Halfdan Rasmussen and 2 airmen                  På dansk                       Updated:  05 MAY 2009

In De fandt en vej (They found a way) Anders Bjørnvad tells about 2 airmen who had a forced landing with B17 42-32070 on Lolland, translated by KK.

"Immediately after 9 April 1944 the Germans had set up barricades at the Storstrøm bridge, Krogh knew, in order to prevent possible American passers-by from reaching Sjælland. Krogh wouldn't make an attempt to get to Copenhagen with the two Americans until everything at the Storstrøm was normal again.

Then one day Krogh was told that the Germans had lifted the blocking, and he got ready for leaving. He sent his sister to the railway station to buy three first-class
tickets to Copenhagen. Further he phoned his old friend Halfdan Rasmussen, the author, and asked him to turn up at the Central Station when the train arrived from the south. Krogh announced that he was bringing a big parcel along!

When everything was clear, Valley, Hooper, and Krogh boarded the train and went towards the capital. When the train approached the Storstrøm bridge, it suddenly reduced speed and eventually stopped. German soldiers entered the train from several sides, and all had to show their identity cards. Also the three from Maribo.

Understandably, everybody was ill at ease but fortune favoured the brave. None was found to be suspicious.

Gerhard Krogh was relieved when the train started moving again. - At the Central Station of Copenhagen Halfdan Rasmussen, his wife Ester Nagel, and a woman
friend of Krogh's were waiting. They were very eager to see the contents of the big parcel which Gerhard was bringing. Halfdan Rasmussen had an inkling that it might
be parts of a killed pig or the like and was already licking his lips.

The three "Lollanders" arrived. The Copenhageners were highly surprised, but everybody agreed to go to town and have a meal. When a "wild" person suddenly waved a pistol before the group, they quickly made off to Halfdan Rasmussen's flat in Store Regnegade.

The stay here lasted about a week. Halfdan and the airmen played ludo till morning came to make time pass, but after a while the two-room flat became too cramped. Something had to be done to sweeten the days of waiting.
Accordingly the host and Krogh agreed that the airmen might just as well see a little of the town now that they were here. During the following days the party therefore
went sight-seeing. Rundetårn (the Round Tower), the harbour, sabotaged factories, and other sights worth seeing. They had daily contacts with Morten Nielsen, the poet, concerning means of transport, and one Mr. Trane (and others) made sure in a conversation that the airmen were okay.

One morning the airmen were suddenly fetched. Mrs Ester saw them disappearing down the street together with an escort. The "shipping agents" saw to it that their crossing to Sweden was successful." (DFEV)

The author Halfdan Rasmussen loved peace and was very much against war. When we sing "Livet er en morgengave" (Life is a morning gift) the next time, we can
bear in mind that in an emergency he also wanted to help allied airmen!