Introduction by Michael Moores LeBlanc (28 Mar 2006):

This section contains a helper file that is related to the E&E of Abromowitz, Bonitz and Nance. For more information, also see Les Affranchis.

Padre Luc Cools, together with his relatives and friends formed part of an evasion line running airmen down from the area of Breda in Holland. They were members of two important Belgian resistance groups, the White Brigade Fidelio (WB Fdelio) and Sabotage Group General (Sabo Gp G). The evasion reports of Abromowitz, Bonitz and Nance do not mention him at all. In fact, one might suppose, based on their very slim reports, that they made their own way from the area of Breda, Holland down to Westmalle from where they were eventually transported to Brussels (1). None-the-less, here is strong evidence that they had, in fact, been helped by 'an organization'. Unknown to any of them at this time, this organization had been infiltrated by the German military security services and was working hand in hand with 'Robert', an agent of the Abwehr III/f.(3)

Some of the names and fates of those mention in this report are of interest. Despite being captured and tortured, Father Cools appears to have been able to protect virtually [all] of his immediate associates. However, a number of other members of Sabo Gp G as well as WB Fdelio were picked up as a result of other German investigations.

Father Luc Cools was arrested on the 22nd July, 1944, shortly after his involvement with these 100 BG crew members. He returned from Germany in May of 1945.

Mlle Delbeke, a lawyer, was involved in both Intelligence work and participated in the evasion of almost 40 airmen. She was arrested on 24 July, 1944, shortly before USAAF fighter pilot, Joe Kelly, was to be delivered to her care. In 1947 she joined a nunnery and eventually rose to be an abbess of a convent in France. Joe Kelly was arrested at the same time as Collins and Webster (see below) on 10 July 1944.

Andre Roseeuw, one of the unsung heroes of the Antwerp resistance was arrested on the 29th of July, 1944. He had arranged a meeting with 'Robert' at a cafe and was at that time planning to have him eliminated. The tables were turned at the very last moment. Andre and two of his associates were arrested. All three died in Germany.

'Yvonne'(2), who is also mentioned in this file, worked as a saboteur and intelligence agent. She sheltered 15 allied airmen, including Len Collins and the partially identified 'Webby' Gurt Webster mentioned in this report. While sheltering her first three airmen she was introduced to 'Robert' who began delivering more airmen to her for safe keeping. He thus ensured all of her men were under his control and eventually captured. Yvonne was arrested between the 24th-27th of July, 1944 - reports vary. She was liberated by the British from her prison in Antwerp in early September of '44. She immigrated to America, married, and was an active member of AFEESs till her death in 2005.

E&E 2107 S/Sgt Samuel Melancon, of the 386 BG, made it to Brussels and was liberated in early September.

F/Sgts Leonard Collins and Gurth Wesbster of the RAF, after a long spell of apparent freedom, were arrested in Antwerp on the 10th of July, 1944. Joe Kelly (see above) was also arrested at this time.

Sgt Ronald Clark RNZAF was captured in Antwerp and was in prison there in late August 1944. Details of his capture remain unknown at present.

(1) Moved to Brussels in circumstances that remain foggy and bedeviled by conflicting reports and memory*. Evidence seem to support the idea that were in German hands & 'being controlled' at one point in Westerloo, but managed to escape together with Victor Schutters senior, shortly after arriving in Brussels at the moment when the Germans flung their net over the Marcus group (led by Anne Brusselmans), to which Victor belonged.

*See Lt Robert Nance E&E file and his report of movements.
**See Victor Schutters' grandfather's story of picking up Abromowitz, Bonitz, Nance.

(2) The story of Joe Kelly can be found in a book, entitled, 'The Quest For Freedom', by Yvonne de Ridder-Files.

'Robert' Rene Van Muylem

(3) 'Robert' Rene Van Muylem is a very interesting an complex character. 'Robert' was recognized among the Antwerp resistance leadership as being a parachuted agent from London and the head of an important escape line known as the KLM. Of the 235 airmen captured by the Antwerp Abw III/f, 177 were credited to his efforts - though in his interrogation report he modestly reported the figure was only 176. He was arrested in Paris in 1945 while working as a bar tender at Camp Lucky Strike. This was one of the USAAF repatriation centers and was where, unfortunately for him, he was recognized by 2 Lt Robert Hoke of the 388 BG, one of the airmen he betrayed. He was sent back to Belgium, and thoroughly debriefed. He was very candid in his interrogation which has a welath of information about his activities and particularly about the character of his resistance colleagues. He had great respect for the genuine patriots he came into contact with and disdained those he considered involved in resistance work only for mercenary reasons. Eventually, he faced a trail together with one of his women associates who had been involved in picking up airmen at the Dutch border and taking them to Antwerp. He was executed in 1947. Despite his betrayal of many Belgians saboteurs and allied airmen, even his prosecutor admitted he had always behaved as a gentleman and had protected most of his 'duped' safe-house keepers from arrest by the Germans. Standing before the firing post, he asked the firing squad to hurry up and get it over with.