Please feel free to sign our guestbook. We suggest if you are a POW or the family of a POW that you leave your regular mail address as well as your email (as emails change frequently and can be beyond our control), so others visiting may be able to contact you to inquire or share information.
Name of POW Pat Murphy Comments: I am looking for Col Pat Murphy and have had a hard time finding him. My mother, Fayrene Hines (maiden name at the time he knew her) was in high school and had written him several letters as he was her uncle or cousin at best. Pat more or less adopted my mother's family to be his own as I believe he lost his mother in an awful fire in March 1914. Her name would have been Dora Murphy daughter of Daniel Murphy and thus his grandfather. Frank Hines & Essie Veda Hines(maiden name Turner, as my deep turns out) were Pat's relatives!!! Because of his mother's death when he was quite young and his sister who also died in this awful fire would have been Corinne Murphy. It has been difficult to locate Pat Murphy as the last known account of him is when he wrote a note or letter from after his American Legion Veterans Hospital stay when he crashed upon take off. He had been located living in the jungles of Panama Canal and could tell the family where they would send him next. Frank Hines and family is the son of Daniel Hines, Pat Murphy's grandfather. My mother told of Pat Murphy telling her and the children tales of his jungle adventures and that he had crashed his testing airplanes many times and crashing. He had crashed so many times, he was said to have had a metal plate put inside a part of his head to prevent severe damage. He always continued to get back in the air planes and FLY AGAIN!! If and when he was captured, I do not know of it. As Pat was too hush or mother didn't remember that part. His tales of his adventures were so interesting, she said the children would sit on the edge of their seat listening.. He had also sent my mother's family his check to cash and send back to him as way to cash his check and not have problems with the panama government at that time.. Mother made me promise to find him and I promised her when she was quite ill August 1,1998 she passed away. I look alot like my mother and we were quite close. No one in the family seems to know what happened to Pat Murphy but he was MISSED" and I feel I know him from all my mother's love and respect of him and what he had endured. If you can help me locate him, I would like to introduce him back to his long lost family. We do not want him to be forgotten! My mother's sister, Essie the oldest is still alive and well in Texas. And her brother, Charles Hines, next to the youngest is still alive but has been feeling poorly (seems some in the family had a cigarette habit and mother and oldest Frank Hines, jr passed away of it closely died within months of each other. Youngest, Dolores Hines (married a Spencer) died also but one of the first to go...sad but true. Aunt Delores had alot of children! They are all alive and well and I keep in touch with them also. My youngest brother past away at the age of 58 two days before his birthday this past March. All my only sister and older brother are alive and well...my younger brother died of full blown diabetes. My father is alive (who was married to my mother, Fayrene Hines). My fathers name is Junior Morgan and is healthy and lives in Ankeny, Ia and is 84 yrs old and VERY HEALTHY... I am 61, fairly healthy, have two young adult children who are healthy and we are close also. Family research has been my life since I was early age of 11 years old and my mother helped me with that. Upon my high school graduation, I got to take a trip with my mother to older family relatives that were still alive and interview them for my family tree. I was very happy and excited to be able to do that. It has stuck with me all these years! I'm hoping we hit the right PAT MURPHY. If not LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK I SHOULD DO...I have letters from Pat Murphy, with stamped, dated post cards and letters from him to my mothers mom and dad. He stayed with them whenever he got leave and wrote alot and was very lonely but a devoted man in the service...I don't believe he had a family but was estranged from his family if he had one?? PLEASE HELP ME MAKE MY MOTHER"S WISH COME TRUE..IT HAS BECOME MY WISH ALSO...to find him...to see if he is alive and well and share information with him and help him make the tie to family again....we miss him, even though we have NOT met. THANK YOU... lavon boucher lelaine2727@aol.com p.s. please write me soon or give this to him or his family if he is alive or is agreeable. We mainly would like to know if he is alive and well or piece together his story at best"" THANKS SO MUCH!
Name of POW Daniel E. King POW camp Stalag Luft 1 - North 2 and 3 Address 501 Salt Springs Rd. City, State, Zip Warren, OH 44481 Comments: I would interested in getting in touch with other POWs from the Stalag camp. Looking for Mr. Frascati.
