On the night of 11th March 1943, Flight Sergeant Bulman was the navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack Stuttgart. The bomber was attacked by enemy fighters and, after it had [been] set on fire, the crew were compelled to abandon it by parachute. Flight Sergeant Bulman alighted, uninjured, in a field near Mondrepuis where he removed his name from his parachute and hid it with his life saving jacket beneath a small tree. He walked across country, and in the evening stopped at a house where he obtained a meal and some civilian clothes. Continuing, he came to a German aerodrome near Monceau-le-Waast and he then hid in some woods nearby. Flight Sergeant Bulman reached Courcelles on 17th March and, whilst sheltering in a shed, received some food from a youth. He afterwards walked to Epieds and near this town he received food and some new apparel from a friendly farmer. The farmer subsequently took him to Chateau-Thierry and thence by train to Paris. From this point Flight Sergeant Bulman's subsequent journey was arranged for him.

On an operational bombing flight against Stuttgart on 11th March 1943, the aircraft in which Flight Sergeant Bulman was navigator was shot down in flames by enemy night fighters. The crew baled out on instructions from the captain. Flight Sergeant Bulman displayed considerable resourcefulness and determination in eluding enemy patrols and succeeded in effecting his escape. His courage and devotion to duty and disregard of physical hardship strongly recommend him for the award of the Military Medal.

I baled out first. I landed, uninjured, in a pasture field near Mondrepuis, northwest of Hirson. I removed a tab bearing my name and number from the parachute and hit it and my Mae West beneath a small tree. I then walked away from the aircraft in a Westerly direction.

I walked across country, avoiding all buildings, until about 0630 hours on 12 March. I then hid in a corner of a field between a clump of trees and a pond. Here I opened my aids box and ate some Horlick’s tablets and chocolate. I removed some of my badges, but though I loosened the stitches of one of my "CANADA" titles and of one set of my chevrons, so that they could be quickly torn off, I did not remove them entirely as I wished to use them to prove my identity.

In the evening I set out again and about 2030 hours came to a small farm. I can speak a little French. A girl came to the door. I pointed to my badges, showed her my RAF identity discs and said, "RAF"". She took me into the house, where I was given a meal and also some civilian clothes. I had not been wearing flying boots in the aircraft, but an ordinary pair of shoes, and these I retained. I remained with my helpers until the 14 March. They gave me a razor, soap, a small French-English dictionary, a map of the district, and a parcel of food. On the evening of 14 March one of my helpers, accompanied by a number of children, took me about five miles along a road to Gergay about seven miles west of Hirson. They advised me to avoid all large houses. My only plan at this time was somehow to reach the Spanish frontier.

I walked at night and lay up in the daytime. About daybreak of 15 March I was near the village of Montigny, about 20 miles southwest of Hirson. The roads here were well sign-posted, but I also made use of my escape compasses, and of the map my helpers had given me. About 0300 hours 16 March, I wandered on to a German aerodrome, just west of Monceau-le-Waast, about eight miles northwest of Laon. The flare path was illuminated. I immediately went away from it, and hid in some woods until daybreak. Then, as it was a foggy morning, I thought it safe to continue walking until 1130 hours. I remember crossing the Laon-Reims railway line.

About 1630 hours I set out again, and by 0630 hours on 17 March had reached Courcelles, about six miles northwest of Fismes. Here I lay up all day. In the evening, as I was getting very hungry, I spoke to some people. An 18-year old youth took me to a shed and gave me two raw eggs and some bread. I lay down on the floor and tried to sleep, but it was so cold that I decided to continue walking. I walked all that night and most of next day (18 March), but I took the precaution of shaving in the morning. About 0530 hours on 19 March I reached Epieds, about 18 miles southwest of Fismes.

Shortly afterwards I approached a farm not far from this place. I showed the farmer my identity discs and badges. He was most friendly, gave me food, a new pair of trousers, and repaired my shoes. I retained my RAF shirt and wore it with another tie throughout the whole of the rest of my journey.

I told the farmer that I was determined to reach Spain somehow. On the evening of 21 March he took me by bicycle to Chateau-Thierry and thence by train to Paris. From this point my subsequent journey was arranged for me.

The latter part of my journey was made in conjunction with P/O Dennison and some others.

Dennison and Bulman left Gibraltar on 17 July 1943 and reached Liverpool on 24 July 1943.