It was about 5 p.m. Darkness had fallen, but the
searchlights had yet to come on. Suddenly a bell rang in the guardroom below
the west terrace. Thinking someone wanted to be let in from the upper terrace,
the guard went out, only to catch a glimpse of a rope being quickly withdrawn
into the prisoners' quarters in the cellar house. The bell had momentarily
distracted the guards, allowing Lieut. Michael Sinclair (see #21 and #24)
and Flight-Lieut. Jack Best to escape off the lower terrace. The pair managed
to get as far as the Dutch frontier before being caught and sent back.
