At the night of July 21–22, 1941 he made a spectacular escape from Denmark to Great Britain together with pilot Kjeld Pedersen in a D.H. Hornet Moth.
moth | Olivia de Havilland | de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | De Havilland Mosquito | Green Hornet | de Havilland Vampire | de Havilland Mosquito | Winter Moth | Hornet | De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | de Havilland | Turnip Moth | McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet | Geometer moth | de Havilland Comet | Autumnal Moth | De Havilland Vampire | De Havilland Tiger Moth | de Havilland Tiger Moth | De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou | de Havilland Canada | De Havilland | Common Swift (moth) | The Moth & the Flame | Mouse Moth | Moth | McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet | hornet | turnip moth | Super Hornet |
Follett's website states that his inspiration for the story came from Leo Marks, a former Special Operations Executive employee, who wrote a brief account in his book, Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's Story 1941-1945 about two young Danes who found a derelict de Havilland Hornet Moth biplane, repaired it, and flew it to Britain.