My dad, Floyd G. MacGowen, was a navigator who bailed out of a B-17.  He was flying with Bill Cely who took his battered & broken plane home.  I would like to be able to contribute to this website; however, all of my dad's memorbilia has disappeared - he had pictures, artwork as well.  He achieved the rank of Major, died in South Carolina in 1995.

I was in Compound North 3, in a room with 23 other guys. Two of them were named Epperson and Zalneraitis. Can't recall the others...

I'm looking for anyone who may have known my Uncle. I don't know what barracks he was in.

My father, J.H. Fuchs, was on his first mission with the navigator, Bill Pearson, with whom he had trained.  They were assigned to an experienced crew that was nearing the end of their missions.  As it turned out, it was their final mission.  They were hit by flak after bombing a ball bearing factory in Germany on September 13.  After crash landing, Dad and Bill split off in search of England.  After spending eleven days in the woods on a diet of apples and raw potatoes, they were captured by German farmers.  They were separated and Dad wound up in Stalag Luft IV.  The Russians were getting closer to the camp so Dad and the other prisoners were moved by rail car to Stalag Luft I about the beginning of February.  He spent his 21st birthday in a rail car with 49 other men with a bucket for a toilet.  He was at Stalag Luft I until May when they were finally set free.  He lost forty pounds in the eight months he was a prisoner.  My grandparents were notified that Dad had been killed and it wasn't until more than a month later when he referred to my cousin's birthday in a letter that my grandmother realized he was still alive.  He spent years with untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder until he was finally able to begin telling about his experiences.  He is 84 now and in good health.  He relates his story to students and visitors at the HEARTS Veterans Museum in Huntsville, Texas.  He has become very comfortable talking about his experiences now and loves talking to other veterans.  He was able to finally reunite with Bill Pearson about five years ago.  The two men share the same stories with a few small differences resulting from events that occurred over sixty years ago.  I was in awe listening as Bill would tell a story I have heard my dad tell over the years.  Dad would be glad to communicate with anyone that would like to contact us.

My father was a B-17 Waist Gunner  on the Spirit of '96 when it was shot down over Weisbaden Germany in September 1944.

My Dad was in Compound North Three Barracks 5 (Block 305) Room 10. If any of Dad's room mates are out there and would like to touch base, I'd love to hear from you. I just found a letter from Donald Hopp that was sent in July of '45. If Don or his family is out there I would love to make contact. Dad isn't in great shape, but he's still with us and would be pleased to hear from you.

Hello,
         I just found your fantastic website ! I know two men who were there at Stalag 1, and I was glad to see they are both listed on your site.

Coleman Jacobson (North 2 POW) is a prominent MD here in Dallas, TX, where he has lived for decades. I have known him most of my life because my mother was an RN on his staff for many years. My siblings & I baby-sat his grand-children back in the 1970s. He was very close with Walt Boychuck (also in North 2), whom I met at Dr Jacobson's office. Sadly, Mr. Boychuck passed away around 1992. He was the mayor of a Dallas suburb for a time.

Dr Jacobson is retired , and  a very private man, so I wondered if you might be able to post this, so that I might be able to learn more from some of the POWs who visit this site, and even ones who might have known Dr Jacobson or Mr. Boychuck.

Kindest Regards, and Thanks to all who saved the world with their courage in World War 2 !

Edward Dempsey
Dallas  TX

 I have been told that my Grandfather spent 14months or 19months in the pow camp.He passed away1975  2 years after I was born and I am trying to get information that I can have to not only HONOR  Him, but to pass along our family's history to my children..Please email me if his information is availible..or how I can access the names of the pow's at their Camps....He was from Yakima Washington .....Thank you!!!  GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS..... 

Just trying to fond information.  My father in law, Sgt. Tommie Lane flew with the 392nd bomb group.  His aircraft #42-94772 was shot down over  Bernberg on July 7th, 1944.  His pilot was 1/Lt. George E. Jones.  He was taken prisoner but we don't know where or have any more information.  We would appreciate any information.

i am trying to find out about my late father charles edward haythorne. he was in the yorkshires own light infantry and he was captured at dunkirk. i would like to find any information about him please, his rank number would be great to know if anyone knows how i can get this please drop me an email and let me know . thank you for taking time to read this email of mine .    yours margaret haywood .

hi, my uncle was a POW in a camp outside Bucharest, his B-17 was shot down on July 22, 1944.  i believe the name of the plane was the vicious vixen.  the pilots name was sydney carr.  he was stationed in Foggia Italy and was bombing the Ploesti oil fields when their plane was shot down.  if you have any conection to this, please contact me.  thanks, Lori

  My Dad, Lt. Nelson L. Dimick, was a POW at Stalag Luft 1 after he had been shot down on his 30th mission at 19 years old while Co-Piloting a B-24 for the 8th Air Force, 445 Bomber Group on the Kassel bombing mission. It was Sept. 16th 1944 and his 19th birthday. He spent the next 9 months in POW camp. That day and all the months after had affected him for the rest of his life. He was a good man and would give the shirt off his back if one was in need of it. He passed away in July of 2000. I miss him.

