THE DIARY

June 9 - '44

Turned back on 25^th mission - Munich.  Reason: #2 "turbo" bad, oil pressure on #1 dropping.  Two generators out.  Tried to find suitable target at Trieste, Italy when jumped by 4 or more 109s.  First pass they shot out large section of left wing.  2^nd pass, shot out controls.  Put ship on A5 and ordered crew to bail out.  Two fires in bomb bay and left wing.  Lowered wheels and again ordered crew to bail out.  Ship was stalling and dropped off on left wing.  Flight deck was clear of men except top turret gunner.  I grabbed his feet and told him to jump when the action of the plane, in spin, threw me out and down through the bomb bay.  Plane evidently exploded as soon as I left.  Counted 5 chutes.  I landed in water approx. 3 mi. from shore.  Could not free myself from chute but finally succeeded after having been drawn under water.  Taken prisoner by approx. 150 German soldiers on shore -- questioned and stood in sun for rest of day.  Taken to Trieste at night and locked in old castle -- one blanket, no food or water.  I was quite sick from salt water and 20mm wounds in leg.

June 10 - '44

Was on train all day until approx. 5 p.m. (1700).  Then watched as town and railroad yards were bombed in front of us.  Had to walk approx. 10 miles through the city in bare feet.  Population of city tried to hang us but were held off by German guards.  Crowd getting out of hand.  I was spit on quite a bit.  Noticed some Italians giving the V for Victory sign.  Finally made it to another train.  Had about a cup of filthy, crawling water.  The first in about 48 hours.  Best I have ever tasted.  I had a little fever so am quite hazy as to what happened after that.

June 11 -- '44

Taken to Verona, Italy for interrogation.  Put in solitaire.  I don't know how long as there were no lights.  Had plenty of water and some black bread.  Was taken and questioned.  All rings, money etc. were taken.  More fever.

June ?

Spent night in beautiful, historic old Vienna in a flea infested dungeon.  The urinal was evidently out of order as the whole room was about 6 inches deep so the procedure was to stand at the door and use it.  Another 3 inches and they will have to find another room.  Needless to say the smell was awful.  Also the fleas were very bad.

June 14

Arrived at Offlag Luft III (Officers [flying] Prisoner of War Camp.)  Was deloused, given bedding and some shoes - also a shirt, pants, size 36 shorts, socks, towel, some cigarettes and personal or toilet articles furnished by the Red Cross.  Moved into a 12 man room which is rather crowded.  The thing that gets you the most is the way the guys can make stuff out of nothing -- pots, pans, grinders, etc. are all made out of tin.  The tin is literally pulled apart, flattened out and made into the various assorted articles that are needed.

June 15

Can't get over the Red Cross.  They give us a box of canned food every week.  This is what keeps us from starving.  We get black bread, barley soup and potatoes from "Jerry".  When combined with American food it isn't so bad.

June 16

Am still slightly sick from the ocean I tried to drink.  Four Me 109s put on a dog fight for us.  They are good flyers but their planes are not as good as ours.  The planes are fairly thick but most of them are very old transports or training planes.  Can't see how they still hold out.

June 17

Cold today, had to wear my new G.I. overcoat.  News looks good even if it is German.

June 21

About 300 U.S. planes came over.  We were all herded in the barracks with windows closed but got a good look at them -- very good for the morale.

June 22

The crabs and lice are really getting bad.  The guys with lice have to shave all their hair off.  Bald pates really look funny.  I hope I don't get them.

June 25

"Jerry" gave me back my dog tags, insignia and crash bracelet and a receipt for two rings and $45.00.  The only thing missing is a pair of pinks [Army Officer pants] and a comb.

June 30

The last day of the Mo. (pay day) but that don't mean a thing as I haven't seen a cent or will see any money until I get home.  Saw a 27 ship formation go over today.  I think they were HE 177s.  Morale low.

July 3

Saw a show yesterday afternoon - "Orchestra Wives."  It was old but I don't know when I've ever enjoyed a movie more.  Today we chopped firewood for our stove.  I've got the blisters to prove it.  Just finished reading "Penrod."  Really got a kick out of it.  I remember the first time Mom read it to us kids at Cottonwood School.  Wish I was back there now.

July 4

Very nice day today.  Was entertained to the utmost all day.  Boxing matches, volley ball and other entertainment.  It was ended by a very good program made up of impersonators, soloists and a very hot jive orchestra.  The instruments coming from the YMCA through the R. C.

July 7

Had an Air Raid today but didn't see any of our planes.  I get a kick out of the German news when they say they repressed everything but gave way a little to shorten their lines.  Would give anything to hear from home.

