The desire to return to
Denmark has been overwhelming. The wonderful people,
many good friends we have made over there, and an urgency
to investigate new findings in the research of the crash
culminated in a visit in late October 2003.
This is a record of that
visit, and some of the new photographs and research
material. Hopefully production of a short film explaining
the events leading to the crash of the MacRobert's Reply
will be available soon. The trip was made possible by
our new site sponsor, Bluedoors Travel, whose link is
on this page and who we would encourage you to visit.
Please click on any image
for larger picture.
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(Sgt) Donald Jeffs
with the famous Little
Belt Bridge as a background and accompanied
by our good friend (and formidable Viking) Bo
Sommerby, oh and the much less formidable me.
It was from this
bridge that the gunners shot down the MacRobert's
Reply on the early morning of 18 May 1942.
Donald was the only
survivor.
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Lis Larsen presents
Donald with a compass found at the crash site
by her father.
Liz had kept this
safe since she was a small girl in the hope of
one day presenting it to its rightful owner. As
the compass would almost certainly have been the
Navigator's, John (Buck) Ryan,
Donald agreed to accept it on his son's behalf
until it can be presented to him on his next visit
to the UK - pictures of that event to come at
some point...!
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Donald discusses
the stone and its history
with good friends Bo and Axel.
Hard to imagine
that this is the place where Donald's crew
all lost their lives, and yet (somehow) he survived.
If that had not happened there would be no MacRobert's
Reply website to read this.....and no-one to return
to keep the story alive.
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Another first for
Donald...
He is standing on
the pathway from Gals Klint forest leading to
the Adlerhus. This is where he was taken on a
small cart to escape the Germans. He always remembers
the sound of the sea, and moving downhill, and
for the first time since 1942 he is back on the
same path that was used then in his rescue.
Apologies for the
quality of the larger image which has been taken
as a still image from the new film.
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The famous Adlerhus
where Donald was taken by Willie Schmidt and Constable
Toldstrup immediately after the crash.
He was hidden here
for a short time while Dr Ulrich was summoned
from nearby Middelfart
to tend his many injuries and severe burns. Had
he been discovered here by the Germans it would
have meant almost certain death for those helping
him - a very brave act by heroic Danish people.
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The barn at the
Adlerhus where Donald was kept hidden from the
German army for a week while Dr Ulrich treated
him.
He was kept in the
top of the barn under straw, and was too badly
injured (and almost blind) to venture out. When
he was eventually moved to Fredericia Hospital
(where he was captured by the Germans) it was
in the dark, so this is the first time he has
ever seen the barn - a deeply moving moment for
us all.
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We went to the grave
site at Odense where the MacRobert's Reply
crew are actually buried.
Donald paid his
respects to his fallen crew (private photographs)
and laid a small tribute on the central
pillar with these fine words...
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A picture that tells
its own story .....
In the early hours
of the morning on 18 May 1942, from the distant
horizon, the MacRobert's Reply appeared. Port
engine on fire and at 200 ft it was impossible
to miss - the
gunners on the bridge brought it down.
How it's Wireless
Operator is able to return in 2003 and stand
in reflection on the same bridge defies logic
and understanding. This site is largely dedicated
to his story and how, due to the bravery and incredible
dedication of the Danish people he is able to
stand here. Through him we also remember the crew
of W7531 sadly no longer with us, but always
a part of this website.
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The film of this visit,
the research we have undertaken with all our Danish
Friends, and the complete story of the crash of the
MacRobert's Reply W7531 Stirling bomber will be available
soon.
Click
here to go to the siteplan for this website in order
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