Name of POW Richard L. Weber POW camp Stalag Luft 1 Comments: My father was a POW at Stalag Luft 1. He was with the 15th AAF, 460th Bomb Group, 763 Bomb Squad stationed in Spinazola, Italy. He was shot down on Nov. 16, 1944 on a bomb run over Munich. Crew members were: Samuel Marlin Hamilton; Joseph Rudolph; Emmett "Bo" Barger; John Murphy; Harold T. Adams; Otto E. "Tex" Mattiza; Delbert Dana Satterfield (not on the mission that day as the ball turret had been equipped with radar); Robert Sherman Seidel; and John E. Bills.
Name of POW Howard B Hamilton (Hamabone) POW camp Stalag Luft 1 Address 210 Depot City, State, Zip Buffalo KS 66717 Comments: My brother Howard Hamilton was shot down over Muenster on "black Friday"; was a bombardier on B-17 stationed at Thorpe Abbot. His plane ws Mlle Zigzag, and the pilot was John Brady. I loved to hear him talk about his days in Germany, but he didn't talk much about it! I am a history buff, and read a lot of world war II history. We all grew up in the depression, and I remember so vividly the day in January 1942 Howard came back from Wichita and told my folks he had enlisted in the air force. I have read Ian Hawkins books on the 8th Air Force, and what they suffered and died for. I hope America never forgets some real heros! I believe Howard came back to Barth when the town was honoring the former prisoners? I think it was 50th anniv. of D-Day.
Do you have a roommate listing? If so please email to us at stalagluftone@hotmail.com Perhaps, unsure it roommates of just captured at same time. Name of POW Andrew T. Sojka POW camp Stalag 6B? City, State, Zip Cheektowaga, NY 14225 Comments: My Grandmother first received a telegram on Feb. 19, 1945 that my grandpa had been MIA in Germany since Feb. 5, 1945. On March 8 a letter arrived stating Grandpa was really MIA from Belgium not Germany. I believe he was on combat patrol on the Siegfried Line when captured and was taken with 4 others. He was with the 87th Division, 346th infantry regiment, 1st battalion company A or M. Grandpa was from Alden, NY. I have a portion of a letter that states "Here are the names that were called with your husbands (my Grandpa), keep them until he comes home, maybe they were in the same camp with him. Lt. Donald Maine Anderson, Indiana SSgt Raymond Pauly St. Bonefetus, Minnesota TecSgt Joseph Richardson Pennsylvania Pvt. Joseph Sikore Depew, NY Grandpa didn't talk at all about his experiences, He once told me his camp was near (spelled as it sounds.."Kookenheimer" or "Flemershine". Upon liberation he was sent to Holland. I really would like to know the name of the camp, where it was and if there is any information out there about camp life.
Do you have a roommate listing? If so please email to us at stalagluftone@hotmail.com stalagluftone@hotmail.com Name of POW Aubrey L Edwards Jr. POW camp Stalag One Address 3716 Edmond Lane City, State, Zip Louisville, KY. 40207-1806 Comments: Roommates: Lt. Ernest A. Hertzing, Del Rio, Tex. J. H. Mac Ever Houston, Tex Jacck M Winn,Dallas, Tex Alan J Teague, Beloit, Wis. Wm J Dallas,Ft Worth, Tex Stan Pearlman, Far Rockaway, N. Y. George L. Arranities,Ipswich, Mass. Richard Mc Donald, Situate, Mass. Wm F Ball Jr.,Bessemer, Ala. George T King,Oswego, N.Y. A. F. Bernard, Long Island, N. Y. Thomas F Sharpless, Atlanta, Ga. Norman Stockstill, Picayune, Miss. Maj. M. J. Yarsky, South Side Pittsburgh, Pa. I played sax/clarinet in the the " Round the Benders" I played sax/clarinet in the band.
