Escape from Paris

by Stephen Harding

  During a 1967 event held, appropriately, in Invalides’ Cour d’honneur, Yvette Morin-Claerebout wears the insignia of a Chevalier of the Ordre nationale de la Légion d’honneur just awarded to her. Her daughter Denise stands to her right, while to her left her mother Denise chats with the U.S. air attaché at the American embassy. Yvette and her mother both received the U.S. Medal of Freedom, as did Georges, posthumously. (Photo courtesy Yvette Morin-Claerebout)

  Two plaques honoring Georges Morin grace the halls of Invalides. This, the first one, was installed in the Metz corridor just after the war, and the second was unveiled nearby during a ceremony on April 26, 2001. Speaking to Yvette Morin-Claerebout on the latter occasion, then French prime minister Lionel Jospin said, “To you, Madam, allow me to express in my own name, but also of that of all the French, my profound respect for your father and for your whole family. Through this homage paid to the great résistant that was Georges Morin, the government celebrates the courage of all those who fought for France and marks the recognition of the homeland towards them.” (Photo by Stephen Harding)

  Acknowledgments

  Writing an accurate, informative, compelling, and hopefully enjoyable work of history is a complex and lengthy process—in my case, at least. The most time-consuming and arguably the most important aspect of that process is the preparation. Finding and examining vital documents, locating and interviewing people who took part in the events being written about, and, whenever possible, walking the ground the story covers are all essential prerequisites to the actual telling of the tale.

  I am very fortunate that in undertaking the research for this volume I was ably and generously assisted by many people both in the United States and abroad. I sincerely appreciate their help, without which Escape From Paris would not have been possible. Any errors or omissions in this book are, of course, mine alone.

  Above all, I wish to thank my wife, Margaret Spragins Harding. This book—like those that preceded it—would not have been possible without her enduring love, consistently wise counsel, and seemingly boundless patience and enthusiasm. Her skills as a French linguist were especially important on this project, as was her amazing ability to put people at ease in any situation. She is a tremendously insightful and perceptive human being, and quite simply the most remarkable person I have ever encountered. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to spend my life with her.

  I am also tremendously indebted to Ellen Hampton. An American-born journalist, educator, and author who has lived and worked in France for thirty years, she was absolutely indispensable when it came to locating and evaluating key records held in several French archives. Moreover, it was she who found and first interviewed Yvette Morin-Claerebout on my behalf, and then arranged for my wife and I to visit and speak at length with that courageous and indomitable woman. We are very pleased to also call Ellen a friend, and this book has benefited immeasurably from her help and guidance.

  My warmest and most heartfelt thanks—as well as my profound respect and great admiration—go to Yvette Morin-Claerebout. She willingly and honestly shared her memories of the war years, of her parents, of the other brave résistants with whom the Morins worked, and of the evaders the family sheltered and aided, despite the pain many of those recollections still evokes. I also sincerely appreciate the help and hospitality of Yvette’s daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Jacques Weil.

  I would also particularly like to thank Michael LeBlanc, Canadian historian par excellence of the Allied evasion experience in World War II, for his willingness to share information, sources, and guidance. Thanks also to Nate Gypin Sr., for sharing his memories of his stepfather, Joe Cornwall, and for giving me access to a trove of letters, photos, and other memorabilia pertaining to Joe’s life.

  Thanks to my agent, Scott Mendel, for his continuing excellent advice and guidance, and especially for his suggestion that World War II Paris would make an interesting locale for a book; and to Robert Pigeon, my editor at Da Capo, for his friendship and assistance in shaping and improving the manuscript that became Escape From Paris.

  I am also indebted to:

  IN THE UNITED STATES:

  My colleagues Paraag Shukla, David Lauterborn, Brian Walker, and Claire Barrett at Military History magazine, for their friendship, understanding, and support, and for their patience with my frequent absences—both mental and physical—while I was researching and writing this book.

  Jennifer Berry, longtime friend and hands-down the best photo researcher on planet Earth.

  Steve Walkowiak, an excellent graphic designer on whom I depend for both my own books and for the high-end illustrations that are so important to the look and quality of Military History magazine.

