Secret Operations Over Occupied Europe

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This book recounts the true story of the Bartter Crew, seven young men from Britain, Canada, and Argentina who bravely fought against Nazi Germany. In August 1943, they joined the 138 Special Duties Squadron based in Tempsford, England, flying low over Europe to support Resistance groups. Their narrative encompasses the covert operations of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action (BCRA), revealing secrets from what was known as the most clandestine airfield in England. Within a few months, they conducted missions in France, Yugoslavia, and Denmark. In December 1943, their mission took a turn when they were shot down over Denmark, leading to a tale of evasion for some crew members and capture for others. The narrative extends to the present, as Nigel Atkins, son of the bomb aimer and second pilot Brian Atkins, retraces their steps by interviewing individuals, including one of the last surviving members of the Vercors Maquis, who shared memories of the crew's operations. Nigel has also formed a friendship with the son of one of the agents they dropped. Additional insights come from recorded interviews with the Imperial War Museum, writings from crew members, and accounts from a former WAAF at Tempsford. Jan Christensen's research into National Archive files further clarifies the crew's operations, aiming to shed light on the human stories of these unsung heroes.