Thank you for posting this great photo of my dad cleaning fish.  He continued to do that for a very long time; I have fond memories of deep sea fishing (and all the blue fish we could eat).

My grandfather, Herbert Wicker, was a side gunner in a B-17. His aircraft was shot down on its way back from a bombing run over Germany on 8 Feb. 1944. He was taken P.O.W. by the Germans. If anyone knew him, please contact me.

My brother Linn Stuckenbruck was a B17 pilot shot down over Holland.  He was a pow for about 2 years.  I have his diary that he kept while he was a pow that contains many of his drawings.  I also have many of the letters that he sent to his family during this time. 

My Father was also a prisoner in Stalag Luft 1. Through written notes, conversations and military records he has related to me the following. He was inducted into the Army in June of 1941 at the whopping rate of $21 a month as a Pvt. and was assigned to General Patton’s First Armor Corp. He said there was no basic training, and because of his background he was promoted to Sgt.. After this he said that he went on maneuvers for about six months. He then applied to OCS and graduated as a 2^ND Lieutenant and was sent to flight training in San Antonio Texas. Upon graduating he was assigned as a B-17 navigator and stationed in England. On his third mission on 30 January 1944 he said that the aircraft was struck by flak and began to spin. He said that this caused the aircraft to collide with another bomber and he became pinned against the interior. Upon freeing himself and moving toward the lower door he deployed his parachute. He said this pulled him from the aircraft. After exiting he said he also saw the tail gunner and waist gunner escape and deploy their parachutes. He related that he was unsure of the fate of his other crew mates or the crew of the other bomber.  He said that he landed in a corn field and saw the other two land a short distance away. He explained that he tried to conceal himself, but that he was captured by German soldiers along with the other two airmen.

He said that the three of them were taken for medical care together but not allowed to communicate. He said he never saw them again and was told that because they were Sergeants and he was an Officer, they were assigned to different camps.

After medical treatment he said he was placed in a cell under solitary confinement for two weeks. Interrogation was constant.

Then it came time for transport. He said that he and hundreds of other prisoners were placed in box cars on a train. The box cars had straw on the floors and were sealed during movement which meant there was no light inside. When the train made stops and the cars opened, they were heavily guarded. The train traveled across Germany to the Baltic Sea. Upon arrival in Barth, Germany, the prisoners were marched approximately a mile to Stalag Luft 1.

At the camp he was billeted in a building in the south compound with twenty one other men. In the building was a potbellied stove that was used for heat and cooking. There was also a building that served as the Chapel and Theater. My Father worked in the Theater. He further spoke of the “escape committees” and said that when an escape was “approved” that he helped by supplying clothing from the Theater.

One day the word came down that the Russian troops were approaching. On one night all of the Germans left the camp and the Russians arrived in hot pursuit. The prisoners were advised to remain in the camp.

When US Army personnel arrived the prisoners were taken to a beach at Normandy where they waited for eight days and nights for transport. The conditions on the ships were poor but everyone was just happy to be coming home. The trip home took ten days.

My Father was promoted to 1^ST Lt. upon separation. He remained in the reserves until recalled in 1951 as a Capt.. He was highly decorated, served in many commands and retired as a Lt. Col. In 1969. He maintained his flight status and flew in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

My Father was a nut about records and documentation. After his death in 2002 I have since received his belongings. To my amazement there appears to be every single original military document, award and photo from 1941 to 1969.

This includes many, many original pictures from the past including original pictures from Stalag Luft 1 and some flight crews. I also have originals of the Western Union telegram of his missing in action, letters he sent home, original copy of  “A Sad Story by Roger Wilco”, an original playbill from one of the plays they put on in camp and an edition of the original “Not As Briefed” with the fifty + watercolors from  C. Ross Greenberg . I also have his original ID bracelet and his “Red Cross can solder made wings marked Stalag Luft 1”.

 I have recently retired and am currently in the process of cataloging the items and trying to learn how to scan them so I can share them with interested parties. I know this is a lengthy message, but if I can assist you or if you have any additional information about my Father, please contact me.

Also, if anyone has current e-mail address for Greenberg’s niece I would like contact her.

Chris Blowers

e-mail cblowers@satx.rr.com

 Bob Diles was my uncle and I don't know much about his war experience other than he was shot down on his 8th mission. I used to read the letters he wrote to my grandmother and mother while he was a prisoner of war in Germany. He never complained about his time there and all he would like to do was to be with his family back home.To all the Vets of WWII Thank You,Thank You,Thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU.

sorry i cant be more infomative  but you can contact me on me web at http://www.kites-kites-kites.co.uk if you can help with any info to my grandfather. cheers nathan