Welcome to my nifty Dreambook, a free guestbook service from New Dream Network and the DreamHost!If you have a minute, please add your entry to those below by signing my Dreambook!
| Name: | tom Christianson |
| E-mail address: | tomvalerie@comcast.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://tomvalerie@comcast.net |
| Comments: | My Dad was a POW captured in battle of the bulge 17-12-1944 he died in 1972 of a heart attack he was not in the Air Force. If he was maybe it would be easy to get inf. about his time as a POW It isn't impossible to find out but almost all I know is he nearly died for lack of food.
I do not know where he was after he became a POW. If your Association could help me find our fathers records my children and my brother would be greatfull. Tom bo b bo b |
| Name: | Dave Fautheree |
| E-mail address: | dfautheree@gmail.com |
| Comments: | My great uncle, 2nd Lt Robert L. McGowen, was co-pilot of B-24H 41-28692, of the 392nd Bombardment Group, 576th Bombardment Squadron, Wendling Field, Norfolk.
His aircraft suffered battle damage and was low on fuel when they landed in Dubendorf, Switzerland, on March 18, 1944 after their mission to Friedrichshafen. All crewmembers were interned. Lt McGowen escaped to France, then returned to the US via England sometime after the Allied landings in southern France (Operation Dragoon). He never told any family members about his experiences in the war or about his internment and escape. Any information would be very much appreciated. Thanks! Dave |
| Name: | Trevor Smallman |
| E-mail address: | jtsmallman@yahoo.co.uk |
| Comments: | Hi,
My late father Corporal Joseph Smallman was with the British 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters and was taken prisoner at Tobruk. He survived four Italian POW camps and eventually he escaped from PG56 Darfo over the alps into Switzerland. He was classed as an 'evadee' and was accomondated at the Hotel Alpenruh in Adelboden. I am constructing the story of his army days which includes the POW period and the time he spent in Switzerland of which I have had excellent help from the Swiss Authorities. The Alpenruh was demolished in the early 70's and I wonder if anyone can recall it or better still has a photograph Trevor Smallman |
| Name: | Jon Demere |
| E-mail address: | jondemere@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I have found that my dad (Jake Demere) was in the 305 BG 364BS. The B 17F he came into Switzerland on was called
"So What?" and arrived on Sep. 6, 1943. If by chance any one has other information please drop me a line. |
| Name: | Jon Demere |
| E-mail address: | jondemere@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My dad Jake Demere was internee starting Sep 6, 1943
His plane was "So What"-23434. He was in 305BG 364 BS. I have the accident report on his plane with names of the crew. They names are very hard to read. I know the pilots name was Glasiar, Arther. Any one who reads this that knows more please drop me a line. Jon |
| Name: | Kimberly Brown |
| E-mail address: | myedengrace@att.net |
| Comments: | Correction on previous posting regarding search for source to locate my father's internment card while at Davos in the summer of 1944. Not '42. |
| Name: | Kimberly Brown |
| E-mail address: | myedengrace@att.net |
| Comments: | I am looking for information about acquiring my father's internment card while at Davos in the summer of 1942. Can anyone tell me how to go about getting that? Your website has been an incredible source of information in my Swiss search. Thank you! |
| Name: | Jon Demere |
| E-mail address: | jondemere@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My Dad was a internee during the war. His name is Jake Demere. I would like to get more information from anyone who might remember him. Much of history is in danger of getting lost. |
| Name: | Robert E. Johnson |
| E-mail address: | Robersabel@aol.com |
| Comments: | Seems internees held in Siberia during WWII had their act together. They approached the powers-to-be as a group, obviously the right prople, and since 1992 they are recipients of the POW medal. Figures show 218 USAAF and 62 Navy airmen.
