One of Our Aircraft Is Missing 1942

Bailout over the Netherlands

During a night raid on Stuttgart, one engine is damaged and the Wellington is forced to bail out over Dutch territory near the Zuider Zee. Five of the six crew members reunite on the ground, while the sixth remains missing, leaving their fate uncertain. The immediate danger comes from the German occupation nearby and the locals' fear of reprisal.

Search for the missing crewman

The airmen split up to search for the missing sixth, but the Dutch townsfolk rally cautiously around the stranded flyers. Rumors circulate as the locals wonder how a crash has not been reported. The group weighs the risk of German reprisals against the need to survive.

First contact with Else Meertens

The English-speaking Dutch schoolteacher Else Meertens meets the airmen with curiosity and caution. She helps them understand the danger they face and acts as their initial point of contact within the local community. Her leadership begins to shift the locals' suspicion toward aid.

Dutch decision to help despite reprisals

The Dutch residents, after debate and fear of German retaliation, decide to assist the stranded airmen. They organize routes of safe passage and shelter, risking severe consequences from occupying forces. The airmen gain a tenuous lifeline thanks to local solidarity.

Journey to a football match

Led by the pilots, the disguised airmen bicycle through the countryside to a local football match. The group is passed along to the burgomaster, moving across a network of Dutch towns under watchful eyes. The journey showcases the tense cooperation between locals and the airmen.

Reunion with the missing crewman

At the football ground, the missing crewman is found playing for a local team. The discovery confirms that at least one of the men remains alive and hidden nearby. The group bonds anew as they plan their continued escape toward safety.

Hiding in a truck to Jo de Vries

The airmen conceal themselves in a truck carrying supplies to Jo de Vries, a Dutch ally who is sympathetic to their plight. This transport becomes a key move to increase their chances of remaining unseen by the Germans. Tensions rise as the convoy moves through occupied territory.

Shelter in Jo de Vries's mansion

De Vries hides the airmen in her mansion even while German troops are garrisoned nearby. Heavily risking her own safety, she provides protection and a temporary sanctuary for the crew. The arrangement hinges on the deception that she is fully aligned with the Germans in public while aiding the men privately.

Escape during an air raid

Under the cover of an air raid, the group slips from the mansion toward a rowing boat. They move stealthily through the sounds and chaos of the attack, trying to reach the protection of the sea. A nearby bridge sentry spots their escape and wounds the oldest crew member, Sir George Corbett.

Escape to a German rescue buoy

The men reach a German rescue buoy and take two downed enemy aviators as prisoners. One of the adversaries manages to send a radio signal, alerting German forces to their location and complicating the escape. The buoy becomes a temporary, precarious shelter.

Rescue by British boats

Two British boats arrive at the buoy first. Because Sir George Corbett cannot be moved due to his injuries, the crew decides to tow the buoy back to England, securing the airmen's safe return. The tense operation underscores the urgency of rescuing their wounded leader.