THE AIR FORCES ESCAPE & EVASION SOCIETY Summer 2008 Communications Volume 20, No. 2 W|CH|TA FALLS, TEXAS T6gA7-2501 June 12.2008 ffi#NNNNNNxt*txx*tx*tstxxpt-rxxxxex*ttry*tstx,slstxs,stsls.tmav^.rnan n n
The new AFEES Corner in the Mighty \th AF Museumwasformnlty ileilicateit,on April 25, 2008, as afeature of this year's AFEES reunian . Officiating were AFEES President Richard Smilh and MuseumCEO Dn Walter Brown, Presentwhile Chairman and Co-Founder Ralph Fatton applied the scissors,fromleft: Belgian HelperPeter Hakira Presiilent Smith, AFEES Executive Vice Presiilent Yvonne Dalqt-Brusselmans and E. G. (Buck) Shuler, who represented the milseum.
'AFEES Corner'becomes u reali$! Remarks delivered at dedication of the Escape of the Mighty Eighth Air Force?,, We hope that it and Evasion at Pooler, Exhibit Gu, wrll be obvious when you see the exhibit. on April25, 2008 - Combat crews generally accepted that the loss By RALPH I( PATTON rate was 4 percent per mission and they were AFEES Chairman & Co-Founder committed to fly 25 missions. To most of uS, the Chevy Chase, MI) odds looked impossible. One might be tempted to ask, "Why does E&E When an evader returned to base, he gave every desewe this great location in this beautiful museum (Continued on page 3) I Page 2 Summer 2O0g U.S. AIR FORCES ESCAPE & EVASION SOCIETY The Prez Sez COMMUN'CAZONS By Richard M. Smith ---::::1vi::::::i::::::'i3::l:::::'*
COMMUN IC AZIONS EDITOR : ""ffi 4<*ttLarry Grauerholz, PO Box 2501, Wichita Falls, TX 76307-2501; Phone: 940-692-6700 t **Class of 2011 *Class of 2009 **Class of 2010 Next
COMMUNICATIOTiIS IS THE OFFICIA.L JOURNAT OF TIIE AIR reunion! AFEES FORCES ESCAPE & EVASION SOCIETY. AFEES 1S A TAX-EXEMPT VETERAr{S ORGANTZATToN UNDER rRS CODE 501 (C) (19). rT WAS Thursday- FOUNDED IN 1964 AND TS CHARTERED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THESOCIETY'SPIJRPOSEISTOENCOURAGEME.I'IBERSHELPEDBYTHE RESISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS OR PATRIOTIC NATIONALS TO COIqTINI,'E Saturd&y, EXISTING FRIENDSHIPS OR RENEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE VIHO HELPED THE},I DURING THEIR ESCAPE OR EVASION. May 7-9,2009 ELIGIBILITY REQUIRES THAT ONE MUST IIAVE BEEN A U.S. AIRMAN' HEMUSTHAVEBEENFoRcEDDo!{NBEHINDENEHYLINESAIIDAVoIDED CAPTIVITY, OR ESCAPED F'RO}4 CAPTIVITY TO RETURN TO AI.LIED Dayton, Ohio CoNTROL. (Memorial Service and Banquet IN ADDITION TO REGUI'AR MEI*TBERSHIP, OTHER CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP ARE HELPER MEMBERS. AND FRIEND MEMBERS. on Saturday, May 9) Sunrmer 2(ng Page B MORE: important E&E Dedication to this project, I would like to thank the Board of Directors of the Mighty Eighth Air Force a[rnan a real boost in morale. Here was proof Museum for approving this new E&E exhibit. positive that MIA did not necessarily pOW mean or I thank Doc Brown for keeping his promise KIA! to have this project completed on time. As President Eisenhower wrote in a letter to us, A special word of thanks goes to Vivian Rogers "Every member of a crew that was found and saved Price who took charge two months ago and brought and sent back to us brought greatjoy to his project all the to completion. I would be remiss if I did comrades." not thank Rick Ennis and his crew for the use of The knowledge that thousands of men and their considerable skills in the physical construction women in occupied countries were vralling to help if of this exhibit. you were shot down was of comfort to Allied air In conclusion, I would like to thank all of you crews. The Resistance paid aterrible price for who put your skills, your talents , andyour overtime helping Allied airmen. It is believed that more than hours into this challenging project. Last, but not one member of the Resistance was executed for least, thank you, Kerry Brown, for your idea of the "Safe each Allied airman returned. In addition, hundreds House." of women were sent to Ravensbruck concen tration camp where a great number died while trying to More '08 Reunion coverage survive under inhumane conditions. Unknown to most Allied aircrew was the fact that British and American intelligence agents were actively engaged in setting up escape lines specifically Tampa designed to seek out fallen airmen and Team does itl get By YVoNNE DALEY them back to their bases in Italy or England. presideni Executive Vice anO fieJnion Coordinator A number of airmen were lost in raging rivers or shot by German patrols while aftempting Wh to evade. tne sa g8t'.1}',fiiiyJt We expect that this new E&E exhibit hall will just as demonsrate faaed aav'editv to historians the importance that combat and ov air forces placed on escape and evasion. Speaking for members of the Escape and Evasion tea Society, we and hope that this a exhibit will serve as a tribute to all andle an those who lost their lives in E&E work, and will assure surviving Helpers that we and our families will continue to live up to our slogan, WE WILL NEVER FORGET! I regret that Lou Lyle, theman who made all this possible, did not live to see this new E&E exhibit. I .Thank qgrsonallV owe a great big you, to Buck Shuler and Dr. Walter Br6wrU who patiently ofutely noJ last, the Hospitality listened to my comments and complaints. successful in providing'the Can you spite some problems riith notel imagine Buck -_ always the officer and gentlernan -- trying to collect promised big bucks from a guy Te am h as perf who didn't have it and did not know .^ II,l :,T^lTq. orm ed mag n if ice nfl y over^. rite tast six yeafg and wijl be privitedjeO to where}re was going to get it? Given your Od patience !h^e^9?me one m6re time for tne blvioiiieunion in and a few friends, we worked it out and the 2009!. promised pledge was delivered. ======And Thanks, yvonne, for all you With concern that I might miss somene verv do! Page 4 Summer 20tn Kindness of French saved Jim From the Huntsville (Ala.) TIMES, Sunday, April 27,2001 Rep ri nt ed with p er missio n. All rights reserved
By YVONNE BETOWT Tirnes StaffWriter yvonne. betowt@htimes. com
Jirn Williams spent weeks on the run in France after his bomber was shot Jim lYilliams holds a model of a B-17 bomher like the one in which down, and even though Gennan he served as navigator when he was shot down over France in 1944. soldiers were all arormd, never once did anyone turn him down when he "When I first landed, I immediately American would have been killed." asked fot help. buried rny parachute, Mae West (flotation device), flYing Pants and Williams cautiously aPProached The then-22-year-old navigator with flying boots," he said. "'We were people and would tell them that he the Army Air Fotces' 92nd Bomb taught not to leave a trace where we was utn American aviatot. "I nsver Group was in a B-17 bomber on a had been." had anyone turn me down when I mission over Germany when it was asked for help." hit by bullets on Feb. 8, 1944. The He had no idea what haPPened to the plane barely made it back into [:'tcttr;lt lest of the crew until he returned to One teenage boy gave him a bag with aitspace before Williarns and his England more fhan fhree inonfhs aloaf of bread and abottle of wine, crewmates had to bail out. later. All survived and had made it civilian trousers. Another person 'andrgave back. him a bicycle to Push so he He had been hit in the leg bY would blend in with local residents. shrapnel, ard his face was burned Williams hid in the trees the first