Dear Greg %26 Joe - would you be able to add my father's name to the Stalag Luft IV roster? I have his missing air crew report and correspondence with Leonard "Rosie" Rose which validate his time as a prisoner there. I would be happy to mail that information to you. My Dad's name is John Bianchin (POW #7394). My father's marching "buddy" Ken Burns is also not listed as well. I am sure I could get this information from him as well. It would mean a great deal to see their names on the roster.

Thank you - Nancy Bianchin Christensen

I am writing on behalf of my Grandfather Everett E. "Smokey" Caldwell. He was one of the many men who was in Stalag Luft IV and part of the Death March. My Grandfather passed away last year and all these years he would only share very basic information about the war. From what I have read and learned from momentos he has kept I am at a lost for words for him and his fellow serviceman. I have alot of respect for our soldiers serving, and who have served. The honor and pride runs deep.
I would greatly appreciate to learn more about the history of Stalag Luft IV. I have searched the web for many things but if anyone could recommend a more personal report I would be grateful. It would mean alot to learn who "Smokey" was and what was going on during this unimageable time.
Thank you, Toni

My uncle was a POW here at Stalag Luft VI. His name was S/Sgt. Walter H. Chesser. He was a waist gunner on the B-17 Eager Beaver and was shot down along with Lt. Col Eugene Carson captured and taken here.It was both a pleasure and privilege to be allowed to view pictures of this Stalag and read some of the stories that others had written and in doing so imagine some of what my uncle experienced. While alive my uncle never would talk about his exsperiences.When asked he would quickly change the subject. It was through Carson's book "Wing Ding" which another family member had found that I started to learn the story behind my uncle's capture which then led to this website which will now allow me to in turn share this information with my own children so that they can now from what type of courageous roots they come from.

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I'm trying to do some research on my grandfather John D. Vecchiola. His crew was shot down over Budapest in 1944, and he bailed out with 5 others. He was caught trying to make contact with the Hungarian Underground and ended up at Stalag Luft IV. He escaped with a man known as "Frenchie" on April 15th 1945 while on the march and made contact with the British 11th armored.
Any information on my Grandfather, Frenchie, or the escape would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I am trying to trace any information on RAF Sgt. Jack Leslie Clark DFM who was a POW at Stalagluft 4 until repatriated in October 1944 due to ill health.

He was shot down in May 1943 and spent some time in hospital recovering from injuries received at this time.
He joinmed the escape committee where he used his talents to convince the German guards that he was mentally ill and thus gain their confidence so that he could gather information.

If anyone has any information I would eb most grateful to receive it. Jack Clark died in 1980 and I am trying to put together his story on behalf of his son Barry.

My uncle, John "Jack" Kennedy, passed away on March 3, 2010. He was shot down over Hungary and ended up in Poland, at Stalag Luft IV. He was the wife of Mary Krieger Kennedy. Together, they raised three sons, my cousins. His funeral service was just yesterday. I could not attend, as it was out of state, but I was there in spirit. We all owe a debt of gratitude to these brave
men who endured much suffering at the hands of their captors. "Freedom does not come free."
God bless any P.O.W. survivors and their families and relatives.
Patricia Kennedy Coughlin
March 9, 2010

My father was in 301st bomb group; 353rd squadron 15th Air Force stationed in Foggia Italy. He flew on B17 with a crew of 9. He was shot down on June 27, 1944 he was 19. He was taken to Budapest for processing. He is not sure how long he was there possibly 10 days he had no way of telling time. Then a train ride to the prison camp at Grosstychow, Germany. He was in Stalag Luft IV. February 6, 1945 prisoners were moved out and started a march that lasted 82 days ended May 2,1945. They ended in Fllingbostel, Germany. They were told they were free and had to make their way to France. Finally they made it to Brussels, Belgium after some time an English Bomber flew them to La Havre, France and stayed for approximately 30 days. Then onto a old troop ship headed for the U.S. and arrived at Newport News VA after 12 days. He arrived home 2 years and 10 1/2 months from the time he left.

Hi,

My grandfather was George Daniel, of the US Army Air Corps. He passed away several years ago, and never really shared any details about his time here. If anybody knew him, or knows somebody who knew him, and could give me a little more info, anything at all, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks.