What about the 200 or so internees of Wauwilermoos Prion in Switzerland? Only two have been awarded the POW medal. The first in 1996, and the second in 2006. Last year the AFBCMR denied the POW medal to another internee of the prison. Though extensive research, I discovered many errrors in the Air Forces' jusification. I prepared a 4-page letter with 18 enclosures that justifies the POW medal to all interness of Wauwilermoos. If anyone is interested to support these veterans and/or their next-of-kin, please contact me. Yes, I went through the process contacting my Representatives in Congress, including Senator McCain. Accomplished zip. Robert E. Johnson Robersabel@aol.com Surprise, Arizona |
| Name: | Sarah |
| E-mail address: | gaia_kat@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | My grandfather, Jewell "Tex" Mitchell was a ball turret gunner on Late Date II Shot down on 3/18/44 and interned in Adelboden. I have alot of pictures of the surrounding area and men who were also interned. I do not have, sadly, really any first hand accounts from him, the one time he did speak of it he mentioned his escape attempt and I found later that he was transferred to Wengen on Aug 14th of 44. I will be sending any and all pictures I have, on to the archivers for this site. I will also be sending them to the 392nd's website on B24.NET's site. Any one who knows of or knew of my grandfather who thinks I may have pictures for them please let me know.
Sarah Thank you for the service you've provided both on the field and in our lives. |
| Name: | Michael Deskins |
| E-mail address: | B-17MAD@comcast.net |
| Comments: | Greetings. Have any members of the SWISS INTERNEES ASSOCIATION at this site or other sites had their stories recorded at the VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT which is sponsored by the Library Of Congress? I have submitted one veterans story but it has not been posted yet (can take 6-8 months).
The veteran/internee was from the crashed B-17"Champagne Girl" 91stB.G.324B.S. and was at Wengen. Would that interest anybody? Perhaps another internee could get their story on the VHP. And thanks to this site I have now a better understanding of the Swiss Internee's life. Cheers, Michael |
| Name: | PhoneCardXL |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.phonecardxl.com/cards.asp?Country=23&name=&login.x=29&login.y=14 |
| Comments: | Hi Friends,
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| Name: | George H. Duncan |
| E-mail address: | gduncan3@comcast.net |
| Comments: | I'm signing in on behalf of my late father, S/Sgt. Sam P. Duncan, Jr., flight engineer and top turret gunner with the Mighty Eighth, 384th BG, 544th and (later) 545th Squadrons.
Dad became interned in Switzerland 24 April 1944 when a/c 42/37885 "Frostie" -- carrying the Broyhill crew -- landed at Dubendorf. Would like to hear from anyone who knew Sam P. Duncan, Jr., please. Thank you, George Duncan youngest son |
| Name: | Urs Forrer |
| E-mail address: | urs.forrer@gmx.ch |
| Comments: | I`m looking for help!! I`m a Swiss and very interested in this part of aviation in Switzerland. Every day I feel a bit of this former time and remembering at those many landings, because I have the luck to work on the Dübendorf Airbase.
At the moment I research the crash of a B-24 in Lindau (Effretikon). Does anyone know anything about this plane or crew? It happened 20 July 1944. A B-24G Number 49(42-78197) 450BG, 722SQ from Manduria (Italy). After a attack on a target in south Germany, the Liberator was shoot down by Swiss Fighters near Dübendorf. The crew bailed out before. I`m unable to find any signs from the crew;(2nd Lt Jesse R. Furrow, 2nd Lt Pete V. Riolo, 2nd Lt Frank J. Starr, 2nd Lt Robert W. Walsh, Sgt Warren L. Jones, S/Sgt John Kobiernicki, S/Sgt Harold L. Linner, Sgt William H. Seippel, Sgt Ronald J. Mahar. I`m really very interested to hear something about people or plane. Can you help me? Thank you so much. |
| Name: | PhoneCardXL |
| E-mail address: | phonecardxl07@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.phonecardxl.com/cards.asp?Country=18&name=&login.x=33&login.y=6 |
| Comments: | Did you know?? Now we have a new phone card $5 for Unlimited Mins call from USA to France with 0.01¢/Min.
