Talkshow Thursday: Meet Chaz Powell

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Chaz Powell

Inspiration for Chaz Powell

Last week I introduced readers to the Allison White, one of two main characters in my soon-to-be-released novelette. This week I’m interviewing Chaz Powell, Allison’s former fiancé.

LM: Thanks for stopping by Chaz. Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?

Chaz: Well, there’s not a lot to tell. I was raised in Purley, outside of London. That’s where I met Allison. We attended the same church. I was smitten as soon as I saw her. Anyway, we started walking out together, but the war came and I was called up. Because I’ve always been fascinated with flight, I chose the RAF.

LM: Being a pilot seems rather glamorous, but I would imagine it’s hard work. What was your experience like?

Chaz: Being a pilot is far from glamorous. There is lots of training. Before I was even allowed in an aircraft I attended lectures, received vaccinations, learned how to march, salute, and lay out my kit. The lectures covered aircraft recognition, navigation, Morse code, and mathematics. I was also subjected to lots of physical training. But it was all worth it, because there is nothing like flying. There is nothing like the sensation of freedom after bumping along the runway.

LM: Which aircraft did you fly?

Chaz: I received my training in both fighters and bombers. I was assigned as a fighter pilot and flew both Hurricanes and Spitfires. Most of the lads liked the Hurri, but I much prefer the Spitfire.

LM: You veered off course and were shot down over Germany. How did that happen?

Chaz: During any air battle, there is a tremendous amount of smoke and fire in addition to the clouds. When my aircraft was hit, my instrumentation went haywire. I didn’t realize it wasn’t working properly until some of the cloud cover cleared and I didn’t recognize the landmarks below. Then I was hit again and because my ejector seat didn’t function properly, I went down with the plane.

German Nazi Resistance Flag

LM: You landed in Germany near the border of France. How were you able to get back to England?

Chaz: I was one of the lucky ones-I survived the crash. The farm where I landed belonged to a family involved in the Resistance. They used their network to spirit me into France and then across the channel into England. Many people risked their lives to transport me.

LM: Thanks for you stopping by, and thank you for your service during the war.

Wartime Wednesday: Escape Lines

Wartime Wednesday: Escape Lines

Chaz Powell is one of two protagonists in my upcoming not-yet-titled novelette. An RAF pilot during WWII, he veers off course during a mission and crash lands in Germany near the French border. He survives the crash but must make his way back to England. He is helped by members of the German Resistance. In researching the Resistance, I discovered there were regular escape lines all over Europe that assisted escaping troops and downed airmen return to Allied countries. Here are just three of the more famous routes:

Pat O'Leary Line: Centered on the Mediterranean Coast, this route was used primarily to bring servicemen from the north of France to Marseille, over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. By crossing the mountains, official checkpoints were bypassed as well as contact with German patrols. The name of the route was taken from the alias of Belgium doctor Albert Guerisse who claimed to be French Canadian Pat O'Leary when he was picked up by the Vichy French Coast Guard during a 1941 mission. Ultimately taking over command of the escape route, Guerisse used the alias for the duration of the war. One report indicates that between 1940 and 1944, over 33,000 successful escapes were made along the Pyrenees (a mountain range over 300 miles long that reaches a height of over 11,000 feet)

The Comete Route: This line started in Brussels went through the south of France into Spain and then
to Gibraltar. Created by a young woman from Belgium named Andree de Jonghe, the line was officially sanctioned by British intelligence in 1940 after Andree showed up at the British consulate with a British soldier. When France came under direct Nazi rule, the line became dangerous to use, and by 1942 it had begun to crumble because of betrayals and arrests.

The Shelburne Route: Created in 1944, Wikipedia claims this route is the only escape line not infiltrated by the Nazis. Perhaps because of its short-lived usage, perhaps because it began so close to the end of the war. From Paris, escapees made their way to the beach at Anse Cochat near Plouha where they were shipped across the English Channel to Dartmouth. The use of this line was suspended when preparations for the D-Day invasion began.

No matter which escape line was used individuals were given clothes, identity papers, and food before setting off on their journey. Guides took them to a location where the next guide would pick them up. Members who participated did so at great risk to themselves and their families.