-Nick

I would like to thank Laura Caplan for her lovely words that vividly caught Dad's personality and passion about the Ex-Pow's and Luft 4. It made me cry and miss him again today. I will pass this article onto the rest of the family. "Rosie's" daughter Gina

Hi
im looking for information about POW Francis Pepin, he probably was in stalag luft IV.
Any info about his POW-life.
best ragards

Hi
im looking for information about POW Francis Pepin, he probably was in stalag luft IV.
Any info about his POW-life.
best ragards

Hi Have been researching my family history and have found out that my Uncle was a POW in staleg IV B.He sadly passed away in this camp he died of a brain heamorage on 4.4.1944 after being a POW for some 18 months. If anyone out there knows him or remembers him would be grateful for any information. He was a british soldier with the tower hamlets rifle brigade and came from Cheshunt Hertfordshire.UK.Many thanks Carole

My grandfather was a POW in Stalag Luft IV. He passed away in 1997 and I have just started to read the stories he left behind. I was also given the Nazi knife, fork, and spoon that was issued to him while a POW. I believe he was shot down in March or April of 1944 and his squardron was the 762 of 460 bomb group.

I was wondering if his name could be corrected on this site to read James O'Hara instead of OHarra.
Thank You,
Melissa O'Hara

My grandfather Willam Wiersma listed on your site (listed as Ramsey NJ) passed away July 11, 1987

I'm still alive and just searching for other fellow POWs that I may have associated with at stalag iv, lager B,in barracks 3. If anyone has information, contacts, etc. please contact me. Thank you.

My Father was Sg Major John Alfred HARDMAN signalman. Royal Corps of Signals.
I have a newspaper clipping reporting him missing while serving with the Middle East Forces.I have no idear how he ended up in Salag 1V-A. But have found documentation that he was there.
I also have a sheet of note paper wrote in his own hand of his march to freedom.
11/4/45 from Dresdren arriving in Komotou ? 9/5/45.Rested for 6 days another 100km to Karlsban ,inside American lines.Covering a distance on foot of 200km as the crow fly's
Quote "Released by the Ruskys a few miles out of BRUX.Had just passed through BRUX the previous afternoon ,at 6-30 that same day the Russian tanks and Armoc (?) shelled us for 2 hours,killing many of our lads also Germans. This happend 2 days after VE Day ."
My Father would never talked about his time in the P.O.W camp ,but certain thing stayed with him all his life . He would never drink from a cup if you took a sip from it. If you put a plate down on the floor with scraps for the dog ,we would wait untill the dog had finished then smash the plate .
When he returned home his nerves were shot and was given needlework to concentrate his mind. I have the most beautifull table cloth which he did .
I am very proud of my Father for his strengh and determination to suvive.
He died 4/11/1982.

My late uncle was a gunner on a B-24 Liberator shot down while over Berlin. I have his first hand account of his WWII experiences which is too large to fit here but available on request to any interested. His regular B-24 was the "Jabberwock" but he and his crew were shot down in another aircraft. His crew mates are: Melvin H. Williams, Robert J. Hagan, Daniel J. Reading, John W. Pool, James P. Vigna, Richard L. Briggs, Dush Vukelich, Leo W. Ryan and Charles B. Burton. Here is a poem he wrote:

A Gunner's Thoughts While Under Attack

by Tech. Sgt. L.A. Steingraber, flight engineer/gunner

Now as I take this flight, I pray to God what I am doing is right.
As we fly through that valley and shadow of death, we will fear no evil
For He is there.

The fighters attack like angry bees. The battle begins-it is a battle of flying machines.

Guns blaze-you can feel the vibrations-our plane becomes a dragon, spitting fire.

All have but one thought-survival.

You must destroy those fighters or be destroyed-all your training comes back to you

Trail him, estimate his speed, "Do I lead him, fire below or above?"

All depends on his attacking position.

You have him in your sights, his guns are spitting fire

I press the triggers-the two .50 calibers answer his fire.

The sound of the 50's is deafening.

My shells are tearing parts of his fighter off.

He disappears behind our bomber, trailing fire-another is coming in

Again you see the little, deadly, fireflies winking at you.