  Marguerite Brouard-Miller, daughter of Alice Brouard, for her memories of her mother, of Maud Couvé, of life in wartime Paris, and of those evaders who sheltered with the women and their children.

  Thomas E. Buffenbarger, library technician at the U.S. Army War College Library, for his help in tracking down the very obscure volume Der Weg der 87. Infantrie-Division.

  Ron Coleman of the Library and Archives Reference Desk at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, for his patience in responding to my many questions and his guidance in researching the deportation records of the Morin family.

  Thomas Culbert and Geoff Gentilini, for their immensely helpful research work at the National Archives and the National Personnel Records Center, respectively.

  Alicia M. Flickinger and Tifanie L. Cropper of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command’s Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Office, for their assistance in locating the Individual Deceased Personnel Files and other records pertaining to several of the U.S. airmen involved in the July 14, 1943, raid on Le Bourget.

  Caroline Godwin, for her excellent translations of obscure French documents.

  Satu Hasse-Webb, for her excellent German translations and her help in researching the U.S. National Archives files pertaining to French women deported to, and held in, Ravensbrück concentration camp.

  Byron Higgins and Roger and Mary Ellen Lynch, for very useful information about Harry Eastman.

  Christine and Tom Hilger, for their generous help in providing letters and photographs pertaining to Christine’s father and mother, Jeff and Louise Dickson.

  Sylvester Jackson of the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency, for providing the VIII Bomber Command Narrative Mission Report for the July 14, 1943, raid on Le Bourget.

  Don Lasseter, author of Their Deeds of Valor, for his very helpful suggestions about locating key escape and evasion reports.

  Ted Panken, for his fast and accurate interview transcriptions.

  Vivian Rogers-Price of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, for her help in locating excerpts from Harry E. Slater’s Lingering Contrails of the Big Square A.

  Chris Saltsman and George Saltsman, son and nephew, respectively, of Ralph Saltsman, for their willingness to share incredibly useful documents, photos, and maps pertaining to Salty’s World War II experiences.

  Bruce Templeton, son of Salty’s Naturals tail gunner Larry Templeton, for sharing information about his father’s wartime service.

  Roger Watts of the 94th Bomb Group Association, for his help and guidance in researching the unit’s personnel, history, and operations.

  IN FRANCE:

  Abigail Altman of the American Library in Paris, for her help in the search for Yvette Morin-Claerebout, and for recommending Ellen Hampton as a Paris-based researcher.

  Mickaël Blasselle, Siriane Chartier, and Cécilie Poulet of the Musée de l’Armée, Invalides, for their help in locating information on the Morins, Turma-Vengeance, and resistance activities in Paris, and for arranging a fascinating private tour of the attic of the Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides and the roof of the Dôme church.

  Fabrice Bourrée and Frantz Malassis of the Fondation de la Résistance, for their assistance in researching the origins and operations of key Paris-based evasion r
éseaux, and for information on the specific activities of the Morin family.

  Alice Bouteille and Christine Minjollet of the Musée de la Légion d’honneur et des Ordres de chevalerie, for their help in locating the files pertaining to Denise Morin and Yvette Morin-Claerebout.

  Marc Chantran, administrator of the site chantran.vengeance.free.fr, for providing valuable background information on Turma-Vengeance’s founders, organization, and operations.

  Author Loïc Lemarchand, for his vital help in researching the events of July 14, 1943; for his friendship; for supplying fascinating photos not only of some of the key American, German, and French individuals in this book, but also for searching out the exact location of the wreckage of Salty’s Naturals; and for providing me with a copy of his delightful and engrossing book, Bel atterrissage capitaine!

  Stefan Martens of the Institut historique allemand in Paris, for his assistance in determining which German military units were assigned to the Hôtel des Invalides in 1943 and 1944.

  Jean-Baptiste Ordas, for providing wartime photos of the Hôtel des Invalides from his extensive collection.

  Fr. Philippe Ploix of the Diocese of Paris, for providing information on the life and works of Msgr. Georges Chevrot.

  Isabelle Thomas of France TV, for help in finding wartime photos of the Morins and some of the evaders they sheltered.