Name of POW Bertram VanDemark POW camp Stalig 13A Address 8 Blue Mountain Church rd. City, State, Zip Saugerties, NY 12477 Comments: MY grandfather was a prisoner at Stalig 13A
Name of POW Edsel Barker POW camp Stalag 17-B Address 3412 Brassow Rd City, State, Zip Saline, MI 48176 Comments: My dad was a POW in Stalag 17-B. Until recently he had a copy of "Kriege Memories" by Ben Phelper, but somehow we can't find it now. Is there any way to buy one? Can you put me in touch with someone who sells them? I want to get several copies for our family members. Susan Barker Boggs
Name of POW Edward (Ted) Gittus POW camp Stallag X11A Comments: My Farther Edward (Ted) Gittus was a member of the British airborne Division (Parachute Regiment) and was taken prisoner after being dropped at Arnhem, He very rarely spoke of his time in the second word war and unfortunately passed away in 1987, if anyone knew of him I would be most grateful for any information.
Name of POW Gaston Dossu POW camp Stalag XIII Address PO BOX 13 City, State, Zip STRATHAM, NH 03885-0013 Comments: My grandfather left me some memoires which I am translating from French into English. They are not extensive so I am hoping to gather more information either through literature, the internet, or individuals who may have been in the same camps. I have only translated 8 of 51 pages and he was captured 3 times, escaping twice, and was in several prison camps. Stalag 13 was one of them.
Name of POW William E. Turner POW camp Stalag VII A- Moosberg, Germany Comments: My dad was a bombadier on a B24 and was shot down and was marched to Stalag VII A in Moosberg. They tried to make the russian border, but could not and eventually bailed out. He was taken captive as soon as he hit the ground. Does anyone remember him... he has alzheimer's and his days are limited.
Name of POW Robert Moore POW camp Stalag Luft I Comments: My father was the co-pilot of a c-47 that was shot down over Arnhem Holland during Operation Marget Garden. He was released after the Germans fled from the advancing Russians.
Name of POW Lowell Ernest Kellogg POW camp Stalag Luft IV & I Address 200 East Elm City, State, Zip Columbus, Ks 66725 Comments: Evidently my dad's records were destroyed in a fire where the military records were held. He passed away eleven years ago before I was able to get his entire story written down. He was a waist gunner on a B-17 for the 8 AF, 91 BG, 401 BS and was shot down on July 20, 1944. He eluded capture for about three days and was caught about a mile from safety near the Rhine River. The pilot of his plane (which I believe may have been called "Victory Queen") was 1st Lt. Ralph J. Bell, 0-378922. Other members of his crew where: Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Frank Fusco, 0-815875; Nav. 2nd Lt. Walter T. Lease, Jr. 0-710283; Bombardier 2nd Lt. Joseph L. Wyand 0-761490; Eng. TT Sgt. Carl Saiddy, 14132168; Radio Gun Sgt. Dort R. Quackenbush, 35585692; Ball Turret Sgt. Mathew Janiszowski, 12139499; Tail Gun Sgt. James E. Morony, 13061140. If anyone has infomation that pertains to any of these men please email me because I'd love to see it. Thanks! Julie Kellogg
Name of POW Ken Rees POW camp Stalag Luft 111 Address Penshurst Avenue City, State, Zip Neutral Bay, NSW, 2089 Australia Comments: Please read my Father's book "Lie in the Dark and Listen"
Address 2392 se boston street City, State, Zip albany or 97322 Comments: Hi Mr and Mrs Kamerainen! I was looking for Bruce and the family on the net and found this site. You look wonderful! I am happy to see you doing so well. What an experience! I hope to hear from Bruce or any of his family soon. xxoo Maurine Warner
Name of POW Donald T. Stanley POW camp Stalag Luft IV Address 3909 Crane Rd. City, State, Zip Mulkeytown, IL 62865 Comments: Donald T. Stanley was my father. He was a member of the 459th Bomber division. He was a ball turret gunner. His plane was shot down and he was taken prisoner. He waa also a part of the "march" and fortunately he survived and was liberated a the end of the war. My Dad passed away on December 5, 2000. He shared a few stories with me after my Mother died in 1984 but most of the things he suffered and endured went to the grave with him. If any of you kind folks knew him or have any recollection of him...please get in touch. I would like to know as much about him as possible. Thanks, Jerry