If you are interested, please visit our site at http://www.phonecardxl.com/cards.asp?Country=18&name=&login.x=33&login.y=6 |
| Name: | Robert Scott |
| E-mail address: | slickspop55@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My father Robert C Scott was an internee in 1944 I find your site very interesting and have a few pictures of him and area. He was in both Camp Maloney and after a failed escape attempt I believe Wengen one of his fellow rew members Arthur Cooper managed to escape and returned to the states in 44 |
| Name: | Kimberly Brown |
| E-mail address: | myedengrace@att.net |
| Comments: | I just found your site recently and I'm thrilled with all the wonderful information you have available. Thank you.
My father, Captain Robert D. Brown, in his P-51, went down in Switzerland on 5/27/44. He spent several weeks in Rohrschach Hospital recuperating from a badly broken leg before being moved to Davos on July 1st of '44. He mentions a Captain J.W. Reed in his report filed after escape. Any information on either gentlemen would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for a wonderful web site. I'll visit often. |
| Name: | Kenneth M Colgate |
| E-mail address: | kmcolgate@@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | First son of Internee Roland |
| Name: | Robert Beaver |
| E-mail address: | mcbeav@comcast.net |
| Comments: | My dad was interned in Davos from July '44 until spring of '45. He was the pilot of the Little Sheppard that landed wheels up in Dubendorf on July 21,1944. I believe I have pictures of life in Davos that I will try and post on the site soon |
| Name: | pinfly |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.pinfly.com/search/Italy/-.html |
| Comments: | Cheap Italy Phone Card $5 for 50,000 Mins call from USA to Italy with 0.01¢/Min.
If you are interested, please visit our site at http://www.pinfly.com/search/Italy/-.html |
| Name: | George |
| E-mail address: | george_webster869@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I am dogs and cats rearer here in Africa and wish to sell some of my police dogs and cats to overseas.
Please,if anyone is interested to buy them,kindly contact me via my email address: george_webster869@yahoo.com My telephone number is: 00229-97917293. My name is: Dr.George Webster |
| Name: | Steve Hall |
| E-mail address: | smhpl67@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | My father's plane went down in Neftenbach Switzerland on April 24, 1944. Serial No of the plane was 42-31539. Does anyone have information on this B17? Please respond. Thank you. |
| Name: | LARRY |
| E-mail address: | thebarbergroup@msn.com |
| Comments: | my father was a swiss internee. he psssed away in 2000.he was a radio operator-gunner on a B-17.he played trumpet in a band while he was intered.I wondered if any one remembered him? NAME ANDREW-(ANDY)BARBER tech sgnt. |
| Name: | Denise Stotts Edwards |
| E-mail address: | edwardsca02@gmail.com |
| Comments: | My uncle, James D. Stotts (1922-1944), died in a Swiss interment camp. I am now in the process of compling a family tree with more complete information, and I would appreciate any information that can be shared by others who were there with him. No information will be shared without the permission of the person giving it. All of his immediate family members are now deceased, and we would like to be able to share his story as a part of our family records. Please email me at the address shown. Thanks so much, and thanks for sharing all of your own stories. |
| Name: | Barbara Duke Sams |
| E-mail address: | bsams67@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | My dad, Basil L. Duke was the left waist gunner in a B-17 for the 15th U.S. Army Air Force with the 463rd "Swoose Group." He played valve trombone with the "Melody Men" during his three months of internment. Dad died February 21, 2004 after complications from a pulmonary embolism. It's the only time we knew of that he was in the hospital. He died without really sharing any stories of his internment. So I'm doing a little research myself, I guess to somehow "re-connect" to my dad. If you knew my dad during this time, please contact me by e-mail and share a memory of him. My mother, two brothers and I, and four granchildren would be so grateful.