  Sylvie Zaidman, director of the Musée du Général Leclerc de Hauteclocque et de Libération de Paris—and Guilem Touratier of the same organization—for research advice and guidance.

  IN GERMANY:

  Axel Braisz of the International Tracing Service’s Referat Nutzservice in Bad Arolsen, for his help in locating World War II German military, SS, and police documents pertaining to the deportation of the Morin family, details of their time in the camps, and the circumstances surrounding Georges Morin’s death.

  Daniel Schneider of the Bundesarchiv-Abteilung Militärarchive in Freiburg, for his help in locating records for the Abwehr office in Occupied Paris.

  Lutz Moser of the Bundesarchiv Koblenz, for his help in researching the records of the SS, SD, and Kripo offices in the French capital.

  IN GREAT BRITAIN:

  Ray Bowden of the USAAF Nose Art Project, for his help in determining the various names carried by Captain Edward Purdy’s two aircraft.

  Cliff Hall and Graham Sage of the Rougham Control Tower Museum, for arranging a delightful and extremely helpful visit to the former home of the 94th Bomb Group. And additional thanks to Cliff for providing me with a copy of his fascinating and very informative book, Pictorial History of the Men and Aircraft of the 94th Bombardment Group, and for sharing his memories of being a young boy interacting with the B-17 crews that flew missions from the base.

  Ciara Harper of the renowned Shuttleworth Collection, for her help in arranging a wonderful visit to get a close-up look at a Lysander of the type that carried Joe Cornwall back to England.

  John Harding, author of Lansdale’s Belt, for his help in tracking down information on Jeff Dickson’s career as a sports promoter, especially the events he organized in England.

  Chris McCairns, for allowing me to use the photo taken in 1943 by his father, F/O J. A. McCairns, of F/O James McBride and his Lysander; and to Ian Titman for helping find and reproduce the image.

  The research staff at the National Archives in Kew, for their help in tracking down the evasion reports of Commonwealth military personnel.

  IN MALTA:

  Bob Body, for his help in researching the history and operations of the Tempsford-based 61 and 138 (Special Operations) Squadrons.

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  Bibliography

  ARCHIVES AND ABBREVIATIONS

  Documents were obtained from the following sources, which are attributed as cited.

  UNITED STATES:

  AFHRA: U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

  AFHSO: U.S. Air Force Historical Studies Office, Anacostia Naval Annex, Washington, D.C.

  AFSRC: U.S. Air Force Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

  AHEC: U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

  CIA: Central Intelligence Agency, Langley, Virginia.

  CMH: U.S. Army Center of Military History, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.

  DTIC: Defense Technical Information Center, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

  NARA-MMRC: National Archives and Records Administration, Modern Military Records Center, College Park, Maryland.

  NARA-NPRC: National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.

  UNITED KINGDOM:

  IWM: Imperial War Museum, London.

  RAFM: Royal Air Force Museum, London.

  UKNA: National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey.

  FRANCE:

  BDIC: Bibliothèque de documentation internationale contemporaine, Nanterre.

  FR: Fondation de la Résistance, Paris.

  MAI: Musée de l’Armée Invalides, Paris.

  SHD: Service historique de la défense, Vincennes.

  GERMANY:

  BA-B: Bundesarchiv, Berlin.

  BA-F: Bundesarchiv-Militärarchive, Freiburg.

  ITS: International Tracing Service, Bad Arolsen.

  Official Documents

  Aircraft Flight Characteristics, B-17. Boeing Aircraft Co., Seattle, Washington, June 1, 1944. Air Corps Library.

  Attestation d’Appartenance aux F.F.C.: Georges Morin. Secretariat d’Etat aux Forces Armees (Guerre), Direction du Personnel Militaire de l’Armee De Terre, 6ème Bureau, December 14, 1949. SHD.

  Attestation d’Appartenance aux F.F.C.: Yvette Morin. Secretariat d’Etat aux Forces Armees (Guerre), Direction du Personnel Militaire de l’Armee De Terre, 6ème Bureau, December 13, 1949. SHD.

  Awards Fiche: Morin, Georges Julie [sic] and Famille [sic]. Military Intelligence Service, MIS-X, Awards Branch, HQs., European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA), April 19, 1948. NARA-MMRC.

