Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

Evaders


Evader chart: E0887
SGLO Date crash Aircraft
T4668 11-11-44 Typhoon
MilRank First Name(s) Name
F/O. John Gordon Fraser
Milregnr. Nationality Born
J/36722 Canadian
Returned Y/N Evader Fate Date Captured/Liberated Place Captured/Liberated Escape Line
Yes EVD 14 apr 45 Tjalleberd -
Evader Story
						F/O. John Gordon Fraser was the pilot of Typhoon MN547. After the attacking the lock of Terherne the Typhoon of Fraser leaked coolant. He made an emergency landing south of Sintjohannesga in the Grote St. Johannesgaaster Veenpolder. After crawling out of the aircraft he first hid himself in a ditch. 

In this polder there was a camouflaged shack were locals could hide if the Germans came to Sintjohannesga to search for persons who had to work in Germany. The hide out was constructed by Jan and Gerrit ten Hoeve, Jan Sloothaak, Pieter de Jong and Anne Have. At the moment Fraser crashlanded nearby Jan Sloothaak and Pieter de Jong were in the hut and they immediately went out to search for Fraser. The other two, Jan and Gerrit ten Hoeve, also saw Fraser coming down and went to the shack were they met Harm. They waited till the Jan and Pieter came back with Fraser. He was given some food and civil clothing. One of the guys went to the local schoolteacher Sijbren Hulzenga. Het was the local leader of the resistance at Sintjohannesga. As he was not home, they asked his spouse to warn him. She did. After being told about the hiding pilot Sijbren asked his assistant in the local resistance Jan de Goede (policeman) to go to the resistance in Joure and ask if they could help. They could and the next day Fraser had to be ready and wait at 5 PM on a nearby road (four kilometers from the shack). Jan Sloothaak brought him to the road. From here Jacob Harm Ham and policeman Oedse Hendrik Klevringa escorted him to Joure. 

Fraser was brought to the farm of family Jacobus Hofstra in the hamlet of Luchtenveld south of Joure. After two days hiding here he had to leave  because word got around that Faser was hiding in the Hofstra farm. The pilot was picked up by Jonkman, Kleveringa and Cornelis Livius Koster (leader of the resistance in Joure) by car and brought to the farm of Johannes Jonkman in Akmarijp. He remained there for ten days and then moved to the neighbor of Jonkman, family Jacob Klaas Sikkema. This translocation was necessary because Jonkman was one of the keypersons in the resistance in this neighborhood. Only at Thursdays Fraser stayed at the farm of Jonkman because then the maid came to Sikkema’s farm to clean. On 23 March 1945 Jonkman was arrested and Fraser could not stay longer in Akmarijp. 

He was now brought to Oudehaske were he found a hiding place in the house of Jan Woudstra. During his stay here a SOE wireless operator, Lykele Faber, hid also in the house of Woudstra. Together they were brought, on 30 March 1945, to the farm of Jeep Kroondijk at Tjalleberd. Here Fraser was liberated on 14 April 1945.


						
Source(s)
* Pilot Helper Files - NARA, College Park, USA