when hot oil poured through a broken night after being shot down and could One rnan who owned a butcher shoP window, He was wearing an oxygen hear Gennan voices nearbY. He allowed Williams to sleep above his mask that saved him from being waited until daylight before venturing store. While living at the butcher permanently disfigured or losing his out. He was trained never to shop" a Frenslr couPle who owned a sight. approach two or more people talking restaurant nearbY befriended together, so, although hungrY, he Williarns and allowed him to eat "l'11 nevet forget it," said Williams, waited until he found a fanner three mepls a daY. But after a while, who lives in the SornerbY at Jones working alone in a field. he decided to move on, desPite his Farm retitement village in Huntsville benefactors' warning that it would be with his wife of 52 yeals, Willie. "lt "He ga and I dangerous. was Feb. 8 and our 13th rnission. We traded ket for were down to two engines and trYing a coat, " said "Every day for tlnee weeks I sat in and to make it back to the (English) Williarns, who slept in haystacks the restaurant for eight hows a daY Channel, but had to bail out over barns while trying to contact the pretending to tead a l- rtrrult France." underground in hoPes offinding a newspaper," Williams said. way back to England. He landed in an oPen field near a After traveling around France for wooded area. From the moment he "You didn't want to talk to two or several weeks, Williams found touched the gtound, Williams was on more people because one might himself in a train depot waiting fot a the run fi'om Gennan soldiers. report you. Anyone helPing an train to Bordeaux. Scores of German Summer ZOO8 Page 5 soldiers flooded the train station, and of cigalette-s. University where he earaed an Williams was certain that they would engineering degree. He moved to notice his shoes, the only thing he They were then turned ovet'to the Huntsville in 1953 u.ith the Army as was weming that would indicate that Spanish Air Force and taken to a a civilian employee and later he was an Arnerican soldier. place "like Hot Springs, Arkansas," transferred to Marshall Space Flight Williams said. After three weeks. Center. "The I'reuch people had given me all they were where the clothes I had on, but the Germans Williams caught a flight back to He and Willie have two children and had taken all the leather and there London. A short while after his five grandchildren. were no shoes," he recalled. "I had to arrival in London, Allied troops keep my (military-issued) shoes on invaded Normandy. James E. I|/illiams, E&E 668, v,enl the whole time. In the train station. a dotyn near Paris. His helpers couple of German officers were After the war. Williams finished his included Mr. and Mrs. Leon Propst talking and kept looking rny way. I last two years of college at Auburn and Gabrielle Bovyer. thought they were looking at rny shoeg but they never said anyfhing.,' IIOME RUN: ESCAPE FROM NAZI EUROPE, By John Nichol & Tony Rennell, Viking, Canadian Sheep herders escofted him out of $39 France and over the Pyrenees, which border Spain, to the resort town of By JERRI DONAHaE Pau, aiong w,ith a Texan and tw,o With Ilome Run: Escape from Nazi Europe, JohnNichol Dutch, two English and two i: rr:nclr and Tony soldiers. Rennell hit one out of the ball park. The British writing team presents a comprehensive picture of "We stafted clirnbing the rnountain," the evasion experience in France, Holland and Belgium. They Williams said. "Those sheep herder.s describe the dilemmas of soldiers stranded in France after the could run up and down fhe mountain Dunkirk evacuation, and attempts to rescue paratroopers trapped like goats, and we had a hard time in keeping up. Just when we would Holland after the Market Garden boondoggle. The duo devotes most catch up with thern and thought we of their book, however, to the adventures of airmen shot down behind would get to rest, they would be enemy lines. telling us to move on." In addition to covering the physical hardships of life on the Thev crossed the border at dark, and run, candid interviews with evaders reveal the loneliness and he and his Texan friend, who spoke boredorn of weeks spent in hiding that sometimes resulted in Spanish. lorned up rvith two misbehavior or foolish risks. Spaniards u'ho invited them to dinner The authors explain the origins and organization at a home in Pamplona. of major escape networks, the betrayals within them and the fate of helpers Williams and the Teran rvere put up who were caught. A vivid portrait emerges of the courage and in a hotel for three u'eeks by the cleverness of helpers. The waning days of world war II presented an American consulate from Barcelon4 especially hanowingpeilod for evaders and helpers alike; frustrated who bought each of ttrem a suit, gave both $10 in cash a n'eek and a carton Nazi troops often engaged in unspeakable brutality. By contrast, Nichol and Rennell also tell the incredible story Jim ltrfilliams of American pilot Hal Naylor and his navigator, who were smuggled out Germ Age ae of any-by Germans- near the end of the war. BmnfiofsenfrsArmv The episode of the evaders' camp in the Fr6teval forest Air Forces receives its due. From May 2O until August 13, 1944 Ranlc Firstlieutenanr the French lfnitgzndBombGrrrup underground managed to hide, feed and shelter up to 132 men, a Yeans of ga2i- service situation that courted disaster. The evaders were evacuated 24 hours 45 G^,IMID a,qd t95r-52 (Korea) before German soldiers entered the woods. pumie llonors/medal$ At 458 pages (plus a fascinating appendix of "medical and HearhAirMedal Advketot@s@s fieldcraft" tips for evaders and escapers) Home Run includes many Do your dutythe bestyou engrossing eyewitness accounts by British evaders. Interviews with ca.n. several AFEES members add to its appeal. Page 6 Summer 2ol},a Shelburn Truil hike preserves ties BY BEVERLY PATTON WAIID (Daughter of AFEES Chair Ralph IC Patton)
In September 2007,I had the honor of pafticipating n the inaugural Shelburn Freedom Trail Challenge along the coast of Brittany, organized by the Escape Lines Memorial Society. ELMS is dedicated to helpers of WWII escape lines, and, like AFEES, aims to develop and maintain contacts between escapers, evaders, helpers and their families. One of its projects is organizing several commemorative walks each year for intergenerafional participants. A contingent of AFEES members hiked over the Pyrenees in 1999 as part of ELMS's annual Chemin de la Liberte. We found the camaraderie of the hikers, the spectacular scenery, and the warm reception from local officials, veterans and other citizens more than compensated for the difficulties of the hike. Last year was the first for the Brittany-based Shelburn hike, a time for working out the details. Hikers ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Photos of the September 2007 Shelburn hike can be found on Pages 28-29 of the Spring issue ' Beverly Patton Wand (at fight) had a chance to of.Cowtmicatiow. chatwith French Helper Andree (Nadine) Dumont ffi during the 2007 Shelbum Trail hike. and veterans converged in Brittany on Sept. 25'26, we scramblcd down the cliffs to the monument. arriving in planes, boats, fiains, and car from the U.S., There we laid wreaths in remombrance of SOE England, France and Belgium. operations, includrng the departure of anumber of For we