Name of POW John Walter Carmine POW camp Stalag Luft I Address 10322 Colemans Lake Road City, State, Zip Ford, Virginia 23850 Comments: John Walter Carmine was my father and was a member of the 57 bomb wing 321st squadron and 445th bombardment Group. he and his crew were shot down on October the 8th, 1943 and were held P.O.W. in Stalag Luft One until the end of the war. I am hoping that any of your other sons or daughters of veterans out there that may have heard stories or have any info or pictures of my father would contact me. He was housed in North 2 Compound, room 11
Name of POW Lawrence Clinton "Rebel" Clements Comments: I wish to be in contact with Cynthia who responded to my email. Anyone who wishes to contact me please do so at lauren2email@yahoo.com. Cynthia, especially, I would love to hear from you about your fathers experiences. Lauren [View Entry]
Do you have a roommate listing? If so please email to us at stalagluftone@hotmail.com reams, Lambson, Frank, Belva Name of POW Lt. Carl Devon Larsen POW camp Dulag Luft then Staglag Luft I- Stam Lager Lft Eine. Address 5856 N. Applebrook Way City, State, Zip Boise, Idaho 83713 Comments: My father was shot down on Feb. 25, 1944. He was flying as a navigator/bombardier and headed for Ragansberg, Germany with the 8th Division. They were flying a plane called "Betty Boop". #434. After leaving solitary in Dulag Luft he was transferred to Stalag I and assigned to the North Compounds, barracks II, room 11. To all the men who endured this camp, he loved and admired your courage. He headed up many reunions, held at Mather AFB, Sacramento, California. He died the week before he was to join you for the 40th liberation anniversary in 1983. He wrote of his experience in his autobiography called "Life and Memories of Carl Devon Larsen". I am in the process of editing his book and would be interested in any other memories you would be willing to share. Sincerely, Cynthia Larsen Hutchings
Name of POW tabandzelic nikolaj POW camp stalag I X numb 34163 Address ogar City, State, Zip serbia Comments: my grandpa spent 3 or 4 years in STALAG, i only know his number 34163. tanja
Name of POW Lt. Edwin R. Mead POW camp Stalag Luft I Address 1717 Brookshire Run City, State, Zip Point Of Rocks, MD 21777 Comments: My Father (Edwin R. Mead, III), was a fighter pilot that was shot down I believe in 1944 and was a POW until 1945. I was never really able to get much information from my Dad regarding the time he spent in the POW Camp. I would appreciate any information that anyone would have as to the time he spent in the camp.
Name of POW Lambert, William W Lt. POW camp Stalag Luft i Address 1102 Memorial Blvd W Ste 116 City, State, Zip Huntington WV 25701 Comments: Lt. William W. Lambert, was my father in law. He recently died on January 25th, 2009. My son wrote an article for his school paper which include a picture of Bill. My husband and I have a complete copy of his paper work from the prison camp. I wish anyone who knew Bill or had pictures of him and maybe his crew would let us know. His family would love to know more about his time in the service of his country. Thank you, V
Name of POW Stanley Christmas Beeson POW camp Stalag 1 Comments: I am the niece of Stan Beeson and found this site by chance - it's given my family and I a link to his past for which we are very grateful.
Name of POW Edwin M. Stanton POW camp Stalag Luft I Address 6830 227th Lane N.E. City, State, Zip Stacy, MN 55079 Comments: Dad was in North 1, Barracks 8 Room 2
Name of POW James Robert Spencer POW camp Stalag 2B, and Stalag 7A Address 121 Crestwood Dr. City, State, Zip Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 Comments: My father (deceased) was with the 45th Division,179th Regiment, Company B U S Army. He was captured 18 February, 1944 near Anzio, and liberated late April or early May, 1945. He was on a death march, and I have found a note he wrote that He crossed the Elbe river mid April, 1945 and "it was the worse day of His life". He spoke very little of his time as a POW, but did say that the death march was very inhumane. I would just like to know some of the people he may have been a POW with at the same time
Name of POW BERNARD HUNT POW camp STALAG 11B Address FATHER AT THE TIME LIVED IN SMETHWICK) Comments: MY FATHER BERNARD HUNT WAS CAPTURED AT ARNHEM ON THE GLIDERS HE WAS A POW IN STALAG 11B AT THE TIME HE LIVED IN SMETHWICK WEST MIDLANDS IF THERE IS ANY ONE WHO CAN REMEBER HIM PLEASE EMAIL ME. MY FATHER HAS DIED NOW BUT IS FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIS EXPERIANCE AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HIM.
