Our local weekly newspaper has just printed the very touching account of a mission of mercy just days after Germany’s collapse. Written in June of 1945 by one Lt. Edward Mills, co-pilot of the B-17 “Jamaica Ginger,” it recounts a flight on May 20, 1945, from Knettishall, England to Linz, Austria, to deliver emergency rations and supplies. There they picked up 30 newly liberated French POWs and flew on to Laons-Couvrons, France to repatriate them. The story and the accompanying photograph of the crew were made available for publication by Edward’s son, Chris Mills. The following link should remain active, I would think, for the next week or so:
http://www.nashobapublishing.com/community/ci_3788997
Harald
By: Dan Johnson - 8th May 2006 at 18:52
I heard this story about my group that occurred after I was rotated. A Roumanian officer got to Italy and gave info re: a POW camp. A pilot in my group flew to this Roumanian camp, escorted by P51s and picked up many US airman and brought them back to Italy. This was before the war was over.
That was Rumanian Fighter ace Capt. Constantin Cantacuzino who flew an Me 109 with a crude American flag painted on the side to the airbase where 15th AF HQ was located. Inside the fuselage he had Lt. Col. James Gunn formerly of the 454th BG who’d been a POW. 38 Flying Fortresses were sent to an airfield near Bucherest and brought home 1100 + POWs. This was in August or September 44 if memory serves.
Dan
By: Jules Horowitz - 8th May 2006 at 15:48
I heard this story about my group that occurred after I was rotated. A Roumanian officer got to Italy and gave info re: a POW camp. A pilot in my group flew to this Roumanian camp, escorted by P51s and picked up many US airman and brought them back to Italy. This was before the war was over.
By: G-ASEA - 6th May 2006 at 10:44
A friend of mine ( WOP/AG Jack Bromfield) was flown back in a B17 after being liberated from Stalag luft 1 by the russians. He was shot down on the 5th january 1945, 158sdn, Handley page Halifax mz432
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May 6, 2006 at 3:27 am