Americans, Kim Clark (granddaugher of Al evading airmen. Day) and myself, it was an easy ride on the TGV from Continuing on, we came to the town of Locquirec, Paris or the airport. Roger Stanton, ELMS secretary and where we met Comete veteran Andree "Nadine" Dumont, ofianizer extraordinairi; Keith Janes, (ELMS RAF veteran Ray Wonall, and ELMS board member communications director and historian; and Geoff Diana Morgan for lunch. We were pleased to return at Cowling, ELMS vice chainnan, arrived via car ferry from dusk to La Madeleine for showers and dinner. England. The second day began much as the first, with the On Wednesday we visited Plouha for market day. addition of Jean and Godelive Pena among the helpers Some of us toured the area, Plage Bonaparte itself and who followed in their car. the near-by site of the House of Alphonse. Others met The day ended with a champagne reception wifi the with the lnayor, M. Le Guen, with members of a local local mayor and Resistance Historical Society. Each of walking club who volunteered to guide us on the final us ladies was presented with a smaJl handmade bouquef day's walk, and with M. Jean Trehiou of the local of flowers. Resistance organization. Saturday's hike presented amazing and varied Later in the day, Christopher Long in his Land Rover scenery, and opportunities to connect with the veterans. gathered the rest of our party from the St. Brieuc train Once back at La Madeliene, I cajoled GeoffCowling station. All there were 10 walkers, 5 veterans, and tol( (ELMS vice chair and former British consul to Christopher. Barcelona) into driving me to Paimpol so I could drop in Our stay at the cente d'accuril La Madeleine, near on Guenaelle Pasco Lucas. Guenaelle's paxents were Plouezec, was made outstanding by the hospitality of the some of my father helpers in Brittany, and Guenaelle and chef, Max Le Brun. He took care of us with good cheer have kept in touch since we were youngsters. She was for six nights. I h ome with her ill husband, and we had a tearfirl but brief On Thursday morning we packed the hikers into reunion, one of the hightlights of the trip for me. Christopher's Land Rover for the drive to the trail head at' On Sundav. we were by membersd of a local the top of the cliffs at Beg-an-Fry. From the parking log euided Summer 2008 Page 7 egan at the ruins of the Abby de At the Pointe de Plouezec, we historian Michel Guillou who explained the significance of the monurnent to Operation Fahrenheit. At this site on Nov. 1 l, lg4Z,an 1 l-man commando raid was launched on the semaphore station fromMGB 344. _ After lunch, we began the final hour ofhiking to plage Bonapart. Atop Pointe de la Tour we stood wheie German guns had stood, looking out towards the rocks and down at Plage Bonapart, d
mapping out the mines that needed to be avoided, We More information about the Escape Lines Memorial thought about Society-. qnd what it would be like to be navigating the Shetburn Freedom Tiqit can be found ar down the cliffon a moonless night, silently. Names furn up in Spanish museum By NOEMI RIUDOR and Generosa to be put in a show case. Inside the the Esterri dtAneu, Spain box that contained the Generosa's American Legion. we have found [email protected] a document of evasion. It was a handwritten list where someone had annotated several names and addresses,. They were seven American, Canadian and British aircrew who had been helped by Generosaand Jaume:
The airmen listed were: NEIL H. LATHROP,1262 Lynan Place, Los Angeles, California, USA LOWELL CREASON, 3300 W, Coleman Road. Kansas City, Missouri, USA R. GORDON CROSBY, ls29 W.33rd Arl. The couple in France also worked for the reseau Vancouver. 8.C., Canada Francois, helping British American and Canadian DAVID GOLDBERG,28 Kent S,T., Hamilton, aircrews. Jaune guided throug} the py.enees several aircrews and hel@ them to leave France and arrive in Ontario, Canada ARNOLD PEDERSON, Knife River, Minnesota, a. USA WILLIAM E. WATKINS, Cardiff Road, down in April Newport, Soldevila was Monmouthshire (?) oulouse, but he MICHAEL L. SMITH, 2645 Rotselle,17, Jacksonville, Florida, USA Generosa Cortina was deported to Ravensbruck 9o11nq4i9n camp; she was liberared by Russian ftoops in Mav 1945. We would like to ith any of these seven men or their relative a question for readers of tlre AFEE thire anyone out 9:'=:II:_::y:=::==::::--:=:-::__ Arnold Pederson, )/, Julien E&E 615, is an AFEES member and lives oanp son) gave us several medals of Jaume in Duluth. Minn. 4/2D4k'.*:8L[e" q Page 8 SPRING 2OO8 Bob survived 5 days in a lifeboat F'rom the Greenville (S.C.) TRIBUNE-TIMES' August 18,2004 It starled with the lap, lap, lap of the water. Up, down, up, down. No sun. No land nearby. No rescue in sight. And still the water kept coming -- lap, lap, lap -- in a sort of dreary, lazy way that seemed to say that it wouldn't really kill the 10 men in the liferafts. But for four rainy days and four lonely, sleepless nights, the lulling lap, lap, lap of the water was a constant reminder to 2nd Lt. Robert Rodgerson that he and his air crew were only a few inches ftom death, one they would have to endure alone with no chance of being
only 21 and a long waY r Corps two Years earlier in 1942. When he had finished his navigational training, he was shipped to N finallY to an olive grove of the Italian peninsula, 6th Bornb Group. On Dec. 16,1944, Rodgerson and nine others plus a calnennan set o the site of an oil refinery. when enemy artillery d them, damagi But th other planes, et, Yelled "Bomb ome' And that's when the teal trouble started' Robert Rodgerson, 1Sth Air Force, of Because more than half their fuel was gone. the pilot Simpsonville, S.C. still recalls the lapJapJap of realized they would have to find a shorter route back and dropped out of formation. Jive days adrift in the AdriaticSeu Onc" ouet the Alps, the plane dropped to 10,000 feet heavy overcast. The group had five and headed towald an emergency field at Rimini, 80 because ofthe Each day when a plane was heard approaching' miles away. But as they reached the coastal city of flares. r.vould send up a flare. In the clouds and rain, Trieste, ficur more flak bursts hit the fuel tanks in the someone not one was spotted., On the fifth day, the rain stopped and the clouds parted. A P-51 was seen approaching. Up went the last flare and the plane circled the rafts for about 10 minutes, saluted and left. A rescue ship was soon dispatched to pull in the downed air crew, whose limbs and senses were now in escaped; one was killed. levels of cold. A net was lowered over the side As water began to fill the plane, the survivors piled serious for to climb on, but "we couldn't get up into two liferafts. Ten minutes after the ditching, the of the ship thern the net -- we were too weak." plane sank. hoisted aboard, Rodgetson and the others were The crew then was stuck on the rafts with little food - Once to a British hospital Dec. 21 near Rimini and - "One guy had K-rations in his pocket" -- and only taken there until after the new year. rainwater to drink aftet the first night. stayed "And my family finally got a telegram saying we The problem was that othet planes could not see them Summer 2O0A Page g Finally spotted by u P-51 pilot Ceremony in Puris
r
ceremony that took place outside ofparis.
_ General Moseley said it is important that the aviation heroes be honored for their deeds and uitimate sacrifice.
says.
