Meeting with Claude Bénech, author of "the incredible history of the Shelburn network"
During the Second World War, more than 10,000 Allied aircraft on reconnaissance, hunting and bombing missions fell on French soil. From 1943 to 1944, the Shelburn Network was set up by the Allies and the French Resistance to recover, convoy and exfiltrate to England the rescued airmen. In full occupied territory, the evacuation point is set up on the Breton coasts, in Plouha in the Côtes d'Armor. These high-risk exfiltration missions require many local complicities and solidarity. The Shelburn network exfiltrates 135 airmen and 15 allied agents to Dartmouth (GB) during eight operations, without a failure or any loss or arrest in its Breton track. While German intelligence and law enforcement agencies are relentlessly tracking Resistance networks across the country, the exceptional sustainability of the Shelburn network is unique. The Allies called the adventure “Miracle Shelburn”. Claude Bénech draws up here a synthesis that pays tribute to the actors of this unusual story. The sources of his work come mainly from members of the network or their descendants: four years were necessary for the author to collect their testimonies, written or typed documents, period photographs, objects, etc. 1943 was the time of extreme discretion, absolute secrecy and action. All these conditions have been met to pass from the abyss to the emergence, from the shadow to the light, from submission to hope. Today is the time for recognition.” Claude Bénech.