• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Unbeknown to Sneum, the interrogator had believed far more of the story than he had allowed to show. As a German Jew, he was no stranger to the concept of being doubted for no good reason. But while he had a natural tendency to side with the underdog, he knew that some of Sneum’s claims had to be verified by scientific experts.

Jones and Frank were just the men to have alongside him when the remains of Tommy’s films were examined. Jones, in particular, had a calm aura about him, which helped diffuse some of the hostility still in the room. Sneum recalled: ‘He treated everyone as though they had some good in them, and it was his job to find it.’ Soon Jones was studying the precious surviving images as if in a world of his own, with Frank and Sneum looking over his shoulder. Tommy explained: ‘They could see what it was but they couldn’t really make out the detail because of the damage done, so I tried to explain what was shown. I wasn’t an expert but he made me feel like I was. Then we noticed a few clearly definable images. It was an exciting moment, and the scientists eagerly went to work.’ They traced the shapes on to clean paper, hoping to form a clearer view of what the devices could be. From frame to frame, a subtle revolving action could be detected. The huge sensors at the center of each image appeared to be turning towards the sky, which allowed Sneum to write in his wartime report: ‘One specialist on this subject, Dr R.V. Jones, got the film which showed this apparatus actually functioning.’

As Jones examined the film further, his face lit up. Even Tommy noticed the sparkle in his clear blue eyes. ‘Freya radar,’ the scientist announced. ‘Hitler’s latest defense system. We’ve seen aerial photographs of these things from France. But we didn’t know the Germans were using this type of radar in Denmark.’ At last, here was someone who could understand and appreciate the enormity of what Tommy had done for the Allied cause.

It was the latest breakthrough in the intelligence battle against Germany’s formidable scientists. From offices on the upper floors of 54 Broadway—the Secret Intelligence Service building in St. James’s, London—Jones had dedicated all his energies to helping Churchill stay one step ahead of Hitler in the race to develop new technology. The struggle for radar supremacy was crucial to Allied hopes of victory. Only by understanding Nazi advancements in this area could British bombers hope to avoid German night-fighters during raids over the European mainland.

‘These are the first pictures I’ve seen of Freya taken on the ground,’ Jones purred. ‘Moving pictures, that’s a first too. Imagine what he had to go through to get them.’ He looked over at Sneum and said: ‘Our bomber crews will be very grateful.’

For the benefit of Jones and Frank, Tommy told the dramatic story of his escape yet again. Gregory and his colleagues listened just as intently as the newcomers, checking for inconsistencies with the Dane’s previous accounts, and in case they had missed anything which might yet be regarded as suspicious.

‘Gentlemen,’ said Jones when Tommy had finished. ‘I think we have to accept that what we have here is not a double-agent but a man who has demonstrated bravery of the highest order.’ He later confirmed Sneum’s account of events that day in his book Most Secret War:

Why I had been drawn into this episode was that Sneum had brought some undeveloped cine film with him which he said he had taken of the radar station on Fanoe, showing the aerials turning. Unfortunately MI5 had taken the film and had it processed by, I believe, the Post Office, and between them they had ruined nearly all of it; Sneum was justifiably indignant. There were just one or two frames left from which I could see that he very definitely had filmed two Freyas in operation ... [These frames were] the sole relics of a gallant exploit.

Gregory, Charles and I were all convinced that Sneum was genuine, and we could entirely sympathize with his indignation. Not only had he and his friend risked