in beirut, staff of the czechoslovak embassy came to meet them and explained their only options were to either join the french foreign legion or be deported back to the german-ruled protectorate of bohemia and moravia. the four airmen joined the legion at the local barracks. a week later the four embarked on a messageries maritimes cargo ship, the "theophile gautier", which landed them at marseille on 20 october 1939. they continued training at the foreign legion base in marseille. but a polish sergeant recognised their polish war decorations and helped to get them released to join the new free polish air force at le bourget.