HoNOn,eBLE DIStrHARTBE
t. ttrt lArt . nRct - lrDDu lrtTl[ | t, ABJY EEntAL to, SUDE a. ARI OR SEMCE CoUPOflEXT 'l^rt 'F. IS, ill Gafdlar lnnlr D I nt lar l:n +A-t lE I llln 6. oKJr[rrnor DATE oF strltlTtotl 6, CE OF sEPARtflOr I Z, tL !8ath .t^Ll lrlr mi.t I s trv rs -6ll aro Drtr Drrr gld th e. PEilAlrttt ADDRETI Po8 IA|Ur0 pupposEa 'lo; DA?! bF llrt'|t' ll, PLAcf OF ltBTH Cl Y6d> f,t trast lhrrn ltaur l.rt h-r Fc l? lrv !l Ia hvra ced t2. lDDntSa tDot w|.lcH trPtoYrEilT ultt tE goucu? l.90ton rYl't l!. HEl6Ht tlI tC. WEt3tT. lt?.f,O.DEpEiD, rm 4, Er SfAr | 150 ,". ll tE_ RACI tq llFlttf flllua 20. u.6. clTtzrl tt. crvlutl occuFAttox axD to, ilE6no EFlspoc'trylsril€tEl ITnrEr orrr. fsnecdr) ro ryltE | lorfl | gs I ttrtlalA' tartnsntrl 6-il-ttl lillLlTARY HISToRY 22. OATE Or IXDUCflO|I 24. DATZ Or EriU6TlEtt | 3a. DArldExrrrtil9AttvtSlrytc! E!. tuctd: oF Eiltw lltTo lEBvrcE lF tna ll I EF lual.l ?t Dr?.rr hrr ! ?7, ma$. EoAD to. | 18. Ooottt F At! gD, hort CDDnEg tr ?tIE OF EXTnt rrTo 5ERV|CE '::ilFi:"> tl io ^xD | t _ tr 0 | frrat Ervrn gem I tut trrvm Gsea eclt linaaa G. ro. ltur^Rt occuplTronAl sFFgrALry AtD to. !1. nLnrrYcuMrfqnornDsE ll.o, I lDl
AJr 9flrnrltf Eufiril Eo *$f I hr {t !s. D!@r no'rro q'ilo*a {1r .urdrl c0 6l Bi tnd DGb Dlr ls D- aE@ oo #fb fq t Bc$ Dtr 16 $l tl ftf$ lUrtn' U.dft trrtnl lb*rt.' Bcal ta. Ioulld trclfyrD tx lqTtor IrEl It rr, ] attylEet our!,Dr coitttIExTAL t. a. lxD I TlPlrotD D^rr o7 DrPArr'n Drtnr^ttorl DAN OF ANRIVAI iii'ii,rffi | lilrr tr *'r rl.r tt I I tro lt Glb ll Scp'.IE ra, nrerlrr rMDr rErD _l I I ltc€bllsrl r t9 Err tl .t g S L 50 ltat *4 ir-l gcrearnt a./ ) 4t. aEnvrcE EHoorr 12. EDUCATTOR ( ^?rEnDED SeOtt fld fll E*d1g OPat t EAh t75 DtD {I Fort rvrn .Flr Acrtrl ilEEErr t s 45 ryI-E* tr
Lou Del Guidlce, E&E 405, has his evader status documented on his Honorable Discharge paperc issued at Drch, Field, Fla,, in November 1945, A radio operutoilgunner with the 93rd BG, he now lives in North Haven, Conn, Page 10 Summer 2OOB
Air Forces Escape & Evasion Society AI\NUAL GENERAL MEETING Savann&h, Ga., Safurd dy, Apri | 26, 2008
The meeting was called to order by President former PX manager, Tom Brown, now is deceased. Dick Smith and an attendance quonrm was declared GREETING CARDS: Production ofthe to conduct business. A call for motion and second Seasons' Greetings cards is a cooperative effort. to approve were called for and passed. Frank Lashinsky and Clayton David work together Minutes of the 2007 Annual General Meeting, as to prepare the mailing list for the cards. The cards published in the Summer'07 issue of are personalized with signatures ofAFEES officers ()o mmun i cut ions, were approved. and directors, Members of the Board of Directors were Dorothy Kenney does the artwork and designs introduced. (Cunent offrcers are listed on Page 2.) the cards which then go to President Richard Smith Director Ray Kubly was absent due to illnesss. to be processed for mailing. Scotty David maintains an account of the COMMITTEE REPORTS: distribution of the cards sent to helpers and friends around the world at the beginning of the holiday Fund Raising: Frank Lashinsky report{ that season. A total of 320 cards was sent out last year. the 2008 appeal for donations netted $7,221.88, Many ofthe recipients respond and send a after expenses of$490 for postage and envelopes message in return. were deducted. Treasurer: Francene Weyland reported on the NEW BUSINESS: financial condition for 2007. She recommended that for details of the report, see the Annual The 2009 AFEES reunion will be in Dayton, Financial Statement in this issue (next page) ofthis Ohio, and at the Air Force Museum next spring. issue of the newsletter. Discussion concerned the future of AITFFSas an Membership: Clayton David reported on organization -- whether to close down the society, current membership of AFEES. There are now 409 or to continue with younger members being phased evaders on the active list. At this time, we have into positions of leadership. about 1,000 newsletters mailed to members, friends Mofion was made and approved to keep AFEES and helpers. About 160 copies go overseas. as is, with future generations being brought into Yet, we are still locating new members! leadership. Newsletter: Larry Grauerholz, editor of the There will be more discussion and a final AFEES newsletter for l3 years, gave credit to decision made at the Dayton reunion. members, friends and historians who provide Annother issue to be decided is whether the contributions to the quarterly newsletter. AFEES flag should be retired at Dayton and placed He expects to continue publication for the in the USAF Museum there. foreseeable future. Motion made and passed to adjoum. PX: Ray Kubly was unable to be present. The MARY SWEATT, Acting Recording Secretary Summer 2OOB Page 11 U.S. Air Forces Escape & Evasion Society Cash receipts and disbursements for calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2007
(Prepared by Clyde J. Martin from information supplied by Treasurer Francene Weyland)
_qvES_
MISCELLANEOUS TOTAL RECEIPTS
14.948.32
28.703.19 25,407.59
SUMMARY OF ENDING CASH BALANCE CHECKING ACCOUNT _cERTt FtCATEq OF DEPOSTT TOTAL 25,407.58
I4/ANTTOJOININ, JACK? YvERE FIAVIN6A- 4 A IJ ct z, r-t r-----? RocER MAHoNrv a nocrn krrnr Page 12 Summer 2OO8 Vice chief honors airm€Ilr helpers
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AfPry -- The Air Force vice chief of staffpaid tribute to members of the Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society Apnl26 during the society's 44th annual reunion near Savannerh. Ga.
The AFEES primarily comprises Air Force World War II veterans who were forced down behind enemy lines and avoided or escaped captivity to return to allied territory. The society also includes me.mbers of flre French, Dutch, Belgian and other resistance networks.
"I cannot thank you enough for your noble service, your selfless sacrifice and for passing the torch of liberty to generations of Americans and freedom-loving people around the world," said Gen. Duncan J. McNabb to the group of airmen.
The reunion included a banquet and memorial service at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum here.
"Tonight, I am in the presence of some of the greatest heroes the world has ever known, crewrnen who took to the skies daily to defeat an implacable foe despite the great odds ofbeing shot down, and resistance helpers who risked their lives so that these brave aviators, and thousands like them, might live," the general said. ,4ir l;orce I'ice Chie:f of ,9tn{f Gen. Dutrt':tut J' Eleven former Resistance members attended the .l'ItI'thh sils ttitlt nwntbers of the 'lir !"orte't reunion, including Denise Lenain, who was reunited for Escnpe nnd Elasirtn Societv ,4pril 26 during their the first time with lst Lt. James E. Armsfrong, co-pilot ,l4tlt nrtnuul reunion rreur ,guwtrtttuh, Gu' of the B-17 Yankee Raider. Lieutenant Armstrong was shot down Se.pt. 6, 1,943, making it to safety after 4 1'/2 fighting for us at the risk of their own lives," she said. months evading capture in France. Ms. Lenain twice assisted Lieutenant Armsffong during his trek to freedom including a failed attempt to cross the Pyrenees Mountains into neutral Spain and his subsequent journey striking force in the war, to aport where a French fishing vessel delivered him safely to England.
General McNabb complimented the Resistance General McNabb closed his address by noting that members' extreme bravery. members of the society embodied the high ideals found in the Airman's Creed and had given the Air Force its "l cannot thank the Resistance helpers enough," he said. "tradition ofhonor and legacy ofvalor."
