12 Facts About Jorgen Thalbitzer

Jorgen Thalbitzer was accompanied by Sigfred Johannes Christophersen, who was later to become a British agent in Denmark before being killed in 1943.

Jorgen Thalbitzer was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 28 October 1941 as a Pilot Officer and trained to fly Hurricanes.

Jorgen Thalbitzer first served with 32 Squadron, before being re-trained to fly Spitfires and joining 234 Squadron at Tangmere.

On 23 July 1942, while flying Spitfire AB864, Jorgen Thalbitzer was shot down during a 'Rhubarb' mission to Lannion and crashed into high tension wires near Plouescat.

Jorgen Thalbitzer used the assumed name of 'John Thompson' to hide his real identity from the Germans, to help protect his family who were still living in occupied Denmark.

Jorgen Thalbitzer was initially sent to Stalag Luft III where he became involved with the escape organisation headed by Lieutenant Commander Jimmy Buckley.

An escape tunnel had been constructed at Oflag XXI-B, aided by Jorgen Thalbitzer; it was used for a mass escape on 5 March 1943.

Jorgen Thalbitzer escaped with Buckley, together they first travelled to Stettin hoping to find a Danish or Swedish ship which might be able to take them to neutral Sweden.

In Copenhagen, Jorgen Thalbitzer contacted his father, Billy, and through the Danish underground forces, it was arranged for Jorgen Thalbitzer and Buckley to make the crossing to Sweden using a canoe.

Jorgen Thalbitzer's body was later recovered, but Buckley's was never found.

Jorgen Thalbitzer was initially buried on 7 July 1943 at Tibirke churchyard, however after his body was identified, by means of his ring with the family coat-of-arms, his urn was interred on 31 July 1943 at Vestre Cemetery.

Jorgen Thalbitzer is commemorated on the Maidenhead Register, a memorial for non-Commonwealth nationals killed on British military service during the Second World War.