Comments: Years ago when I first read about Hans Scharff I read an article that mentioned a book he had written called "This breaks my heart" I have been trying to find a copy of it somewhere but I can't even find a reference to it anywhere. Any thoughts?
Name of POW Lt. Richard Lynn Gower POW camp Staglag Luft I Address 131 S Putter City, State, Zip Andover, KS 67002 Comments: I was born Gregory Frank Gower on Oct 15,1947.My mother was Mary Ruth (Taylor) Gower. She and Richard were divorced in Jan, 1949, shortly before my sister was born (Jan 30, 1949). Unfortunately I don't remember Richard and did not know he was my father until told by my grandmother when I was 12. Nancy and I were adopted by Roy Bucy of Rector, shortly after he married my mother, and our names changed. Richard, nor anyone else in the Gower family, ever tried to contact me. I bear no ill will toward Richard (or family) since I understand some of the demons he must have faced after returning from combat and being confined as a POW. I flew helicopter gunships in Vietnam and had serious problems when I returned. I hope Richard was able to defeat those demons and find peace during his lifetime.
Name of POW Olaf Cecil Lambert POW camp Stalag Luft 1 Address 1245 Chattell Road City, State, Zip Naanoose Bay. B.C.Canada.V9P-9A4 Comments: I am doing a family tree,I am his son,and Ineed to get more information about the rest of the LAMBERT family.Thanks.Brian Lambert.
Do you have a roommate listing? If so please email to us at stalagluftone@hotmail.com No Name of POW Arthur Henry Lucy Jr. POW camp Stalag Luft 1 South and North 1 Address 22 Beechings City, State, Zip Henfield BN5 9XB United Kingdom Comments: My father was at Stalag Luft 1 1944-1945. All I know is he was in the South and then North 1 compounds. He died in August 1975 and unfortunately my family and I know nothing about his war experiences. If anybody knew my dad or of him and can tell me anything it would be really appreciated.
Name of POW Rapley (Bud) Hamilton POW camp Stalag IX c Address 274 lagoon Beach Dr. City, State, Zip Bay City, Mi . Comments: My father who has passed on was a prisoner at this camp. I am looking for as much info on this camp as I can get. Also I am trying to track down the group and any news accounts on the U.S. Army group that liberated the men. More like they found each other in the woods. My dad was mentioned in the article.He was one of three that ran through the gunfire to the Americans. He did say they were with or he thought they were with Patton's group. If you have any info please share thanks.
Name of POW James I. Considine POW camp Stalag Luft One Address 625 Deepdene Road City, State, Zip Baltimore, MD 21210 Comments: Thank you for not only keeping the website, but for making improvements and adding new content. ------------------------------------------------------ My home phone number is 410.323.0513. I am Jim Considine, the first son (born 1955) of Lt. James I. Considine. I am more than happy to exchange information or converse with anyone interested in Stalag Luft One. Jim Considine 3/22/09
Name of POW Julius Markus City, State, Zip New York,N.Y. Comments: My father was a gunner on a b-17 and shot down on black thursday 10/14/43 I am assuming on the Schweinfurt run.A P.O.W., he was released in January,1945. After his repatriation,he died and my mother remarried. Thus my last name being different from his.. I know nothing about him and am trying to find out what I can. ANYONE knowing anything at all ,please forward info to me.. With great appreciation and regard... Bob Delaney... Again his name was Julius Markus
Name of POW ( 2nd Lt.) John A. Kirkham III POW camp Stalag Luft 1 Address c/o 15 Bittersweet Lane City, State, Zip Ivoryton, CT 06442 Comments: I am saddened to report that my dad, John A. Kirkham, passed away on Dec. 10, 2008. I am so very glad that my husband, Rich, and I were able to accompany Dad and Mom on the trip to Germany and Austria in Sept. 2001. It was an incredible trip, very moving, emotional, and worthwhile. We went to the location of Stalag Luft 1 in Barth; also Berlin, Potsdam, Dresden, Nuremburg, Munich, and Salzburg, the Eagle's Nest, and Dachau concentration camp site in Austria. At other times I went with Dad on a B-17 ride in Hartford, CT, and was able to take him to see the WW 2 and Viet Nam memorials in Washington DC as well as the Air Force memorial in Arlington, VA. Now that he is gone, I am doubly happy to have made these trips with him. I have all Dad's information and memorabilia from the war and the trips including photos and would be happy to share this information with anyone who is interested, and to correspond with anyone who knew Dad.