All thoughts have left you, the fighter has your complete attention.

German fighters are now attacking us in their own flak.

Black and white puffs are all around us-still no fear

You are in a battle that takes all of your attention.

In a matter of minutes it is over, but you are now in a sweat-

How can this be at 40 below zero?

No time to think-you are now on the bomb run.

Pilot to bombardier, "The plane is yours"-he switches to autopilot

Our plane will stay on level flight until the bombs are gone.

The group flies through a box barrage of flak-you hear shrapnel hitting the plane.

Sounds like hail on a tin roof-some tear through the fuselage leaving gaping holes

And wind whistles through the bomber.

We will make it back-the pilot takes back manual control and makes a 180 degree turn away from the target

And takes a course for home-only 500 miles to go.

Fight our way in, fight our way out.

Two hours later, we spot the White Cliffs of Dover-we made it.

Thank you, dear Lord, for one more day.

After each mission our crew becomes very sober.

No laughing, no shouting. War has become a serious matter.

Our crew can already hear the call at 0300 hours:

"Lt. Williams crew, rise and shine-head for the flight line".

We have finished 27 missions and have 3 more to go and we are on our way home.

Chances are we will not make it.

Odds are against it.

Dear site administrator,


I could not see (or hear) the security code I needed to enter to get by your spam filter. So I will post my request/message here in hopes you get it. If possible please white-list my email so I can reach you in the future. Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------------

Can you please correct the spelling of my father's name listed in the Len Rose Roster.

Current listing: THIBODEAN, FRED 1993 ST. PAUL MN.

Correct listing: THIBODEAU, FRED R. 1993 ST. PAUL MN.

On another topic. Last night I saw a wonderful WWII documentary on Wisconsin Public Television, a portion of which was the stories told by three POWs who had been on the death march from Stalag Luft IV. If you are not aware of this video, I felt you should be. Maybe you could get permission to add it to your memorial site. Here is the link:

http://www.wisconsinstories.org/worldwar2/program/watch/index.cfm?did=9502

Go to the link above and select watch clip for The Black March. (I had to select Full Screen Theatre from the video toolbar to get the video portion to appear.)

THANK YOU for building and maintaining this site to keep the memory of these great Americans alive! I first found your site a couple years ago when my son was doing research on WWII Army Air Corps POWs for his school history day movie project. It was very gratifying to find my dad’s name listed there in memoriam. Thank you for all you do!


Best regards,


Joe Thibodeau
Taylors Falls, Minnesota
thibodeau@jf-thibodeau.com

My father, Staff Sergeant Raymond E Bence, Jr. was a prisoner at Stalag Luft IV. He died on July 4, 1994. He served in the 445th Bomb Group and was shot down on September 27th, 1944 during a bombing run to Kassel, Germany.

I have some pictures of him in uniform, the letters he wrote from the camp, the telegram and notifications to his parents, newspaper clipping, and an interview he gave in early 1994. I would be glad to forward copies of this material to you.

Hi, my grandfather Jack Robb Mackenzie was a POW in Stalag I believe. I am not sure which one.

I am trying to find any information on him. He was from South Africa.

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Regards
Robyn

my uncle was as i understand... shot down over berlin zoo... was saved by a wood cutters wife and nursed back to better health, shortly after SS guards found him out and took him out to dachau concentration camp where they believed him to be a spy and tortured him until they realised he was not a spy and then placed him in Stalag Luft IIII where the famous great escape took place and where he helped dig the tunnel and was eventually liberated by the Soviet Army and then heroically fought beside them earning him the British George Cross and the prestigious Russian red star...
i believe he made a tapestry out of the mens socks!! which later kept him warm on the march from Colditz....my cousin also informs me this will be soon donated to the R.A.F museum soon!!!...

from his neice sam roberts

91st BG 401st Bomb Squadron

Ex-Pow Mst/Sgt Jack S. Bowen of Stag Luft IV
- B-17 ball turret gunner
- Shot down on "Lightning Strikes" near Gutersloh Germany.
- Participant of Black March
- Died 2008

Hi
someone know what city, villages prisoners passed? is know exact trail POWs?
best regards