July 18

I should, I know, keep a more accurate account of what's going on but the last few days are so damn boring.  The same old routine of getting up in the morning, eating what you can and trying to find a way to amuse yourself until it's time to go to bed is really getting my nerves.  I find that I'm about as short tempered as I can get.  It takes all the self control a guy has to keep from "blowing your top".  Not much has happened except we now have calisthenics along with morning "Apel" [roll call].  It might be better for us but I can't see burning up extra energy and that really gets important around here as the food isn't so great in quantity that a guy can do that and also play a game of baseball or volley ball without cutting out one or the other.  The news is better every day for us but it seems as though it certainly is taking an awful long time.

July 21

Propwash, my old Navigator, came yesterday.  Was I glad to see him -- he gave me a lot of news of everybody.  He was shot down the 24^th of June.  Had an Air Raid yesterday and today.  The Allies are really going to town so the old morale is really up.  It certainly can't last much longer.

July 26

Have one heck of a cold.  Wish I could clear it up as it makes life very miserable.  Nothing of interest except I just won 6 packs of cigs from Major Brown on a bet.  Made a $50 bet with Prop that the war would last until October 14^th.  I hope he wins.  I would be very glad to lose the $50.

July 29

Big diphtheria scare around here.  Guess they have it pretty well checked.  This is a perfect place for a contagious disease.  Also have to worry about food poisoning as Jerry pokes holes in all the cans of food and sometimes food goes bad before we can eat it all.  Cold is a lot better today.  I guess I better write some of my month's letters as today is the deadline for this month.  Very hard to think up enough to write.

July 30

One guy down from the "plague" in our room.  The rest of us are confined to the room.  Hoping to heck I don't get it.

July 31

Had our throats swabbed today and they will send the slides to Breslau -- it will take about 5 days.  The room gets smaller all the time and it's hard to hold onto the old temper at times.  The war should be over very soon so I guess we won't have to sweat out the winter.  If, per chance, we would, I'm afraid that just about one half of the camp would still be alive in the spring due to the crowded living conditions, etc.

August 7

Supposed to get out of this damn quarantine today but something went wrong so we have to stay in another day.  Had an Air Raid today but didn't see any of our planes.  The old urge to fly is really getting strong.  We spend most of the time telling of the good times with wives, etc.  I think the unmarried guys are slightly jealous.  I wonder what it's like to eat all you can hold or enough, anyway, so that you're not always hungry.  I can't help remembering the good food that Mom used to give us.  Also the beautiful plates Marjorie used to make when we had places to cook.  I now have a very nice case of  "Athletes foot".

August 13

One year ago today Janet Lee was born -- a long time ago.  I wish I was home to see her.  I imagine she can talk by now.  The inevitable has finally happened.  Three planes, FW 190s, went over and one caught fire and crashed.  The pilot didn't get out.  Yesterday a guy in a FW 190 was showing off.  The guy was trying to do a vertical snap.  He stalled out and just recovered before he spun in.  It was really close and it gave us quite a laugh.  He really got out of here fast.  The Pursuits have really been giving us the "Buzz" jobs lately.  They certainly have an appreciative audience as we all would give anything to be "in the blue" again.  I guess I will write letters tonight.

Sept. 19

Well, it's been a month since I last wrote.  The war is still going strong.  The troops are around Aachen but the "Jerry" is still holding out.  We are now on half rations and I am damn near ready to starve.  The reason for half rations is because the Red Cross can't get enough food to us.  I met a kid named Harvey who went to St. John High School for two years.  We had a lot of talk about old times.  We have been having an Air Raid at least once a day or night.  Saw some of our planes the other day.  The room is getting worse.  I personally have just about come to blows and will, probably, some day.  It's impossible to live in here and not get mad at somebody.  The war will be over by the first week or two of Nov.  I'm sure of it.  If it isn't, I will give up all hope of it being over this year.  I hate to think of spending a winter in this place.

Oct. 4

There's a hell of a lot of activity going on some place.  There is sort of a tenseness in the air.  Whether that is due to an increase of rumors, I don't know.  Still on half rations and the hunger hurts.  Should get some mail and cigarettes soon -- I hope.  Incidentally, there has been a noticeable decrease of the Luftwaffe around here.  That's another reason for the wave of optimism.

Oct. 15

Red letter day yesterday and I do mean letter -- 26 of them.  Boy, do they build up the morale.  It was such a relief to hear that everyone was O.K.  Won my bet from Propwash, damn it.  However my date of Nov. 11 looks good.  I will make a prediction -- "something big will happen in the next two weeks and the war will be over definitely by the last of Nov."  Well now, I've committed myself.  I have to be pretty careful of my notes as the Germans are searching for this sort of thing.  We have been on half rations for about a month now.  What a feeling it is to go around hungry all the time.  I think about food most of the time and kick myself everytime I think of something I didn't like and wouldn't eat back in the U.S.