Comments: my father Ian Bolton was a pilot and shot down along with the American journalist Lowell Bennett and spent a large part of the war in Stalag Luft 1 , his war experiences never left him. This has been a fascinating insight into his life . He died 10 years ago. If anyone knew him please get in touch. Though he is listed here as being from England , as a proud Scotsman I feel it should read either Scots or British
Name of POW IAN DONALD BOLTON POW camp STALAG LUFT 1 Comments: my father was a pilot and shot down along with the American journalist Lowell Bennett and spent a large part of the war in Stalag Luft 1 , his war experiences never left him. This has been a fascinating insight into his life . He died 10 years ago. If anyone knew him please get in touch.
Name of POW 2nd LT Irving M. Day, Jr. POW camp Luft Stalag One Comments: My Dad was a bombardier on a B24 named Bangor. He got shot down and was a prisoner for 13 months until the camp was liberated. He was in the 446th BG. If anyone has any stories about him I'd love to hear them. Dad is still living but suffers from Alzeimer's and is in a nursing home in WVA with my Mom. My phone # is 301-351-6228.
Name of POW Dick "Richard" Ketchum POW camp Stalag Luft I Comments: Its nice to find information on my Great-Grandfather. I'll be a fourth generation pilot, and I am honored to find out my family history. I'm also building a airplane, and will go to an aviation college in a year. I'd love to get a piece of "iron ass" for a part of his plane on mine.
Do you have a roommate listing? If so please email to us at stalagluftone@hotmail.com drury1971@gmail.com Name of POW Frank E Gilbert POW camp Stalag Luft 1 Address 1547 Dietrich Chase Ln City, State, Zip Ballwin Comments: My dad [Frank], was shot down over Germany while on a bombing run with the 8th. Airforce. Dad was the bombadier on a B-17 and was stationed in England. Dad was a POW for 18 months and it wasn't until the later stages in his life that he was able to talk about his war experiences. Dad made some lasting friends as a POW and he communicated regularly with them. Dad was married to his wife Liz for 50 years before he succumed to complications from emphasyma [thanks to the cigarette companies and the Red Cross]. Dad fathered 5 children [Holly, Chuck, Debbie, Chris & Mimi] which in turn produced 16 grandchildren. By all accounts, dad was loved and respected by all who knew him in both his personnal and professional lives. The trials and tribulations dad went through as a POW made him a stronger man and not once did I ever hear him whine or complain about the cards that life dealt him. Thanks for reading, Chuck Gilbert
Name of POW Herman McGahee POW camp Stalag Luft 1 Address 3390 VZCR 1507 City, State, Zip Grand Saline, TX 75140 Comments: I am a friend of Herman McGahee, who was the navigator on the B24 "Sack Time Sally", of the 389th Bomb Group. He was shot down 26 November 1943, on the return leg of a raid on Bremen, Germany. He was a POW at Stalag Luft 1, South Barracks 3, Room 6. I would like to get in touch with anyone that might know Herman, and would like to get in contact with him. He now resides in Van, TX. Thank you, Bob English
Name of POW Lawrence "Rebel" Clinton Clements POW camp Stalag XIIA, Stalag XIIIA Germany Address 632 Stage Road City, State, Zip Arrington, VA 22922 Comments: My father, Lawrence Clinton Clements, was a private in the Army of Company A, 424 Infantry Regiment, 106 Division. In December 16 of 1944 beginning duty in St. Vith Village, Belgium, where they were over run and taken prisoner by the Germans. He was only one of six men who survived in his platoon of 54 men. He believes the only reason he survived was his position with the officers as he was their "runner" they called "Rebel". (Due to his years spent in the mountains of Virginia, they depended on him to be able to scutter through the forest of Germany and carry messages to command centers.) He was being sent on a mission that day when they were over run. As he set out on his journey, the close sound of the German boots on the road alerted him to return to his officers and report they were being surrounded. When captured, the message he was to carry was secretly torn into tiny bits as