It was black dark and freezing cold off the coast of France when Glan crashed into the sea.

He and his two crew men ‒ Dan and Sid ‒ scrambled out of their aircraft as it began to sink.

They got to shore and hid in a barn.

But they were found by a farmer. 

He told them it was dangerous for him to help them as there were too many German soldiers nearby.

The Germans came to capture Glan and his friends, but Glan did not blame the farmer. 

Glan knew the farmer had to protect himself, his wife, and his children.

<table><thead><tr><th scope="col" colspan="2">Tricky Word</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th scope="row">To capture:</th><td>To catch.</td></tr></tbody></table>

It was black dark and freezing cold off the coast of France on the night of December 29, 1942, when Glan crashed into the sea.

Glan and his two crew men ‒ Dan and Sid ‒ scrambled out of their aircraft as it began to sink, and they clambered into an inflatable dinghy.

But a big wave turned it over and they all fell in the water. Glan and one of his friends climbed back into the dinghy but the other airman was too tired. Glan had to jump back into the dark water to help him.

Eventually the dinghy hit a beach and they dragged themselves up the sand. They were so cold their legs had ‘gone to sleep’ and they could not walk. It was only later they realised they had crawled through a minefield.

After resting in an empty house, they decided to walk out of the town into a quieter area. They found a farm and went to sleep in the barn.

They were soon discovered by the farmer who said he had to tell the Germans. French people could be put in prison or even shot for hiding RAF airmen. The man had to protect himself and his family.

The Germans came to arrest Glan and his friends, but Glan did not blame the farmer. Years later, Glan visited France to try to find him and tell him that he forgave him.

<table><thead><tr><th scope="col" colspan="2">Vocabulary Checkpoint</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th scope="row">Scrambled out:</th><td>Moved quickly using your hands and feet to pull yourself.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Clambered:</th><td>Climbed awkwardly.</td></tr></tbody></table>

It was black dark and freezing cold off the coast of France on the night of December 29, 1942, when Glan crashed into the sea.

Glan and his two crew men ‒ Dan and Sid ‒ scrambled out of the Swordfish as it began to sink, and they clambered into an inflatable dinghy.

But a big wave turned it over and they all fell in the water. Glan and one of his friends climbed back into the dinghy but the other airman was too tired. Glan had to jump back into the dark water to help him.

Eventually the dinghy hit a beach and the men dragged themselves up the sand. They were so cold their legs had ‘gone to sleep’ and they could not walk. It was only later they realised they had crawled through a minefield.

There were houses ahead of them and they found one had a door open. There was no one inside. They managed to find some food in the kitchen.

They then decided to walk out of the town into a quieter area. They found a farm and went to sleep in the barn.

When they were discovered, the family that lived there said they had to tell the Germans. French people could be put in prison or even shot for hiding RAF airmen. The man and woman at the farm had to protect themselves and their five small children.

They told the Germans about Glan and his friends and the Germans came to arrest them.

Glan did not blame the farmers. He knew they had to turn him into the Germans or face terrible punishment if they were caught.

(Years later, Glan visited France to try to find the farmer and tell him that he forgave him.)

It was black dark and freezing cold off the coast of France on the night of December 29, 1942, when Glan crashed into the sea.

Glan's War

Saved but Betrayed