Curly and I and the Aussie spent two weeks at Escape and Evasion HQ in Calcutta operated by Squadron Leader Huxley. A period of hiding was necessary for the safety the Siamese villagers and others who helped in the escape and until the crew were secure in the internment camp. It was here I learned that some Japanese fighter squadrons had moved in the same day that we had left on our mission and our flight path took us right near their base. The Aussie stayed with us and after awhile started to converse a bit. However, one evening when we were taken to a movie for a bit of relaxation, he freaked right out when Pathe News showed film of the allies entering the German concentration camps. We were greatly troubled and spent as much time as possible helping him to recover. We made a clandestine visit to the Calcutta General Hospital for checkups and returned to the squadron at the end of June 1945. The rest of the crew were brought out about two months later for a grand celebration. The four crewmembers who died have been buried at the KANCHANABURI WAR CEMENTERY in Malay. This is a picturesque, beautifully kept and very large cemetery located by the Khwai Noi River. It also contains the remains of the many allied prisoners of war that perished while building the infamous Japanese railway in Malay. The following week I traveled to Darjeeling for some R & R and the reunion with Jim Gibson that we had planned earlier in the year. It was here that I made my second escape but that is another story. This story was made more complete by details related in “Escape From Siam” as told by Curly Copley, Tailgunner and Timber Woods, 1st Wireless Operator/Airgunner back in 1954. Over and Out. F/O Harry V. Smith, RCAF, Retired DFC; Croix de Guerre avec Etoile d’ Argent Escape from Siam RAF 358 Squadron, Burma 1945 Introduction: The 25th Mission The Mission Beginning B-24 Shot Down, then On to Bangkok Escape with the OSS Back at Calcutta Mission List Postscript 1: Vermont Christmas Re-Union Postscript 2: Restoring Crane No. 7862 Harry Smith's Awards More Siam 1945 RAF Memoirs of SE Asia: 358 Squadron Special Ops and P.O.W by William A. Pugh Introduction Arrival in India At Jessore, India From the Crash Site to Bangkok Bangkok P.O.W. Camp Escape and Return to the United Kingdom Back to War Lore: The List Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Harry Smith This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com