"lf you were caught, you faced unimaginable torture and He added that today's airmen have acted on this legacy certain execution, and yet repeatedly you risked your and have answered the nation's call during a war that, lives for these Airmen." like World War II, threatens the liberty of America and its allies around the world. The resistance helpers from Europe maintain they would not be free if the Americans had not come. noted Mrs. "Today's airmen represent the new Greatest Generation," Yvonne Daley-Brusselmans, who, along with her said General McNabb. "And every day, like you all did rnother Anne, helped 130 Airmen evade capture. during World War II, they fight valiantly on the front lines of freedom giving selflessly of themselves to "Every bomber we saw was a syrnbol of freedom and a defeat tyranny and preserve the liberties we so greatly beacon of hope, and we knew that the aircrews were cherish." Summer 2OOg Page t3
The most impressive part of the annual AFEES reunion is the Memorial Service, conducted this year in the chapel of the 9th AF Museum AF'EES member Jim Armstrong wds reunited Those in attendance are encouraged to come with his helper, Denise Lenain of Grenoble, forward and light a candle in honor of, or in France at the Savannah reunion. n emory of someone special. ABOVE: Roger Antkoine, Belgian Helper now living in France, lights a candle. BELOW: Robert W4lson of Peoria, Ill., takes his turn at lighting a candle.
Liz Grauerkolz-Fisher, a professor at Central Florida U. in Orlando, posed with herfather, the editor who ilisplays a sheepskin wine bottle (a bota) like the one he carried &cross the \trenees in 1944. Page 14 Summer 2008
Down Memorv Lane . . . the U.S.A., and hundreds ofAFEES members have visited their countries. Chairman Ralph traces We have met and communicated with literally hundreds of Underground leaders from Holland, history of our society Belgium and France, including pat O'Leary, Anne By RALPII K. PATTON Brusselmans, Georges Brosseines, Lucien Dumais Chairman /Co-Founder and Dedee DeJongh. And let me thank Col. Since we are celebrating the 44th anniverary of J. W. Bradbury of San Antonio, Tex., for the first meeting of AFEES, I hope you will bear helping arrange our contacts with the Air Force Museum at Dayton with me as I take you on a short trip down Memory and with the AF Academy Lane. Library at Colorado Springs. The bond between I believe that three loyal members who were at AFEES members and Helpers is like a mutual admiration that first meeting are with us tonight. Dick Smith, society. We try to assure them that "WE Bob Sweatt and Ralph Patton were among those in WILL NEVER FORGET, and they seem attendance atthat first meeting in Buffalo, N.Y., in determined to remember that we helped to free them from June 1964. I hope you understand the common Nazi tyranny. Thank all of you for joining bond that keeps us going. . us tonight. We look forward to seeing you next year There are many reasons for our longevity. First in Dayton, Ohio, where the meeting will be held in and foremost is the loyalty of our members. But a close cooperation with the U.S. AirForce Museum. close second is encouragement from our neighbors and overseas friends. They Rendezvoused! Our Canadian friends have been represented at The AFEES reunion this year in Savannah most of our meetings, and they have Shared their attracted nearly 200 members, friends, helpers' activities and contacts generously. In 1967 they and guests, who enjoyed the 3-day affair. brought their guests to the Niagara Falls Air Force Those who registereq?LtLg r_eunion, with helper Base, where we enjoyed the company of 10 Helpers names in BOLDFACEtype: from Western Europe. It was at this meeting that I had the pleasure of meeting Yvonne's mother, Anne. True to form, our friends to the North are represented tonight by past president of the RAFES (CanadianBranch) Gordon Stacey and Ray Sherk. Our British friends of the Royal Air Forces Escaping Society have led by example. They orginated the idea of an escaping society and cooperated in every respect with our efforts to copy them. Bryan Morgan, as an officer of the RAFES, was instrumental in establishing our original QQM-ST^OCK, Sandy, East Haven, Conn. contacts. Diana is keeping alive that warrn COMMON, Chris Hennessev relationship between our two organizations. Thank CRASE, Silas, Columbus, G-a. you, Diana. DAVI Mo., and Scotty What would we be the support of our -Nora without DAVI ., and Debbie, Helpers, organizations and individuals ? These wonderful people who responded qAVlD, Lynn, St. Louis, Mo. DAVIDSON,-Roy, enthusiastically, and in large numbers to our every Birmingham, Ala., Betty and Jennifer Davis overture. Hundreds of these Helpers have come to DeCHAMBRE. Jerru. Woodstock, il1.. David page if PENA, Godelieve, Aucourt, France PLATT, Fred, Houston, Tex. HODGERS PHICE, Vivian, Miqhtv 8th Museum RICHTER, Susan M., Pooler, Ga. REES, Paul, Syracuse, N.Y. RIGGS, Dolly, Melrose Park, lll. ROBINSON, Charles, Robins Air Force Base ROGEFIS, George, Savannah, Ga ROGERS, Leondrd, Youngtown, Ariz., and Lamerle SAUER, Gabriel, Wilmington, N.C., and Gene Sun C SCHAFFER, Frank,. Montello, Wis. , Minn. SCOTT, Carl, Columbus, Ohio, and Bethtseth FrickeF Johnson Elizabeth' FROLK|N.GT Jim, Shakei Heights, Ohio SHANDOR, Richard, Cresson, Pa. SHERK, Ray, Toronto, Canada SHULER, Jr, Buck, Columbia, S.C. and Annette
!'l4Vl!foN, b/, F;.""' !1AEMQN.J mpa. Fta. HEEKIN, Frank. Ci
Pa.
!.49H1NSKY, Frahk anO Doioifry,--"'' Cornwalt, pa. LEE, Dale, Sun Lake. Anz.- --' LENAIN., Denise, Grbnoble, France and tHOURSON, Robert, Thomasville, Ga., and Elizabeth Marv Ernie and Connie of Moses Lake, y4P{S._Dgptny R., Eatonton, Ga. sh., Brian Lindell and Oscar Richird
MARTIN, Clyde and l'1+fl]]!$.li2b,i.e,Lq
patm Coast, Fla., .WEFPT_EF, -Don,pete and Janet WFgL_Ed, St. geach, Fia ,WF}f-Ffl..Ed and Mary, Sdvainah, Ga. rrr rr I L, \rclv^. tvturlgllly, lll., ano Ja-- .W!!!!4M9, Leo, nnnabbris, nro. W!!-!l4yS_, Jim, Hitton ueaJ.s'c .ryLlppf\ Robeir, n WRIGHT, Garv. D ZIEGLER, Zigi po --
Page 16 Summer 2008
reunlon Each was Our Helpers huddled up for a photo op at the general nuetlng at the Sa,vannah lnto the presented a souvenlr ptiiue AFEES Superfrlend Gen Duncan McNabb matuged to sneak jnoto (2ndfromr4n1. Fro^leftare: Denlse Lenlan, Dr, Mllan Buros, Malla Floyd, Gabrlel Sauer, General ieter Haktm, Godelieve pena, Huls Van der Maas, Roger Antholne, Marguerlte Brouard-Mlller' McNabb and Yvonne Daley'Brusselmans,
the Eighth AF The traditional Memorial Semlee was conducted this year in the beauffil nau chapel of Museum at Pooler, The venue introduced an elemenl of reverence and homage to those who have passedto The Great BeYond Summer 200g Page 17 Robins AF squad posted the colors dedication ): for ) of 'Safe House' anHonor Guard from Robins AirForce Base posted the colors to open the dedication ceremonv forthe AFEES exhibit at the gth AF Museum on April25. U:rder , - the command of CMSst Kevin.Hamilton, the n"g U"*".i' trom the l9th Air Refueling Group included SSgt Gary pitcher of 9-utta Neb., SSgt Jovanni Hill of Da)rton, Ohio, AIC Michael Castile of Merced, Calif., and AIC Brock Mlchael Crase, left, posed at the reunionwith Mernman htsfather, Sllas M. ofJuncfion City, Kan. Crase of Cotumbus, Ga. Sitas is a Ltfe Member andflew itrn rn, 97th BG of the ISth Air Force.