In loving memory of a man who loved his country and his flag, Barbara Jean Duke (Sams) |
| Name: | Dani Egger |
| E-mail address: | dani_egger@hispeed.ch |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.warbird.ch |
| Comments: | Insignia "The Swiss Theater of Inactivity"
Hi there I just found this patch. Does anybody have information about the emblem "The Swiss Theater of Inactivity"? Here you will see the insignia http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_121816/tm.htm Are there pictures of the original available? Thank you for your kind help! Greetings from Switzerland -dani- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ WARBIRD INFORMATION FILES SWITZERLAND Foreign aircraft in Switzerland 1939 - 1945 Dani Egger WIFS-Webmaster dani@warbird.ch Mobile +41 (0)79 246 22 73 http://www.warbird.ch +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
| Name: | Jonas Anderegg |
| E-mail address: | janderegg@gmx.ch |
| Comments: | hi! I am a student from St.Gallen, Switzerland, writing an assigment about Schaffhausen, a Swiss city on the frontier to Germany, erroneously bombed by American Bombers on April 1 1944. Therefor, I am now intensely looking for contemporary witnesses - crewmembers of planes that flew into Swiss airspace by mistake, or because of any other reasons. If anyone could tell me something about such incidences, I would love to hear it, as your statements might provide excellent support for my work! For getting in touch with me I would be grateful.
I apologize for linguistic mistakes... my English leaves some things to be desired... With best regards. Jonas Anderegg |
| Name: | Betsy Mathews |
| E-mail address: | pluto01960@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I just wanted to let you know that the fact there actually were Allied soldiers placed in internment camps in Switzerland in World War II is not being taught in our schools. My son (who is a huge history buff) actually had a high school history teacher tell him he was absolutely wrong and almost failed him in his US History class when he insisted that this was a fact. She only relented when he brought in proof (articles he researched on the internet), and never admitted to the class that he was correct. I feel that more needs to be done in teaching the truth about our past history (whether some people like it or not). I would like everyone who serves, has served, or is considering serving in the US military, that myself and my family have the utmost respect, and gratitude for you, and that you and your families sacrifices are greatly appreciated. If it not for you, I would not be able to have my voice heard or the freedoms I enjoy on a daily basis. |
| Name: | Mark Ellington |
| E-mail address: | markellington@sbcglobal.net |
| Comments: | My dad was a Swiss Internee. Seeing if there was anything mentioned about it on the net led me to your website. Looking over the site I came along the Camp Maloney page. On that page are several old newspaper photos. To my surprise, my dad is in one of the pictures! In the classroom photo the airman on the left in the front row is my dad, Sgt. Dale Ellington. He is alive and well living in Wisconsin. He escaped and found his way back to England. He wrote the entire story his internment and escape, which is quite interesting. One day I will sit down and retype it on this site for posterity to ponder.
Mark Ellington |
| Name: | Andy J. Benedict |
| E-mail address: | ajbdad1@wmconnect.com |
| Comments: | What an interesting site. I looked for some of our crews/planes from the *Cottontails" of the 450BG. Keep up the good work. If you would be so kind, would you allow my accompanying plea to appear on your website? Thank you again. *No No Nanette* et al . . . I flew as the co-pilot on the Captain John Paul Jones, Jr. crew. After he was wounded, the crew was taken over by First Lieutenant Roger A. Kent. We were stationed in Manduria, Italy with the 450th BG, 723rd SQ. The Group was known as the*Cottontails.* When we were in Italy, we suffered two crashes. One happened at Capodichino, Italy (8-44) and the other on the Island of Vis, off the Dalmatian Coast (10-44). There is NO official record of the two mishaps. I would dearly love to find out the disposition of the two incidents. I am hoping that some member of the maintenance or a ground crew chief of the 723rd kept a log of the B-24s in his charge. Perhaps he noticed that his roster was missing a couple of planes after mission return. I know it's a long shot, but there is always that possibility. I don't know the S/Ns of either plane, but the name of the Vis B-24 was *No, No Nanette.* I have pictures of her sitting on her belly. Any personal information of the plane and/or crew would be genuinely welcomed. Respectfully, Andy J. Benedict. AJBDAD1@WMCONNECT.COM
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| Name: | |
| E-mail address: | iarm093@waldonet.net.mt |
| Name: | Richard P Iacona |
| E-mail address: | ikeb17@verizon.net |
| Comments: | For many years I have wanted to make comments about being an Swiss Internee. I have always felt that I did not do my job well enough to spend the time in Swiizerland. The guilt I felt because of those 61 guys that died and those who were caputered in Germany.
