We often read about German aircrew, both from bombers and fighters that were shot down during the Battle of Britain. We often hear that an x number of German aircrew were placed in internment camps or sent to overseas countries away from the war. But what was it like for these Germans, their aircraft shot up over England, to most of them, a strange country, an island country that meant that to get back to Germany it meant that they would have to cross the Channel undetected. 

Although we read about Allied pilots and aircrew being shot down over France and with the aid of the resistance manage to find their way back to Britain, in fact the first task at hand of a captured Allied airman was one of escape. But most of the German aircrew shot down gave themselves up immediately. A small number could speak good English, some could manage a few words that would help them to be understood, but most, could not speak the English language. Most of them, upon landing were prepared to give themselves up immediately, others asked to be taken to a military post where they could officially surrender to the Allies. 
One thought on this, was that many of the German aircrew were of the belief that the German invasion of England was very close and that they would only be held captive for a short period of time before being liberated back to their native Germany. It has even been said that some German aircrew purposely baled out over England to avoid taking any further participation of the war. 

Very few German aircrew were "on the run" or trying to evade capture. But one of these was an airman of 8 KG 55 who aircrew on a He 111 whose mission was to bomb the Bristol Works at Filton Aerodrome in the early hours on July 29th 1940. The mission had been completed causing minor damage to the Bristol Works, and the Heinkel was on the return leg of its operation, and for some reason, was flying due west instead of south to its base at Paris. Maybe this was because of the fact that German bombers often were instructed to land at a different airfield to the one that they had departed from. 

The Heinkel was piloted by Feldwebel Theodore Metzner, the Observer was Feldwebel Josef Markl, the Flight Engineer was Gerfreiter Ernst Ostheimer, the Wireless Operator was Unteroffizier Kurt Backer and the Gunner was Gerfeiter Heinze Morgenthal. Somewhere in the region of Marlborough, the bomber was picked up by searchlights and hence it became the target for the AA batteries. Constant gunfire followed and the Heinkel was hit in the wing and port engine that caught fire. The aircraft started to behave erratically (it is not known whether the starboard engine was hit or whether it failed under additional pressure) and the crew decided to bale out. The Heinkel crashed in flames at Kingsclere, about halfway between Basingstoke and Newbury, while the crew parachuted to safety in the Newbury area. 

Theodor Metzner and Kurt Backer were the first to land and they were captured as soon as they had hit the ground, but Ernst Ostheimer and Heinze Morgenthal hid in nearby bushes deciding what would be the best thing to do and were eventually captured two days later. Inspection of the wrecked aircraft confirmed that there were no more aircrew in the aircraft although the authorities knew that the aircraft would be carrying a crew of five. This was later confirmed by the German crew that there were five members and that another member was still somewhere in the local area around Newbury. Police, Home Guard and other authorities in the area were ordered to keep a general lookout by searching fields, barns, trees and any other place that it would be possible for someone to hide. The missing crewman was Feldwebel Josef Markl. 

One of the crew stated upon interrogation, that Josef Markl had caught his foot in cables prior to jumping from the aircraft, so it may be possible that he had sustained injuries. It was also stated that it had appeared that it took longer for his parachute to open than normal, this further indicated that he may have been carrying an injury. Eventually, Markl landed in trees entangled in R/T leads and his harness. After a while he managed to get himself free and fell to the ground. Here, he done as all aircrew were instructed to do, and that was to destroy all military and personal documents that he had on his person.  

It was dark, very quiet and there was nobody around so after I had buried my flying overalls and my helmet I made the decision to find the roadway and make for the nearest town and surrender myself. 
Statement made to RAF Interrogation upon his capture

But Markl must have had a change of heart as he entered a town which turned out to be Newbury. It still in the early hours of the morning, but there were a few people about which rather than approach them, he kept himself obscured from them and decided to go back and find a quiet spot, hiding in the undergrowth about a quarter of a mile from the outskirts of the town. Seeing no-one for a couple of days, he decided to stay at this spot, but seeing a hill not far away, decided to make for this spot during the hours of darkness. Here he would have a better view of the surrounding area and he could make a decision as to what his future intentions might be. 

I could not see any point in staying on that hill, only to gather my thoughts. Already hunger and thirst was setting in and I could see no alternative but to go back and be close to the town. 
Statement made to RAF Interrogation upon his capture

He went back to the undergrowth just outside the town and stayed here for a number of days where he hoped for the opportunity of raiding a barn or house where he could gather some food or drink. His only source of nutrient was from edible roots and plants, and the moisture that fell on leaves during the night. Licking dew covered leaves during the early morning became a ritual, and even from his high vantage point on the hill, he must have been unaware that a river flowed through Newbury and followed the London to Bristol main road. But rather than search for more nutritious foods he stayed where he was, his hunger pains getting worse by the moment. He saw a number of people during the daytime, but done nothing to surrender himself, obviously he had still not made up his mind as to surrender or to continue evading capture. But despite a military search in progress for him, he saw no military personnel, and he was only a quarter of a mile from the town of Newbury. He did see a couple of men inspecting a hay field nearby, but he kept out of sight and remained quiet after realizing that he had not been seen. A close call came when a man who was on a pigeon shoot came close, but he climbed a tree to avoid being seen. The man's dog saw him and started to bark, but the man and his dog passed directly underneath him quite oblivious to the fact that the German airman was perched on a branch just above them. 

It was now seven days that Markl had been in hiding, and the weekend of August 4th was the August bank holiday which was celebrated even in wartime!!! and a number of couples came to the open area which was obviously treated as a local park. Later he was to make his way to a small shooters hut, but this was only as a means of shelter, there was no food inside. A short walk away, he found a small watercourse and managed the first quantity of water for many days. This must have been an immense relief to Markl, but the hunger pains persisted and he was now becoming weaker as each hour went by.  

At this time, I had no alternative but to surrender myself. I was in pain, I felt unclean and I could see no future in doing what I had been doing for the last number of days. 
Statement made to RAF Interrogation upon his capture

He made his way to the main road that led to the town. At first, a man and girl on bicycles quickly hurried away upon seeing Markl who by now was in tattered clothes, unshaven and hair that looked as if it had never been combed. A few other people in cars looked at him, but did not stop until a lady in chauffeured driven car stopped and drove him to the police station. 
Imagine the look on an astonished police sergeant behind the desk who saw this very well spoken old lady guide this man who looked more like a tramp, but who possessed a revolver and a number of rounds of ammunition which had never been fired since landing in the tree nine days previously, and present him to the authorities. (the lady was the respected Lady Buckland who lived in the area) 

Josef Markl was immediately interrogated by Royal Air Force Intelligence and was later transferred to an internment camp. He later stated that he was surprised at the coolness of Lady Buckland, the friendliness of the police sergeant and the way that, as a prisoner of war, he was treated. Like many German prisoners they made friends, not only with other prisoners, but with the authorities that kept them there. Many German prisoners have mentioned about the conditions that they had to live under. Naturally there was a certain amount of regimentation, but they were treated fairly, had good food and plenty of freedom.