HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE

APO 520 - U.S. Army                         D-LYS-lf

10 October 1944 Ref: USA/SKP/116

ESCAPE STATEMENT

1. 1. Barrett, Francis E., 2nd Lt., O-818810, 429 Bomb Sq., 2nd Bomb Group.

Born -                                                              Enlisted - 17 Dec. 1942

Home Address - De Graff, Minn.

Peacetime Profession - Sheet Metal Worker.

M.I.A. - 18 July 1944              RTD - 4 Oct. 1944                  Missions - 6

1. 2. On 18 July ‘44 source was on a mission to MENNINGER Aerodrome. About 15-20 minutes before the target was reached Nos. 3 and 4 engines developed mechanical trouble. No. 2 was running roughly but No. 1 engine was OK. Source headed for Switzerland, and landed at Dubendorf Aerodrome. The crew destroyed all the secret equipment on the plane.

1. 3. DAVOS PLATZ, 23 July ‘44 to 25 Sept. ‘44, internment Switzerland.

1. 4. All crew remained overnight in the Swiss Officer’s Quarters on the Aerodrome, and received good treatment. On 19 July ‘44 were moved to a quarantine camp where they spent three days, before moving to Davos Platz for interment (46 48 N 9 50 E). Source remained in internment until 25 Sept. ‘44 when he walked away from the camp during the night 25/26 Sept. and traveled to Landquart (46 58 N 9 35 E). From here he took a train to Lausanne (46 32 N 6 38 E) where he contacted a man in the British underground in Switzerland. This man kept him in a hotel for seven days. On 4 Oct. got on a British troop train dressed in civilian clothes (British Evaders). Got uniforms from personnel on train. Went to Geneva on this train. Passed through Swiss customs with the help of some British Officers. Then went to Annecy France 4 Oct. ‘44. Then went to Lyons where they caught a plane to Rome (the Swiss claimed that they found sand in the oil).

J. G. J. Kennedy, Capt., I. S. 9.

Interrogator

3 Incls: 1 - Ltr. 383.6

1. 1. 2. - Appendix B
      3. - Appendix D