Michael Smith was piloting P-47 #42-76337 on an escort mission of B-26s to Creil, France on 17 March 1944. Managed to evade being shot down by two Focke-Wulfe 190s, but had to try to land due to sudden oil leak and his engine going dead. After belly-landing ±2km North of Livarot, 12km SW of Lisieux, France, he was helped, fed, clothed, sheltered and transported by French citizens and members of the Résistance. He travelled to the South of France via Paris and Toulouse, crossing into Spain over the Pyrénées mountains. Arriving in Spain on 10 April 1944, he was led to the British Embassy in Barcelona and from there to Madrid. He reached Gibraltar on 29 April and returned from there to England by air on 1 May 1944, landing the next day in the UK. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 3268. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 614.