Evening star., 1943-12-27

IIle country scenic Spots. All |
crashed or parachuted or made
forced landings on Swedish soil after
raids against Germany or Norway
With few military restrictions and
no routine, they lead the life of
vacationers. But, given a chance,
all would be back tomorrow to COM
bat operations.
"The sooner I get back in combat
the better III like it," said 1t.
Arthur L. Guertin Of Detroit.
66 Americans Share Views,
His view was shared by every one |
of the 66 Americans from ~ States,
18 Canadians-including seven new
arrivals who parachuted into Swed-
en- after their plane was shot up
December IT on Berlin raid-seven
Poles, three Welshmen and two
EngliShmen.
Actually, their only chance OF
getting back is through the ex-
change of an equal number OF Allied
and German airmen who were
forced down In Sweden.
-Four American flyers, whose
names cannot be disclosed for Sc
curity reasons, now await an ex-
change. Two are pilots of famed
Liberator group which made special
missions from Britain and North |
Africa, including Ploesti and Wiener
NeuStadt.
These flights and other thrillers
are flown and reflown in CONVERSE
ton during Sweden's 18-hour winter
nights. There are continuous hot
arguments over the relative merits
!of Flying Fortresses and Liberators.
Typical Winter Day.
A typical winter day for the in
ternees starts around am, when
they form breakfast line. It is
just getting light then. After break
fast they hike or ski through the
-blanketed woods. Hockey play
ers and ice skaters get workouts
on nearby lakes.
Lunch is served cafeteria style. but
at the evening meal the one-time
rest homes which once catered to
old women take on real American
fraternity house aspect as the boys
clean up, don coats and are served
at tables in groups of two and four.
Except for the lack of eggs and
the frequent fish dishes the boys
have no complaints about food They
were pleasantly surprised that they
could get ice cream. There is 4
bridge game nearly every day. There
is poker game or two going most
OF the time, especially after dark
ness comes at pm
All wear nondescript uniforms.
All were in flying togs when they
landed and there is not complete
American or RAF uniform in the
outfit. They have purchased civilian
attire, but must use it sparingly
because clothes are rationed
Business Boom in Town.
Business has doomed in Falun, 4
town of $4,000, since the Allied air
men began dropping into Sweden
last April. A phonograph has been
purchased for each home. = radio
rented and the cafes and restau-
rants are well patroniZed.
The townSpeople like the airmen
and regularly entertain many of
them. Many Of the boys will observe
"a colorful Swedish Christmas In
Falun homes.
Sometimes the boys have to do 4
little explaining to the police for
boiSterous activity, but Falun resi-
dents credit them generally with
excellent behavior. Restriction to
quarters is the penalty for a breach
OF regulations.
Maj. William H. Brandon Of Nash
vile, Tenn, is commanding officer
of the American group. Maj. Bran
don was on the Ploesti raid.
The war is naturally the main
topic of conversation but there also
is keen interest in American politics.
International Minded.
Here in Sweden" Maj. Brandon
says. they're getting a different
slant on the situation and all are
becoming international minded. The
biggest desire Of all is to get the
European phase of the war finished
quickly so they can get out OF in
ternment and 60 to the Pacific thea
ter to help clean up there"
Some of the boys tried to learn
Swedish, but found difficulty in
practicing, for the townspeople want
to learn English. Many cab drivers
practice pronunciation on their
English-speakiHg fares.
Nourishing meals and the fact
that the airmen must buy food in
cafes and restaurants In order to
get liquor-it is a universal Swedish
regulation-iS adding inches to
many waistlines, but some of the
Americans don't care for the fire.
quent dishes of fish and boiled po-
tatoes.
Generally there are few COM
plants, but the internees would like
more reading material and they wish
the folks back home would write