I )
Chairmnn/Co-Founder Ralph patton posed with Ed Miller ol Sedona, Ariz, prepflres to attack his the picture and plaque _ of one of hii hetpers, birthday cake at a mini-celebration in the Marie-Therese, in the new Safe House achibit at hospitality room at the reunion Like many of us, the Eighth Air Force Museum. Ed stopped counting birthdays at No. 59, ,-2
Page 18 Summer 2008
/,/// New AFEES Friend Members
L/C MCHAEL L. DOWNS 9304 Hedgeford St. Manassas Pk., VA 20lIl Ph,: 703-330-5788 Wife: "Leah" (Aide to Gen, McNabb)
GOFFINET MCLAREN..FFL 47 Federation Loop This trio of daughters of Lou and Alberta Del Guidice got their Pawleys Island SC 29585 heads together at the reunion Wonder what they talked about? Ph.:843-235-1236 From the left: Karen Del Guidice, Sandy Comstock
KEVIN PEARSON "F" 5003 Whisper Wind Dr. wichita Falls, TX 7 63 IO-3072
ALEX PEDERSON'?FL" 2lll NERavennaBlvd. Seaftle, WA 98105 Ph.:206-321-9067
SUSAN M. RICHTER "FFL" 315 Morgan Pines Dr. Pooler GA 3L322 Ph.:912-748-L876 @au. of AlfredRichter)
Friend Memher Carl Scott of Columbus. Ohio, had a chance at the LINDA WIST{ART "FFL'' \th AF Museumto posewith a B-47 again Cailflew as 2020 Hartford Trnpike navigator/bombardier on the plane N. Haven, C:f 06473 (Dau. with SAC during the Cold Wan of Lou Del Guidice) Summer 2OOB Page 19 All the fine young men
By Bill Parrol son of 301rd B.G. pitotJohn parrot Published in the 303rd Bomb Group
"All-The fifi€YfihiiC Men " My father was a pllot in the big war But he doesn't talk about it anymore. When lopen up his memories for a while, I can't believe the things he saw, And the things that he survived, For just 1 in 3 ever made it home alive.
To all the flne young men who flew the skies, You willalways be heroes in my eyes, And lowe to you my life this very day For you who flew to meetthe Devil- For years, Scotty David's scrapbooks have been a And you met him face to face--and so feature draw at AFEES reunions. They conlain Today we stillhave freedom in thls place. the bulk of the history that has been published about our society, Here she poses with her 23rd He went to fly, he knew his chance was sllm, scrapbook Nice work, Scotty! That he would ever see hls family again. I ask if he was scared; ifs plain to see, that The terror of moments is still a harsh reality. But he did it so his children would be free.
At times he has a far-off look within his eyes, And I know that he's re'living all the times' That he saw his friends go down in flames, And he just kept on flying-- Though he'd never be the same; And Dad, I am so proud to bear your name.
To the fine young men who gave their lives, You wlllalways be heroes in my eyes, And I owe to you my life this very day; For you flew to meet the Devil, May you now be in God's hands, Because ofyou we have freedom in "l'm your flight instructor. Now ihen, does onyone here this place. get eosily upset by o few horsh words?" gummer 2oa8 Page 2o Gitbert -- e Mystery Man traced to contact her' As a result' the son of By DON O'THORPE sltt r"x.."'I'i*n' :ffi:l[""fl":li":t|i[lJffljl',1
France. anY French'
shonnarre ePort bY hi names of e helPed'"
Ministere de la Defense statlng Giltrerl was an agent fbr the Allian net*ork of the Free French Forces and has infbrrnation that English Punctuailon' Catherine -rO*irMarch
of tfie silk ]-mapo was to include q:I '-llt r--:- iur"biiityJ..'rk i,ic loic rbility were ideal for .;t|[. survivar kits of asied prroEs. ,i"ii Fr +tra ll C Air Fltnce Was I --..r-r -lt.Ll 'J:#"T"#il; iI G#m'v' W:? ryl:fl^HlT's*un6t the earty le5os_as *:t;';TJffi p"r-t the Gold : war '.lL ff#T"l'l"fijHH';t#';;;';uJ"""'i ..i.- r.,- rraan difficrrlt"f to oieCe i j'tig I 3#ff "+fi"'T"TT";fi ffifii";ofr ;:b r*,l*j jg*hffiii iff$;"'l"tilX"t'il1il#ll-ry1':i-l**:E#**:,"andbecausetheirthe war' ifiilifiirffi"l], uded in secrecy duri s and after *Road displayed a lrlap of west Africa- The first u,s. crot{r map made during wwu *it printed ln 1942 on balloon clotlt' ""4 Informauon taken from Gartographic Associates and @ Summer Page 23 General has concerns for future readiness
The need to recapitalize the Air Force's rder to keep up wittr current and future d "There _ are increasing demands on air, and we don't see that changng," General McNabb told the two senators in
Eric Richter, grandson of Alfred Richter, E&E #
we can to continue to s at the expense of evaded over the ffrenees. His famity says that he that is probably our never learned about AFEES. d. Summer 2008 Page 23 General has concerns for future readiness
_ The general reinforced the need to recapitalize the Air Force's aging tanker fleet in order to keep up with current and future demands on air power. "There . are increasing demands on air, and we don't see that changing," General McNabb told the two senators in
Eric Richter, grandson of Afred Richter, E&E #
"We will we can to continue to suPPort this s at the expense of evaded over the His tomorrow furenees. family says that he if that is ProbablY our never learned about AFEES. biggest conc Summer 2OOg Page 24 was agr.eat moment' BERLIN (AFPN) -- Air Force Vice Chief of StaffGen. Duncan J' McNabb and legendary airlift Pilot retired Col. Gail Halvorsen
future oPerations. retireil CoL GaiI Halvorsen' the a seminal Gen Duncan J. McNabb anil "The Berlin Airlift was participateil and a Berlitt Airffi canlt moment for airPower Pivotal - famttus !o(er' event in world-history'" said General McNabb compass oPle and sent libetty to Berliners and to freedom- loving peoPle around the world'"
The Berlin Airlift, which lasted more than 15 rnonths. was the sole
pioneering modern airlift practioes'
"The airlift bridge that You all fashioned is the legacY uPon which
duties at the General Duncun McNubb took time off from to the reunion and posed Pentagon rc mnke it General McNabb also noted the put AFEES reunions together' encompasses with the two individuals who airlift bridge legacy -. aero-medicd Coordinator Yvonne DaleY (left) Ar-renremg and "u.t"n, nnd Fruncene llevlnnd' treflsuret' Summer Z00g Page 25 evacuation. bridges as well. General McNabb told one wounded soldier. "On behalf of all of our senior allows leaders, I just wanted to thank you." global General McNabb said it was ives of important to meet with and pay tribute our wounded warriors by flying them to woundedmilitary members serving to the appropriate rnedical facilities in in the U.S. Central Command region. Europe and in the United States "The United States of America is within 18 hows," he said. blessed with an all-volunteer force; men andwornen who witlingly raised General McNabb also hailed their hands to defend our Constitution and preserve freedom arorurd the world," the general said. "The selfless work of these young Americans here American hero, a living legend and a in Iraq and in Afghanistan is lruly rock star here in Berlin.', shining the light of liberty on countries once shrouded in the Colonel Halvorsen concluded his darlness of tyranny, and I can't thank remmks by highlighting the vital them enough." effofts of Ainnen on ground. the General McNabb also met with the medical sta{f of the Air