EXERCISE COMET EAGLE

The Comet Line was a resistance organisation in operation from 1941-1944 in occupied Belgium and France during the Second World War and helped Allied soldiers and airmen shot down over occupied Belgium, evade capture by Germans and return to Great Britain. The Comet Line began in Brussels where the airmen were fed, clothed, given false identity papers, and hidden in attics, cellars, and people's homes. A network of volunteers then escorted them south through occupied France into neutral Spain and home via British-controlled Gibraltar. The motto of the Comet Line was ‘Pugna Quin Percutias’, which means ‘fight without arms’, as the organization did not undertake armed or violent resistance to the German occupation. The largest of several escape networks in occupied Europe, in three years the Comet Line helped 776 people, mostly British and American airmen, escape to Spain or evade capture in Belgium and France.

The force development aspect began with a visit to Les Invalides which is one of the world’s largest museums of art and military history. Les Invalides contains the military history of France, however its original purpose was to serve as a retirement home and hospital for war veterans. The Air Attaché at the British Defence Staff France was able to grant our group special access into the Cupola, where we were led into areas of the museum not open to the public and told how the allied troops spent days, weeks, or even months hiding in the church rafters, waiting to be smuggled out of the capital and to safety. We saw how they were able to look down into the chapel on the Nazi soldiers during religious services, and maybe say prayers of their own. This special tour took us out onto the rooftop of Les Invalides providing a 360-degree view over Paris and its famous skyline.

The following day we travelled to the South of France and attended a Comet Line commemoration event in the local town of Anglet where families and friends of relatives paid their respects and laid wreaths. The importance of the Comet Line to the Basque residents and the pride in its history was clear for us all to see.

The hill walking element enabled participants to retrace a small section of the escape route that was introduced from 1943 due to the strengthening security on the original route which channelled the airmen from Anglet to the Spanish border at Ihi Lopa. This allowed the group to feel empathy for the ordeal endured, especially during the harshness of winter, while also discussing the escape and evasion skills that would have been utilised.

We had the privilege of meeting many generations from the family and friends of the Comet Line throughout our time in Bayonne, but one woman stood out for her bravery and courage. She told us tales from when she was a 14 year old schoolgirl during the war, and how she walked into a bar full of Germans to give a group of Canadian airmen some clothing before dashing away from the German soldiers.

On return to Paris, we returned to Les Invalides to explore the Special Operation Executive (SOE), whose purpose was to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance against the Axis powers, and to aid local resistance movements. They were also referred to as “Churchill’s Secret Army”. The exhibition gave us the chance to look over some of the 500,000 artifacts which included armour, uniforms, artillery, paintings, and weapons.

After three years of absence for the Friends of the Comet Line, it was a privilege to be invited to take part in such a special commemorative event in the Basque country, while also receiving the opportunity to explore some of Paris’ military history.