I have spoken about my confinment only on rare occasions. We internees in Adelboden were always watched and could not go but into the town and had to be back for bed check, which was 10:00 PM. There were many times when we were told "You are not allowed in town because the Swiss public would like to throw stones at you. The Swiss treated us the way they did is because UNCLCE SAM paid alot of money to their economy during the war. We were told not to try and escape because, There was not one day that myself and my buddy Gus Tsairis did not try the ways of getting out. Those who tried, and failed were told to us and what and where they were going to spend the rest of their stay in Switzerland. No internee is looking for anything that they entitled to. All those that were interneed did not chose the getting shot down and locked up for months. When I was released and got back to the states, I was asked by a physcolgist , what Iwanted to do now that you are in the USA. I replied, I want to go home and see my Mom and baby sister and ship to the Pacific and fight the Japs. I was shipped to Bowan Field Kentucky and place on light duty for the rest of my stay inthe Air Force. He knew I was NUTS. That is how I ended my Air Force enlistment. I'm glad he saw my state of mind. I believe this Doctor probably saved my life. As to medals, I beleive we deserve the recognition as a POW. We are not claiming nothing else. I beleive some politician who did not serve in the War was trying to earn brownie points to stay in congress by not allow Internees like POW to earn the same respect. I am happy that I have gotten this off my chest after more than 60 years. Flew with the 306th BG& the 367th BS. Shot down April 24, 1944 God Bless all Veterans Richard P Iacona |
| Name: | Robert E. Johnson |
| E-mail address: | Robersabel@aol.com |
| Comments: | “The term "former prisoner of war " means a person who, while serving in the active military, naval or air service, was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or its agents, or a hostile force, under circumstances which the Secretary finds to have been comparable to the circumstances under which persons have generally been forcibly detained or interned by enemy governments during periods of war.”
My dictionary defines Hostile as (in part) "Unfriendly". Since when is a Nation friendly or Neutral if they kill American airmen by shooting down aircraft with AA or Swiss aircraft? |
| Name: | Guy Aceto |
| E-mail address: | guy.aceto@weiderhistorygroup.com |
| Comments: | First let me take a second to thank you all for your service and sacrifice. I am a photo researcher for "World War II" magazine and I'm looking for any photos that folks out here may have. We are doing a feature story on your experiences. If you have any information at all please feel free to contact me directly and ... as we usually say in publishing, as soon as possible.
Thank you |
| Name: | aenor sawyer |
| E-mail address: | aenorjsawyer@aol.con |
| Comments: | Thank you for this site. My father Willis B. Sawyer was commander of 343d squadron 15th AirForce 98th bomb group in Lecce and he named his plane the Kathryn Ann after his girlfriend. The plane is on the list of aircraft on your site! thank you...Does anyone know anymore about the plane and its whereabouts? My father returned stateside in Nov 1944 after 56 missions (B24 pilot)and went on to a 34 yr career in the USAF. He just celebrated his 89th birthday and is as sharp as ever. He was very pleased with you website....THank you so much. |
| Name: | Jill SCHAUB Marriner |
| E-mail address: | tjmarri@sbcglobal.net |
| Comments: | I am signing this book on behaf of my father, George Franklin Schaub.....Left Waist Gunner on the "Dottie G", first B-17G to crash land in Switzerland......Feb 1944. |
| Name: | Liz Heagny |
| E-mail address: | liz@ex-powmemorial.org.au |
| Comments: | I am the Official Researcher and Compiler of Names for the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia (opened February 6, 2004)and carrying almost 38,000 names from the Boer War, WWI, WWII & Korea. We had no POWs in Vietnam. Currently I am researching each individual and putting together their personal data, camps, stories etc. for a giant Touch Screen to go alongside the Memorial when I have completed such data. We had around 400 Australians who were interned in Switzerland, many of these had previously escaped from German Camps believing they were making their way to "neutral territory".