Force'Iheater rny "In book, the real heroes were Hospital, which is cornprised of the aircraft maintainers, we are: the mernbers llom all four services. logisticians and the airfield Historically, 97 percent ofthe Summary of current AFEES operatlons personnel, who worked wounded servicemembers who arrive tirelessly and often membership, as compiled by in extremelv at the hospital survive. However, due difficult conditions to accomplish the to the work of the hospital staff, the Scotty David: mission," he said. "The Berliners survival rate has clirnbed to 99 were also heroes because despite the percent in recent months. most difficult of circumstances. tlev "There is no greater tribute that can EVADERS never gave up." be paid to our wounded rnilitarv 247 8th AF 99 15th Vice C hief visits :::'T*:*#:ff3ilffi"1#"i" AF _ 24/7,365 days ayearto savetheir 26 9th AF *#:,ff'""' 1 lOthAF Iraq wounded ffil#;.J:H,lT;iJ: 12th said. l0 AF in hospital One member ofthe staff, Esther 2 13th AF BALAD AIR BASE,ITaq Slewo, took a six-month leave of 6 14th AF (AF.PI9 -- The Air Force vice chief absence frorn her job in Califbrnia to 4 5th AF, Korea of stafftraveled to the Air Force work in the hospital as an interpreter. Theater Hospital at Balad Air Ms. Slewo was born in Iraq and 8 Vietnam Base May 29 to visit wounded yearned to return and serve tlere. I RCAF (In U.S.) warriors and accompany than on a "I want the lraqi people to have the Total,405 Evaders flight back to Ramstein Air Base, freedom I have in the United States of Germany. America; the freedorn of free speech Representing Secretary of the Air and the freedom to worship," Ms. OTHERS Force Michael W. Wynne and Chief Slewo said. "I want thern to have a of Staffof the Air Force Gen. T. good standard of living. If they work 93 Widows Michael Moseley, Gen. Duncan J. together, I know they can accornplish 77 Friends McNabb carried a message of that. " 75 Descendants appreciation and respect for the Atter visiting the hospital at Balad dedication and sacrifice of injured AIl, General McNabb accompanied 30 Helpers in U.S. military personnel serving in the war the patients on a flight to Rarnstein 25 Canadian Evaders rn terrodsm. AB and helped ofiload the patients Total,300 "I don't have the words to express onto buses waiting to take them to the .trry deep respect and appreciation for Landstuhl Regional Hospital in your dedicated service to our nation," Gennanv. Grand Total, 705 Page 26 o = oo o 6 6o wr.{AT ooe? HE MEAN,"WgLLCROgS rlrr'gRtacE wHEN WE Cgl,{E TO t7"?
ffi-;ll;'t5'€,1ffi; ffi-Pg'ltr*'Yi"it rHE gTREET THIg 'NSKNI]\g... \lri tr,fa)
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I think he wuz selling insurance' but he drove off bqfore we could visit' Sumrner 2OO8 Page 27 Comet line chief tFran co', LY. Ray Kubly, popular AFEES director took evaders over nees for several years, passed away Thursday, The Baron Jean-Frangois Nothomb, also known as Franco, June 5, in Watertown, Wisc. chief of the Comet escape line, died June 6,200g. Lt. Kubly (E&E # 2864) was navigator of a B-l7G on a raid to the oil refinery at Meresburg on Oct. 7,l944,when they were hit. They bailed out near Hertengenbosh, Holland. German marksmen fired on them in their chutes and Kubly was shot in the calf of his leg. He and the other wounded spent 19 days as POW in a Dutch hospital. Then he, a C-47 pilot named Jack Murrell, and four others escaped on Oct. 26by crawling through the heating ducts. They were given civilian clothes by the Dutch and split going Comet Line until his own arrest on Jm. 18, 1944 in paris. up, to homes on the After being been led to the prison ofFresnes, in Frmce, he outskirts of Utrecht. was brought to Brussels. There, the Tribunal ofthe Luftwaffe Their last stop was with Cor Lof who lived outside They stayed there fromD eb.19, 1945. On March 12,1945, they rowed across the Rhine to the Canadian lines. Ray spent two weeks in Paris and dined one night with General Eisenhower. The burial ceremony took place on June 7,2}Og,in Rome where he lived the remainder of his life. Survivors include his wife Ruth.
Several members of the AFEES utendedfamily met during the Savannah reunion to iliscass how to presefle the legacy of our organization. Many of the younger generations andfriends present volunteered to serve in leadership rolesfor a transition team Other future generationers' who wish to have a part in such a project should contact Richard Shandor or Sandy Comstock, both current memhers of the Board of Directors listeil on Fage 2. Page 28 9ummer 2OOg Germaine Tillion, u'tYrye of ungel' French Resistance She's fighter, dies at 100 Since that time in 2004 Mrs. By J .(CO de SWART) Bv the Associated Press me in finding Historian/Researcher Morrisson has assisted PAnfS -- Germaine Tillion, a of another USAAF-ainnan The Netherlands family French World War II Resistance same crew as Lantronls. She Mrs. Cleo Monisson is more than a from the fighter and celebrated anthro- only last APril 2008 cledicated genealogist, she's the type succeeded pologist, died APril 19, 2008. She finding family of that man. of an angel a tnan only now and than was 100. a result of her work, familY of rneets itt his lil-e. N'le here in the As Tillion, who wrote about her that man were to corne MaY 30 to Netherlands beirrg a reseat'chet' on experiences in a Nazi camP, dted at the tnonument for the American WWII airwar over Europe. I met Mrs' visit her home in Saint-Mande. in that crash in Holland' Morrisson via serrding an E-mail to a ainnen KIA Tillion was sent in 1943 to the Borger newspapet in a cry tbr helP camp for women and children in 2008, she again tracing fnnily of a WWtl-ainnan who And norv, It4ay Ravinsbruck, GermanY, for her work great dedication is helpfurg tne originally cantc fiotrt that town. 1'hey with with ttre Resistance network' She Atnerican family of USAAF introduced me to Nft's. Morrisson' I tinding was awarded the Grand Cross of the WWII plane, couldn't have had Itrot'e lttck to meet ainnen of anothertJ.S. Legion ofHonor, one of onlY five intention. her. wrth the same women to have received such an honor. a fine woman. is too nrodest ln 2004 she was of decisrve helP She. She wrote extensivelY about her all of thcse, her un-known firr nre, finding thc wonran who to tell experiences in the camp, revisiting works of love her self . That's becatne a widow on Oct. 30, 1943 as noble ttr:ough ner work the place where her Dutchntan, wlto's her ftesh-ntatried husband fi'orn why this mother die{ according to a hobby' Borger'l'X paid the highest price fbr experiencing the results ofher great for history his country. dying in the crash of his done with a sense and highlY ,wrqsvu LISAAF B- l7 borrrber in llolland in and love for her country In a 1988 book on the camP, respects her, it for her. rury village of birth. De Bilt. This Tillion wrote that she hadmanaged young lnalt's natne: Sgt. Edward survive "thanks to luck, to anger, [.eslie L.antt'on. the desire to bring these crimes to (Visit: Ugbt, an4 finallY, to the bonds of .:: www.mi ghty8th af prel ler. us/gall friendship." deSwarl>).
