After the Crash Landing – Stormy Weather and the Parachutes
When Stormy Weather made its forced landing, the event left its mark not only on the landscape – but also on the local community on the island of Als for many years to come.
The banner of Svenstrup Athletic Association. The white cross is sewn from parachute silk from Stormy Weather.
The banner of Svenstrup Athletic Association together with wedding and confirmation dresses displayed at the 2001 reunion event.
Fabric was scarce during the war. Silk parachute material was therefore highly sought after. However, it was forbidden to keep such items, and several of the parachutes were immediately handed over to the Germans.
The yellow confirmation dress was originally a white wedding dress, later altered and dyed yellow.
Wedding and confirmation dresses made from Stormy Weather’s parachutes. Unfortunately, it appears that the dresses have gradually been lost as their owners have passed away.
The wedding dress was worn again by the bride at the couple’s silver wedding anniversary, and again at their golden anniversary in 1989.
The Wedding Dress – 5 November 1944
Ilse Witzke tells the following about the wedding dress:
After the plane had crashed, my fiancé found a parachute on his land, and the farmhands found another. They were hidden in the barn until the Germans had stopped searching.
Ours was divided into four parts: one for me, one for my mother-in-law, one for my sister-in-law, and one for my brother-in-law.
I know that every part was put to good use. As there was a shortage of all kinds of materials at that time, it was an obvious idea to use our share for my wedding dress.
I remember that there were letters and figures printed in blue all around the edge, which took me hours to wash off with soft soap. The wedding took place on 5 November 1944.
The origin of the dress became a topic of conversation in our small town. Some even said it was dangerous for me to wear it – that the Gestapo would surely come to the church and arrest me. Perhaps the Germans had more important matters to attend to at the time, as nothing happened. I was not afraid – only happy that the wedding finally took place, because shortly before (5/11) my fiancé had been arrested by the Germans on suspicion of being in the resistance – which he was – but he was released, mainly, people believed, because he ran a large farm and the Germans needed all the food they could get.
His comrades were sent to a concentration camp, but thank God they all survived.
After the wedding, the train was removed, and I dyed the dress a lovely yellow color and wore it for many years.
The cords sewn into the strong seams were unraveled and used to mend clothing. We lacked everything in those days. My mother-in-law even knitted them into stockings to strengthen them, as the wool was homespun from her own sheep.
The Crew Returns – 2001
In 2001 – 57 years after the forced landing – four crew members returned to Als:
The event was also visited by an S-61 Sea King rescue helicopter from Skrydstrup Air Base.
Nørreskoven and Myrholm can be seen in the background.
Four crew members from Stormy Weather visited Als in 2001.
From left:
- Captain Robert Clay
- Frank Hatten
- Charles Jilcott
- Daniel Surprise
The rescue helicopter pilot greets the airmen.
Captain Robert Clay at the podium in 2001 – 57 years after the forced landing.
A Lasting Memory
Stormy Weather left its mark – not only in the soil, but in people’s lives. The parachutes that drifted down over Als were transformed from instruments of war into symbols of hope, love, and survival.
The story of the dresses and the banner stands as a testament to ingenuity and resilience in a time marked by scarcity and uncertainty.