8. Operation Pistol A1 (Malicki)

OPERATION PISTOL A 1

REPORT BY Pct. MALICKI.

On the 15th Sep 44 at 23.35 hrs I jumped as No.4 in Lieut.

Darwall's stick, dropping on the DZ at Q 293487 near Lixing-les-St.Avold.

Lieut. Darwall, Sjt. Williams, Cpl. Melvin, Cpl. Bovio, Pct. Frost, and I

met at Q 293491. We waited for some time and then went to look for the

others. Lieut. Darwall had hurt his right knee on dropping and this

bothered him for the rest of the operation and was the reason for our

slow moving.

16th September.

We went over pts Q 262495 and Q 272503, and stayed at Q 298505

until 06.00 hrs. As it was too far to the next wood we slept in a

potato field during the day. In the evening we went to a wood, Q 330495,

and stayed there until the next evening.

17th September

We reached Q 278589 and slept there during the day. Later on

we moved to Q 288579 intending to blow up a railway bridge at Q 288578.

We stayed there for three days but did not operate as only Red Cross

trains were moving on the line.

25th September

We moved to Q 280618, intending to reach the railway line at

Q 280623 but we had to withdraw as there were too many Germans about.

28th September

We asked for something to eat at a house in Varsberg, Q 195645,

but an old man warned us that the village was full of SS so we left in

a hurry. We entered a wood, Q 203640, and later to Q 172652 where we

slept during the day.

29th September

We tried to reach a railway line at Q 130683 but because of too

many Germans we had to move to Q 140668 and later to pt Q 140642.

2nd October

We reached Q 183559. We had already been some days without food

but could not find a place to get anything.

4th October

We moved to an old deserted hut in a wood, Q 144553, where we

stayed for four days.

6th October

We met a farmer on the edge of the wood at Q 150550. He

promised to find another farmer who could hide us as he himself was

hiding two Frenchmen. He brought us our first good meal for thirteen

days.

8th October

In the evening the farmer brought a friend of his from Haute-

Vigneulle, Q 140565, to a place Q 148556. This man took us back to his

farm at Q 138564. There we dried ourselves, ate too much, and slept in

the family's bed. The farmer's name was Pierre Nagel, about 40 years of

age, 1.60 metres in height. He was wearing glasses and had artificial

dentures. He had a wife and a child of four.

11th October

After three comfortable days the SS came into the village and

were billeted in all houses. We had to move into the attic where the

farmer brought us our food and the latest news. We had to stay there

for practically two weeks as the SS were always about.

23rd October

The farmer told us that the SS were looking for F.F.I. and we

left the house cautiously at 20.00 hrs, returning to our hut at

Q 144553. We stayed there for eight uneventful days.

31st October

We moved off in a southerly direction with the object of reaching

Chateua Salins. We found, however, that we could not pass pt Q 150529

owing to the static condition of the German line. We stayed during the

day in a wood, Q 150534.

1st November We moved back to the hut again. During the next few

weeks we tried to cross the German line in several different directions,

but did not succeed. The farmer, Pierre Nagel, brought us food and

news during that time.

21st November

In the evening he told us that the Americans were only a few

miles away so we split up. I went to a point Q 130540 whilst Lieut.

Darwall and Cpl. Melvin tried to reach a pt Q 155553. Not finding any

Americans I proceeded on my way back, meeting Nagel at Q 140548.

Together we went to a point on the edge of the wood at Q 149549 but were

mortared from a hill Q 155553 where we thought Lieut. Darwall and Cpl.

Melvin were. All day I searched the wood but found no trace of them.

22nd November

I went to Fletrange, Q 142522, where, to my surprise, I

contacted the Americans. As I had false papers all weapons were taken

from me and I was put amongst the prisoners. After three days my

story was believed and I was released.