Ivlrs. N4ouisson didn't only pley a 'fank key role in tracking dorvn his widow - 6nk Youfrom -later retnarried-- she also in the fall By FRANK I-/ISHINSKY ot'2004 drove all tlte wav liotrt AFEES Wce Prcsident l]orser to (loodland, Katr.. to visit To all of you who responded to the appeal for the Helper's Fund this year' lwant to l-.arttron's fbrmer rv idow Wilrrra express my gratitude, as well as the gratitude of AFEES itself, for your participation and together with rne andioined nre in your donation. Since there was no chance of, repayment for your generosity there were telling the details of his death in no prizes to win, you obviously showed your dedication to AFEES itself. There were l{olland this womau had never knowtt many of you who surely made a sacrifice to be so generous. befbre. There were 284 donations from my letter to 661 on our ro'ster, or 41o/o uho contributed. For comparison last year there were 366 donations from my lefter to 678 on our roster, or 54% who contributed. Because there were more generous individual contribution this year we averaged $ 26.49 per contribution, compared lo $ 2O.47 last year.
Because expenses were lower in 2008, there were no costs for raffle books, and no prizes to pay out, we cleared $ 7221.63. Last year we cleared $ 6128.79, since expenses were higher, and prizes were paid out.
This is also my farewell to all of you, we will not make another apeall in this regard. I want all to know, that Dorothy and I are grateful and thank you for making all the hours we spent, in this capacity, so satisfying and rewarding. We could not have wished for a better, more loyal,and generous group to have woked with. You made it easy Sumner 2O0B Page 29
Major figure in Resistance
From La Depeche da Midi, areas in the South-West of France Haute-Garonne Edition May 7,2008 Translated by Scott Goodall to Maquis Resistance groups involved With the passing of Jean-Baptiste in thc forthcoming liberation ofmajor Arhex, who has died in Paris at the southern cities. These areas also included small landing fields from which RICHARD H. KRECKER intelligence agents both Frenoh and 1922-2008 remarkable figures. And British also one of were ferried to and from the Richard H. Krecker, E&E 776, of their most discreet and rmassuming. region of the Midi-Pyrenees. L,owerGwynedd, Pa., diedMrch l, As one of his former warfime "In spite of his very active part in 2008. He was the husband ofthe late comrades Pierre Benech of Villemur the core of the French Resistance,,, Shirley B. Krecker and the father of said, "Only his closest friends said Pierre and Benech, "Jean's biggest three children who survive. collaborators knew how heavilv regret he was that he was not able to After attending. Temple University was involved in the work that he did participate in the liberation of tbr one year, he served in World War and how discreet he was in everv Toulouse. By the that time happened II as a radio-man/gunner with the action that he undertook. Jean had " been flown to Britain and 447th Bomb Group. Jean-Pierre Vernant, departrnental was actively engaged in a parachute While on amission over Germanv chief during the Resistance activities training course in the north of on March L4,1944,. his B-17 was leading up to the liberation Scotland. of shot down over occupied France. His Toulouse said that Jean-Baptiste was The fi:neral (cremation) of Jean- evasion and escape over the pyrorees one of "his closest aides,." amanwho Baptiste Arhex place pere- took at the into Spain was facilitated by had worked for the French Resistance Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. His members of the French Underground. from "le premiere heure" which is ashes will be taken to the Pavs He stayed for several weeks with Jean from the very fust moment of the Basque, country of his origin and and Margo Vidal of St. Vrain. German occupation. birth. He arrived in Spain at the end of Jean Arhex worked and lived May and returned to base in the UK under sweral noms de guerre or Jean and Paule Arhex visited the on June 25, 1944. codenames srch as "Lafont," Saint-Girons museum last August. After the war, he graduated from "Andxe" 31d "Janin." He was in For an accounl ofthat visit, see the Museum School of Art charge in ofthe sabotage teams which Winte r 2 0 07 -0 8 C ommuni cations, Philadelphia. desfroyed the German aircraft factorv Pages 20-23. "Sncase" after which he was responsible for forming rhe lst Battalion of "L'Annee Secrete" or Secret Army of Toulouse. The 2nd l5th Air tr'orce, 460th BG Thornton g7, Battalion was commanded by Besse, Lee carlougrq of East Harfford, connl., died saturday, the 3rd Battaton by Gary. April 5, 2008, athis home. In He the autumn of 1943 all his attended columbia University and enlisted in the Anny Air corps efforts were directed towards the following Pearl Harbor. otganizatton of "7a Copa"' or the finding and localizing of suitable ffi-{.#F.#..|."{.## Jean Arhswas thefinal helper for Clayton David (E&E 674) and Kenneth Shaver (EE E 675) at the foot of the \treneesfor their crossing into Spain .H-+{#*i--#.l---|##
I Page 30 Summer 20OB TFOLDED Servicehonors WINGS- ('(^ lneral LYle MEMBERS A memorial service for M4ior founder of #1838 James R. Anslov/, Friendwood,Tex., 467thBG, 2008 General Lewis EltonLyle,
15th AF Thornton Lee Carlough, E. Hartford, Conn' April5, 2008
RnTl 6' 2008' He lived in Hot #32 LeeFegette. Dallas. Tex-, 303rd BG' October 2007 SPrings, Ark'
#113 philip J. Fink, Lancaster, N.y., 388th BG, March 14, 2008 *-frl*i?[Tit?3r*iJtrlJt"#. 'Lorenzo Grant, who entertained at the La., 38eth BG, Mav 23,2008 #694 Thomas .I. Grima, Metairie, {lJ":Jffi"J"T"ffiil1tffih"
#409 Elton (Pete) Hoyt III, Mentor, Ohio' 379th BG,
#776 Richard H. Krecker, Lower Gwyned4 Pa', March 1, 2008 The Savannah Pipe and Drum CorPs Provided music for the #2864 A.Ray Kubly, Watertown, Wisc', 34th BG, June 4' 2008 *"S"ff::f|1ii*iff:il::Tt
l2th AF John w. Martin, Broomall, Pa., 321st BG, Feb. 8, 2008 #1il*:1J5:3i "t"T1t3' JOHN W' MARTIN POW Frank P. McGlinchey, Bayonet Point, Fla', l00th BG, Force Jan' 8' 2008 L2th Air John w. Martin' 88, of Drexel #242 Harold E. Thornpson, Longbranch, Wash', 388th BG, Feb.28,2008 Mr'. Martin was a mechanical ilf;#ffi -'r:flT:'#'T;?'#"", 6, lWGen. L. E. Lyle, IIot Springs, Ark., April 2008 During W*'I, he was co-pilot of t 32lstBc B-25 from which he was HELPERS forced to parachute when itwas -rg;f by enemy fire over Italv in Jean-Baptiste ARHEX, Paris, France, May 2008
Nico DoHMAN, Houand, Feb. 16,2008 *rt[l};;:}nft"Hn#H#tl caPtured. Jean-FrancoisNOTHOMB(Franco)Rome,Italv'June6,2008*r-H#mffiffit-ffiStJi:" Picchi, who led him to the Italian Partisans. He was escorted to the front lines and taken through the liner CHANGE OF ADDRESS atnightnearVianeggio, guidedby a John Kapteyn "H", 13169 S.E. River Road, Ap1 104 P.H., shepherdnamedBainetta' portland, ph.: HewasamemberofAFEESand oR 97222. 503-652-6702 he served as an
NAME Amount Enclosed Mailing Address CITY & STATE
ZIP Code PHONE E-MAIL (Optional) COMMENTS Page 32 Summer 2OOa The editor has the last word a 1929De end of the war. Leslie was a member during WW2, flew BY LARRY GRAUERHOLZ Gypsy Moth in KenYa for of a Partisan group in the combat part Havilland