Would love to hear from anyone who was held with any Australians and who would email me any info. Your website is brilliant.......also our Aussie guys WERE recognised as POWs upon their return and their names appear on the Memorial. Thanks for this opportunity. Liz Heagney, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. September 1, 2006. |
| Name: | Steve Cole |
| E-mail address: | Stevec01e@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.custermen.com |
| Comments: | Hi, This is not my speciality but I was searching for info on a B-24 "Paper Doll" that was lost on 18 March, 1944. I know the co-pilot of this aircraft and will be visiting him tomorrow. Sidney Bolick wrote his story in "To Soar With The Eagles", published by Trafford Publishing, 2002.
If you are interested in an autographed copy of his book, please email me. He joined the RCAF and rose up thru the ranks and transferred to the USAAF. Yes, he wore two sets of wings. He was assigned to various duties for 1 year and missed the Ploesti raid. This was his FIRST mission as co-pilot. Steve Cole |
| Name: | Santhagens |
| E-mail address: | santhagens@t-online.de |
| Comments: | Hallo,
my english is not so good, but I could read all the stories of these beautiful soldiers that reask there life for us. Fortunatly I didn´t join this horrible war. I am dutch but I lived 35 years in Lucerne ch. I can´t understand that the crews of these landed airplanes had been so mistreated in this beautiful country. Thanks for this good website. E. Santhagens |
| Name: | Foster Hensley |
| E-mail address: | darletah@sbcglobal.net |
| Comments: | My Father Tsgt Frank Edward Hensley plan crashed on Germany/ Switzerland border. He was a photographer and became a POW-Swiss Internee in Adelboden. |
| Name: | Frederick P. Otto |
| E-mail address: | fredotto20434@cox.netexcite.com |
| Comments: | Hi to all my old friends and comrades. |
| Name: | Dani Egger |
| E-mail address: | dani@warbird.ch |
| Homepage URL: | http://warbird.ch |
| Comments: | The new website http://www.warbird.ch is now online.
Warbird Information Files Switzerland (WIFS) Foreign aircraft in Switzerland 1939 - 1945 A unique data base of crashed or force-landed military aircraft in Switzerland during World War II. Ample information on planes and crews. Documents, photographs and a collection of personal reminiscences round off this valuable source. See you there! Werner Schmitter Rolf Zaugg Dani Egger |
| Name: | cheryl apgar |
| E-mail address: | cp50@aol.com |
| Comments: | how many more hoops do we have to jump through to get POW status for wauwilermoos internees? we keep hitting dead ends. any suggestions? my dad, Richard Pettit, is turning 89 this year.
absolutely love and appreciate all of you for remembering these folks. cheryl apgar |
| Name: | Susan Dowd Stone |
| E-mail address: | twedeebyrd@aol.com |
| Comments: | My father, John Dowd, passed away on February 11th, 2001. He was a Swiss internee, who unfortunately, spent time in Wauwilermoos prison camp. His plane was shot down on the German/Swiss border, he was a tail gunner. It affected him the rest of his life. Recently, I found a copy of Dan Culler's book, Black Hole of Wauwilermoos, signed by Dan and sent to my dad, whom I believe he contacted about his treatment there.