he stomped them into the cold mud as they fell from the hands of his officer. I believe the officers was 2nd Lt. Stuab (?) and Sgt. LaFountain (?). He was marched off on foot with Stuab and LaFountain and they marched for several days until they were loaded into box cars and taken to a village that was later bombed Christmas Eve 1944 by mistake by the British not knowing American P.O.W.s were there...killing his officers. Dad was blown out of the building that he was in, and was later instructed to perform the grim clean up, burial detail. Loaded into box cars, the P.O.W.'s were taken first to Stalag XIIA, later transported to Stalag XIIIA. He speaks of the bitter cold, the lack of food (wished to capture a sparrow for food, but he was never so lucky), sleeping on a concrete floor and the finding of a small stove they were able to hide and warm themselves from time to time (thanks to a kindly German guard). When the Americans freed them in April of 1945, he was barely alive and the trip to the field hospital is sketchy. For years Dad never spoke about the war, and I never realized he was a prisoner of war. Now he is 83 years and struggling still to deal with the memories that haunt him. He now is trying to tell his story to me, I think he wants me to record his story now as he wants the events to be known. He always gets so emotional when he tells his story..I know it must hurt deeply to remember. I hurt for him, and I am trying to write down as much as he is willing to share...for him and the men that his soul is still with. He is so emotional as he remembers those who died and why he survived..he says he is living on "borrowed time". Over and over he says "my soul is over there with those poor boys". He never received any medals that were promised and I think that always hurt him as he felt...he was "forgotten". He is a quiet and private man, that I never understood why..until now. He is also my father that I love deeply...and I am trying to tell the story that I believe he wants everyone to know as he wants those remember those left behind remembered. Sadly, with each day his memory is fading and the tears are becoming too frequent again to dare go beyond what he is willing to speak of. I write for him and for him I share with you.
Name of POW J.C. Webber POWno. 5987 and J. P. Wheeler POW camp Stalag Luft 1 Address Elzehoutstraat 4 City, State, Zip Helmond The Netherlands Comments: I'am looking for information about JC Webber and JP Wheeler. They both went down on 23 april 1943 near Deurne (Netherlands). Many thanks to anyone who can help me. Serial Range LM301 - LM756 This aircraft was one of 350 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Yeadon) as Mk.111 except for the first ten as Mk.1 (LM301-LM310), delivered from Oct42 to Oct44. Mk.1s had Merlin 20 engines and the Mk.111s Merlin 38 engines initially installed. LM718 was delivered to No.61 Squadron 21Aug44. No other key Raids traced. When lost this aircrft had a total of 45 hours. However three other No.61 Squadron Lancasters were lost on the joint attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal - M_nster. See ME732; ND988; ED470 Airborne 1917 23Sep44 from Skellingthorpe to breach the Dortmund- ems Canal at Ladbergen, just to the N of M_nster. Crashed onto farmland near Deurne (Noord-Brabant), some 9 km ESE of Helmond, after being abandoned by the crew. The two airmen who were killed are buried in Venray War cemetery. P/O Cawthorne flew his first tour with No.467 Sqdn and details of his award were Gazetted 19Oct43. S/L H.W.Horsley Evd P/O C.A.Cawthorn DFM Evd F/O J.C.Webber PoW F/O J.P.Wheeler PoW F/S G.Twyneham KIA Sgt H.W.Jennings KIA Sgt R.T.Hoskisson Evd S/L Horsley rejoined No.61 Sqdn and resumed operational flying, as did Sgt Hoskisson. 1Feb45, both were briefed for a raid on Siegen but their Lancaster crashed on take-off, killing S/L Horsley; Sgt Hoskisson survived. In late April 1997, P/O Cawthorn and F/O Wheeler met at the spot where LM718 had crashed, accompanied by Leo van Hoek who had witnessed their exit over fifty years previous. Story and photos Daily Telegraph newspaper 28Apr97. See: NF912. F/O J.C.Webber was interned in Camp L1, PoW No.5987 with F/O J.P.Wheeler, No PoW No. " [View Entry]