Oct. 24

It finally happened -- we got three more men in the room today making a total of 15.  Boy, is it crowded.  Still on half rations and can really feel it.  We are hungry all of the time and all of us have lost about all the weight we can afford.  I only hope that the personal food parcels get here from home.  The Red Cross is not quite doing its duty.  I guess they are telling people at home that life is a little bit too easy and as a result the boys are getting ski wax, tennis balls, golf clubs, toilet paper, soap and other stuff instead of the food they need so badly.  The new men think that the war won't be over for at least 6 months.  Well, I still have hopes of the last of Nov.  After that I'll prepare for the long, cold winter.

Nov. 19

Just about over an attack of flu.  What a place to be sick.  The treatment is to hit the sack and take aspirins.  The room hasn't been any warmer than about 32 for the past week.  The food situation is worse as we lose two days rations this week.  Also, the war doesn't look so hot.  It could be over this year but I doubt it.  If we only had some more food and a little heat it wouldn't be so bad.  Well, here's hoping!  (What the hell for?)

Nov. 30

Well, here it is the end of Nov.  All my predictions have gone to hell.  Incidentally, this is Thanksgiving Day.  I guess the only thing to be thankful for is just being alive which isn't too much.  Sometimes I think it would have been better to have "spun" on in.  I guess it would have saved a lot of people a lot of trouble.  I received my first food parcel a week ago but was so damn hungry I ate it up in two days.  I guess my powers of resistance have diminished somewhat.  Well, I for one, hope this is the last hungry T.G. day I ever spend.

Dec. 25

I take this opportunity to say this is one of the best Xmas days I have ever spent.  At present I'm lying in my sack so full that I can't move.  In fact my stomach hurts.  All this was made possible by extra special Xmas parcels that had Turkey, sausage, candy and nuts in it.  This full feeling is the best ever.  On top of all this, a new rumor has just come in that the German offensive was the greatest mistake of the war and General Ike promised a speedy end.  Really a shot in the arm.  P.S. We also had a fire all day.  What a change from the bitter cold and I do mean BITTER COLD.

Dec. 31 - Jan. 1^st, 1945

Happy New Year!  My God, who would have thought that I'd have been here this long.  My full stomach lasted approx. one day after Xmas and here we are - hungry as hell.  What a way to welcome a new year.  I just hope and pray that I won't be here next year, although I wouldn't bet on it.  Just won another $50.00 bet.

Jan. 16, '45

Nothing has happened of importance.  Have had no mail since Xmas.  Food situation still fairly critical although it's being told around that we MIGHT go on full parcels but I doubt. It.  Had one death - the first one.  Can't understand it --  I thought at least half of us would be dead by now.  I guess I underestimated the physical condition of the U.S. soldier.

Jan. 21

I might say that more has happened in the few days than has happened all the time I've been here.  First - the camp is going on full parcels.  Why, I don't know, but have the idea that they think we might need extra energy because the Russians are approx. 115 miles from here and probably a lot closer now.  The war could end for us in a matter of hours but everyone made such fools of themselves during the push through France that optimism is being held down.

Jan. 25

"Hell is popping" -- the Russians are 52 miles east of here.  We are on full parcels.  Also, I'm cooking this week.  We are marching 10 miles a day which hits us pretty hard, although it's a good idea to get us in shape to be marched either by the Germans or Russians.  Here's hoping it’s the Russians.

Jan. 27 (Sat.) - Feb. 5

What I am about to relate is a little different from the usual run of patter.  I might also say that the things I write about were a lot worse.  I couldn't begin to describe the misery and pain.  Sat. night about 9 o'clock the Germans said we were going to march.  To be ready in an hour.  We ripped up sheets, shirts, etc. and made hasty packs, throwing in all the food, etc. that we could carry.  We were then given a Red Cross parcel and told to "keep up or else".  We started out at the end of the line.  The West Camp had to run to catch up.  As a result, most of the food was lost.  The first night and all the next day was march, march!  Then we had a 3 hour rest at a German town where we threw away everything not necessary.  Then back to marching.  This night was bitter cold.  I imagine about 20 degrees.  Guys were freezing and dropping by the side.  It was so cold you couldn't stand still a minute.  My feet were bleeding and frozen so I had to give it up at 4 in the morning.  I was put in a barn with about 300 guys a lot worse off than I was, I guess.  We lost 4 Americans that night.  Also two German guards.  We took off next morning in a blinding snow storm and at about 5 o'clock Wed. morning we were taken to a factory.  Waited for an hour.  Told to move.  Brought back after about 5 hours of standing in the streets.  Finally allowed to rest for a day.  Next day marched to town of Muskow where, after a long wait, we were put in another factory.  From then on it was an old story of walking and sleeping in barns, etc.  Pain and misery at every step.  We finally reached Spremburg where we (52 men) were crowded into box cars.  The European box car is about 1/3 the size of an American box car.  Were given 4/5 of a Red Cross parcel with 1/2 loaf of bread.  It was impossible to sleep so we didn't.  I'm writing now from my sack at Nurnberg.  The first I've seen since I left Stalag Luft III.  I was one of the few to get one.  This place gets bombed very often.  In fact there is an Air Raid now and we are close to the railroad yards so I'm still uncertain!  I forgot to mention that on the second day out we or the head of the column thought they were being strafed so the whole compound hit the ditch.  The guards thought it was a break and started shooting at us.  It took quite awhile to get straightened out and I found out what it feels like to get shot at on the ground.  A few were hit.  This account is very inaccurate but my physical and mental condition does and will not warrant a very good account.  I don't know whether this camp is permanent or not.  I know that the food situation is critical and hope we come out O.K.  My impression of the march is, to my mind, comparable to the March of Batan.