  Bombing Data, 102nd & 103rd Combat Wings, 14 July 1943. HQs., VIII Bomber Command, July 18, 1943. AFHRA.

  Bulletin de Décès: Morin, Georges Julien. Ville de Paris, État Civil, Mairie du 7 Arrondissement, December 10, 1946. SHD.

  Carte de Combattant Volontaire de la Resistance: Denise Laure Marie Morin. SHD.

  Office National des Anciens Combattants et Victimes de Guerre, December 6, 1949. SHD.

  Case Files Relating to French Citizens Proposed for Awards for Assisting American Airmen, Container 1118, Names Moreau–Morin. Military Intelligence Service, MIS-X, Awards Branch, HQs., European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA), June 1946. NARA-MMRC.

  Case Files Relating to French Citizens Proposed for Awards for Assisting American Airmen, Container 1167, Names Schnerb–Seiler. Military Intelligence Service, MIS-X, Awards Branch, HQs., European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA), June 1946. NARA-MMRC.

  Certificat de Validation des Services, Campagnes et Blessures des Déportés et Enternés de la Résistance: Claerebout, née Morin, Yvette Edmée. October 3, 1950. SHD.

  Certificat de Validation des Services, Campagnes et Blessures des Déportés et Enternés de la Résistance: Georges Julien Morin. January 17, 1951. SHD.

  Certificat de Validation des Services, Campagnes et Blessures des Déportés et Enternés de la Résistance: Yvette Edmée Morin. September 14, 1950. SHD.

  The Combined Bomber Offensive, April Through December 1943. Historical Office, HQs., Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., 1946. AFHRA.

  Company Morning Reports, 331st Bomb Squadron (H), 94th Bomb Group (H), for the Month of July 1943. NARA-NPRC.

  Company Morning Reports, 331st Bomb Squadron (H), 94th Bomb Group (H), for the Month of August 1943. NARA-NPRC.

  Company Morning Reports, 331st Bomb Squadron (H), 94th Bomb Group (H), for the Month of September 1943. NARA-NPRC.

  Company Morning
Reports, 331st Bomb Squadron (H), 94th Bomb Group (H), for the Month of October 1943. NARA-NPRC.

  Consolidated List of French Helpers Proposed for Award to Date. Morin, Denise, Morin, Yvette. 7709 MIS-X Detachment, HQs. Command, U.S. Forces, European Theater, July 1946. NARA-MMRC.

  Death Certificate, Joseph Ellison Cornwall, Adams County Colorado, February 2, 1993. Office of the County Clerk, Adams County, Colorado.

  Declarations, Morin, Madame Denise. 6801 MIS-X Detachment, HQs. Command, U.S. Forces, European Theater, June 20, 1945. NARA-MMRC.

  Demande d’Attestation d’Etat de Services, Mouvement de Résistance “Vengeance,” Denise Laure Marie Morin. June 1948. SHD.

  Demande d’Attestation d’Etat de Services, Mouvement de Résistance “Vengeance,” Georges Julien Morin. June 1948. SHD.

  Demande d’Attestation d’Etat de Services, Mouvement de Résistance “Vengeance,” Yvette Edmée Eugénie Morin. June 1948. SHD.

  Demande d’Attestation d’Etat de Services, Mouvement de Résistance “Vengeance,” André Auguste Schoegel. June 1948. SHD.

  Deportee Questionnaire, Subject Georges Julien Morin. IS9 Awards Branch, Paris. July 9, 1945. NARA-MMRC.

  The Early Operations of the Eighth Air Force and the Origins of the Combined Bomber Offensive. Historical Office, HQs., Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., 1946. AFHRA.

  Effeckten an KZ Buchenwald, Morin, Georges, Kriegswehrmachtgefängnis Paris-Fresnes, 10.8.1944. 1.1.5.1/5299149/ITS Digital Archive, Bad Arolsen.

  Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Templeton, Lawrence H. Separation Center, Camp McCoy, WI, November 24, 1945. NARA-NPRC.

  Entry Declaration of Aircraft Commander, C-54 137283, Prestwick, Scotland, to Washington, D.C., Dec. 5, 1943. NARA-MMRC