Name of POW Joseph P. Kotulak POW camp Stalag L4 Comments: I am looking for information on Joseph P. Kotulak (13005271) from Nanticoke Pa. DOB- 20 April 1920. His POW # is 3655. He was in Stalag Luft 4 and He is not listed on any of the on line rosters. The following came from the book titled BOOK No. 11 AMER. P.O.W. GERMANY KAAPU, DAVID A./ KZMINSKI, ANTHONI.This is the way it is listed on the page: KOTULAK, Joseph P. S/Sgt. 13005271 A US/1875-1925-1903-2199 5/6/44 #3655 Stg L4 RMC X . I have no idea if he went to Stalag Luft I or not on the death march. He was a top turret gunner on the B-17 the Gum Chum! 42-97501. He was from the 447th BG, 711th SQ, 8th AF, Heavy Bombers, K group, Station 126, Rattlesden UK. I would like to hear from anyone who knew Kotulak or has any information to share. I am looking for a picture of him and his plane if anyone out there has one. Also does anyone know what the numbers after his serial number means and the RMC and X means at the end? I didnt get a sheet with the page that tells me what the codes mean. He was shot down on 29 April 1944 while on a bombong mission to Berlin. He was the only one to survive from his plane. He stayed on active duty in the Air Force until his death on 21 April 1964. He died one day after his 44th birthday in the base hospital at Patrick Air Force Base Florida. He was also one of the first (#24) to be promoted to Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force on 1 December 1959. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetary in section 35 grave 1362. If anyone can Help It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bill
Name of POW Douglas Roy MacGregor POW camp stalaglu 4 Address 1437S. Country Club Rd. City, State, Zip Warsaw Indiana 46580 Comments: My father was a prisoner in stalaglu 4. He was shot down from his B-17 I think over the Rhine River. There were only 2 others that got out.
Name of POW Carson E. Houser POW camp Stalag IIB Comments: Just posting because my grandfather seldom spoke of his experiences, but often groaned and jumped in his sleep. He passed in 1999 and was just beginning to become involved with other POWs and organizations, perhaps finally coming to terms with his experiences. I am just posting in case there are any left who remembered him.
Name of POW Horton L. Fross POW camp North ,1 Barracks 3, Room 14 Address 3821 N 206th City, State, Zip Elkhorn, NE 68022 Comments: My dad was shot down over Barth, Germany. As shown in the pictures, he too has a diary he kept. He did not talk about it very much. He died 28 years ago and the only information i get is from my mother. I saw his name on the plaque in the picture and was thrilled to know that someone has something with his name on it. Would love to hear anything about my dad. Sherri [View Entry]
Name of POW Alfred Jones POW camp Stalag Luft I Comments: My Dad was in the RAF Bomber Command, 44th Squadron. He had joined in 1936 and trained as a pilot. He was shot down on 25th May 1940 and spent the rest of the war as a POW. He was in Stalagluft II at Barth from July 1940 to March 1941, then returned to Stalagluft I in Nov 1942. He didn't talk much about his experience as a POW until much later in his life, even then it was mostly jovial anecdotes and nothing about the real suffering. He always slept with the curtains open, he hated waking up in the dark; I wonder if that was because he spent time in 'the cooler' after an escape. Amazingly, he was not bitter about his experiences and held no enmity towards the German people. After the war, he stayed in the RAF until 1958, initially as a pilot then in various 'desk' jobs including from Basra to the Hebridean island of Tiree. My Dad and I went back to Barth in the early 1990's. We found the camp and a small rusted plaque commemorating the liberation by the Russian Army. We went to the Barth airfield and went up in a small Cessna with a local pilot. To my alarm, the pilot let my Dad fly it for a brief period in the air! My Dad died in 2001, aged 90, after a very brief illness. He was able to spend his last years with his young grandson Calum; they got on very well! Thank you very much for this website, I have learned a lot from it. |
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