Feb. 15

Happy birthday to my darling wife.

Feb.  27

Happy Birthday.  Good God, this situation is sad and I remember how I used to bitch at Sagan.  Our living conditions are as follows:  Food - 30 tablespoons of water they call soup, per day.  1/6 of a loaf of bread/day - 6 or 7 spuds/day which has been cut in half.  The camp is in one hell of a shape.  Everyone is so weak and exhausted from actual starving that it's pitiful.  My quarters consist of tiers or catacombs crowded together where we (the lucky ones) have boards to sleep on.  The rest sleep on the floor.  The lights are off most of the time which makes life more miserable.  No medical supplies available.  I have, I think, frozen lungs.  They hurt quite a bit.  Also my kidneys have been affected.  My feet are just starting to heal.  The worst thing of all is that we have been bombed 5 times now.  Last night was the worst raid by the R.A.F.  One bomb landed so close that our windows were blown out and dishes (or the one bowl per 3 men) were shattered.  The daylight raids are just as bad but not so terrifying.  Our food situation must improve or we have had it.  Also, if the Germans don't move us soon we will be blown to hell by our own men.

March 17

Fleas, starvation, dirt, Air Raids.  Situation improved somewhat by R.C. parcels hauled in by our own trucks.  Air Raid last night blew the hell out of Nurnberg but missed us.  That slit trench outside the window really felt good.  Fleas are driving me slightly batty.  I'm so damn skinny that sleeping on the boards is impossible.  I guess I weigh a good 140 lbs.  German rations have been cut again.  1/7 of a loaf of bread.  No salt or sugar.  Potatoes have been cut to almost nothing.    Hope we make it.

March 28

Alert!  Looks like Ike is coming.  All packed sweating out what the Germans will do with us. (I love you, Marjorie)

April 14

Left the 3^rd of April on a very enjoyable trip to Moosburg.  My feet gave out about half way and I've just been letting nature and the Germans take their course.  I  ride a  few kilos and then "shack up" in a barn with other guys in my same position.  I say the trip is enjoyable because the weather has been warm except for some rain.  And the civilians have been so nice to us.  I was taken into many a home and fed, etc,  It's very nice to get away from the "wire".  The Red Cross trucks have kept us fairly well supplied with food and we can get potatoes in abundance.  I've even had eggs and milk.  I'm now about 20 kilometers from Moosburg in an old barn.  My stomach is full and I'm satisfied.  The war news from what I've heard is good.  There was a rumor that F.D.R. died and that Germany has been cut in two.

April 23

Arrived here at Moosburg the 18^th after a most enjoyable trip.  The food here is good and living conditions are, of course, a lot better than Nurnberg.  I've met a lot of old friends.  "Goons" rations are fairly good also but, of course, the "Goons" will march us out again.  In fact, there is talk of moving tonite.  I would personally like to sweat the war our right here.  It is such a relief not to be hungry and not having to go through the Air Raids.  Hear today that the U.S. has crossed the Danube and are headed in this general direction again.  I imagine we will be going South again but I must say they better hurry up and move us or we might be liberated.  I often wonder what it would feel like to be "Free".  I wonder what my baby looks like.  I've even forgotten what Marjorie looks like.  I only remember that I love her very much.  I guess people that have loved like we two never forget.

April 29

I don't know yet but I think we are "LIBERATED".  This morning we dodged a few bullets and shells.  But what the hell, it was worth it.  I just saw "Old Glory" waving over Moosburg.  What a thrill!!  Now to get out of here and go home.

I had just seen 10,000 men cry as Old Glory

 was raised over Moosburg. 

I'll never forget that as long as I live.