Download E-books Against All Odds: Shot Down Over Occupied Territory in World War II PDF

By Frederick D. Worthen

In the course of international battle II ten younger volunteers from all around the usa got here jointly to shape the "Rosacker" staff within the 93rd Bomb staff of the eighth U.S. Air strength, flying B-24 Liberators dependent in England. They flew 24 missions jointly throughout the last months of the struggle. Their final project was once on January 28, 1945. the objective was once in Germany's Ruhr Valley, often referred to as "Flak Alley". approximately midway throughout the bomb run, with heavy flak within the zone, we misplaced the number one engine. After repeated makes an attempt neither Glenn nor Otis may perhaps get the propeller into the feathered place, that's required to lessen wind resistance at the aircraft. lets no longer stay alongside of the formation, so we dropped out of place, nonetheless attempting to feather the propeller. one other B-24 subsequent to them used to be blown up through an instantaneous hit from the anti-aircraft batteries. A moment engine give up, and a 3rd was once wasting strength (they purely had 4 engines). the alternative was once to ditch within the North Sea and die of publicity, or try and make it to an airfield in Antwerp, Belgium, which used to be occupied by way of Canadian troops. however the airplane was once happening quickly. At 1,000 ft they bailed out: "I jumped and counted to 10 in approximately seconds. i do know my 'chute should have come just about catching on a tail fin. good, the complete rip wire, deal with, and cable pulls thoroughly unfastened from the 'chute pack. I pulled so tough my entire arm flew above my head. I knew the 'chute used to be damaged. i used to be attempting to work out the right way to pull the 'chute out of the backpack through hand whilst out of the blue it opened, with the 'chute and me in a horizontal position." yet that wasn't all. keep in mind the aircraft, with its useless engines developing drag on one aspect, inflicting it to show? "I may possibly listen the aircraft nonetheless flying within sight; Joe had placed it on autopilot. It sounded as though it was once coming again at me." Then they heard the bullets. less than them was once a German military camp in occupied Holland. The enemy bullets and their very own airplane by some means ignored them, however the males have been captured, and the slender escapes persevered, one after one other. Their captors took them "out back," the place the american citizens notion they might be shot, yet weren't; the German civilians desired to lynch the airmen as they have been led on a compelled march via Bavaria from one POW camp to a different. The prisoners have been shot at by way of their guards, and back through the SS on liberation day. Miraculously, all ten fliers survived the battle. Fifty years later 9 of the 10 airmen complete this publication, operating jointly to refresh and proper each one other's stories. "This isn't the traditional hard-core conflict tale. we now have integrated relations ties, the crew's education and formation, our studies and emotions, dealing with serious hardships, the humor that used to be nonetheless there, and the getting on with our lives." loads of this turns out beautiful "hard-core" to us, but in addition usually very humorous, deeply clever, and terribly human. those males have been heroes. thanks all, gents, in your flying, and for buying your tale down on paper.

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The 1st time I went in for interrogation, this man got here into the room and advised me he was once from the pink move. He acknowledged he used to be privileged to invite me a number of questions so he may perhaps get notice to my mom and dad and allow them to recognize the place i used to be and i was once ok. I took an exceptional examine him and he seemed like a civilian. yet then i spotted his belt buckle had a swastika on it. i assumed to myself he wasn't capturing immediately with me, so I by no means did supply him any info other than identify, rank, and serial quantity. He should have gotten bored with speaking to me. They by no means requested me many questions after that. They interrogated me on or 3 varied days. From there I went to Wetzlar and had really an adventure as our team used to be entering the camp. A POW attempted to flee over the fence, they'd shot him, and he had dropped correct outdoors of the fence. They grew to become 114 opposed to ALL ODDS their assault canines free and so they acquired to him earlier than the warriors did. The POW used to be a large number, all chewed up and useless. The stretcher with him on it used to be carried correct earlier us as we arrived on the camp. i assumed, Oh, my God, what sort of a spot are we stepping into the following? although, it grew to become out to be a very good legal camp. It used to be good run, and it was once run through americans. We stayed in barracks, and there has been a large number corridor, yet i did not get as a lot to devour as i'd have beloved. afterward one other fellow went off the deep finish. It was once extensive sunlight; he received over the barbed-wire coils of the 1st fence after which the second one, and ran approximately fifteen toes or so prior to being shot and killed. numerous males attempted to flee from Wetzlar, yet each try out used to be a catastrophe. The Appell (roll name) used to be performed twice an afternoon, and we POWs constantly attempted to clutter it up for them. The Germans might by no means appear to get a hold of the correct quantity, or maybe an identical quantity two times. when they counted someone, he may step again a row and rely back; or, prior to they received to him he may step up a row and will be overlooked. He may additionally squat right down to stay away from being obvious. This used to be the POWs' favourite hobby. From there we went to Nurnberg. This used to be the place they eventually took my funds from me. We have been installed barracks, and we acquired a couple of crimson pass parcels in the course of our internment. The nutrients provided via the Germans we known as “the eco-friendly demise. ” a few say it used to be made up of eco-friendly grass. we'd get a small can of soup with insects and worms in it. at the start I simply could not devour it. I acquired so hungry i attempted selecting the insects and worms, yet later I bought used to it and ate the soup, insects, worms and all. Then we started to argue approximately who had gotten the most important insects and worms, simply because that was once our major PRISONERS OF warfare a hundred and fifteen ration. It was once yes tough to get it down – no ask yourself we referred to as it “the eco-friendly loss of life. ” • Charlie: As i used to be being ended in my cellphone at Oberursel, a German shield opened a close-by door, and an airman wearing an American uniform got here dashing out. He used to be raveled and his garments used to be all torn and soiled. He used to be sobbing and fully distraught. It stunned me to work out this. Later I realized that this used to be a bit trick the Germans used to melt up the captives.

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