I would welcome hearing from anyone who has stories about my beloved father. I know he fought very hard to be given POW status, which he eventually was given. Sincerely, Susan Dowd Stone |
| Name: | Harold Burchards |
| E-mail address: | peninhal@gmail.com |
| Comments: | My father, T/Sgt. Harold Burchards Sr. had his B24 shot down in Aug. 1944 and escaped to Swizerland. He spent a lot of time in Adelboden sking and taking photos (I have a lot of his photos). He died in 1964 after retiring from the USAF, but left a lot of memorabilia from his time in Camp Maloney. |
| Name: | Frederick P. Otto |
| E-mail address: | fredotto20434@cox.net |
| Comments: | Greetings to all Swiss Military Internees. I was the navigator on the B24 Chattanooga ChooChoo landed in Payerne,Switzerland 12 Sept 44, Went to Adelboden then to Davos. 455th BG 740th SQ B-24H-20DT (41-28994). Would like to hear from Internees or their families, especially those trying to get POW status. After we crashed Swiss soldiers approached our plane with guns, bayonets attached.Our government just didn't know what went on or they didn't care. I remember one visit from Legation officers, but that is all. The Swiss prison they had at Wildermous (s)was absolutely terrible. I have seen internees come back. Wonder where the ACLU was then? Have a wonderful Merry Christmas everyone. |
| Name: | Ken Hatley |
| E-mail address: | khatley@khainc.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.khainc.com |
| Comments: | HI all,
I wanted to wish evryone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. A small bit of news, as many of you know I am the nephew of T/Sgt Clyde S Hatley, who passed away March 2004. I realize there has been problems over the POW status for many of you. But, after a long struggle, I was able to actually get the VA to recognize him as a POW with official status. I sent every record, to no avail, then I found a copy of his orders returning from Europe, and the orders listed his status as POW, so that one piece of paper did the job. Now, they are putting an official POW marker on his grave site. Also, I am a Producer and work wiht Lou Reda Productions in many ways, from music to program content. I would like to get everyone's story that was a Swiss Internee. We have an idea for a History Channel Special, "The Forgotten Warriors" or possibly titled "The Forgotten POW's". My email is khatley@khainc.com, if you send me something,put in the header SWISS INTERNEE, or my mailing address is: Ken Hatley 486 West Osceola St. Clermont, FL 34711 Tel 352 394 8761 Best Wishes to all, Ken Hatley |
| Name: | FORREST S. CLARK |
| E-mail address: | B24VET@AOL.COM |
| Comments: | mAJOR R. C. GRIFFITH WHO WAS THE PILOT OF OUR CREW THAT LANDED AT DUBENDORF ON 13 APRIL 1944 HAS DIED. HE WAS A SWISS INTERNEE AND MANY MAY HAVE KNOWN HIM IN THAT TIME.
OUR CREW AT THAT TIME INCLUDED LT. RALPH JACKSON WHO IS TODAY AN OFFICER OF THE SWISS INTERNEE ASSN. I WAS RADIO OPERATOR ON THE GRIFFITH CREW |
| Name: | Kris Zweifel |
| E-mail address: | pumbakz@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I am signing this book on behalf of my grandfather whom was a swiss internee Uriah George Hartman "Buck". My grandfather passed away 3 years ago and he recorded his mission on tape so we could continue to tell his story.
The plane that he flew was "Shoo Shoo Baby" that crashed landed in Dubendorf. He was taken to Davo's where he enjoyed some leisure until he tryed to escape. I am proud to say that even through all of the bad things that he had the priviledge of kicking the germans butt in a game of golf. This was not well recieved. He then escaped only to be caputured and sent to Walermoos. I know that everyone has heard about this place. Grandpa then somehow escaped again and traveled to france and made his way back home. I and my family call ourselves the luckiest people to have known him because if it wasn't for his bravery none of us would be here today. If anyone knew him please feel free to contact me. Kris Zweifel Granddaughter |
| Name: | Fred Farnsworth |
| E-mail address: | FredieF@aol.com |
| Comments: | 1st. Lt. Everett L. Bailey,Pilot of "Little Chub" was my 1st cousin. I didn't know the full story of his crash in Greifensee,Switzerland until I began digging around the internet recently.His mother in Stillwater, Oklahoma told me he was friends with Jimmy Stewart and she had greeting cards from him every holiday til she died.I know he was a B-24 co-pilot when he first went to England and was possibly in Jimmy Stewarts outfit before graduating to B-17s. I understand 4 Crewmen from "Little Chub" survived. I'd sure like to hear from anyone who might be able to enlighten me on this story. thanks and God bless. |
| Name: | Frederick P. Otto |
| E-mail address: | fredotto20434@cox.netKeep up the good work for |
| Comments: | Keep up the good work for our Association. |
| Name: | DONALD PLAUGIC |
| E-mail address: | CIGUALP@AOL.COM |
| Name: | ken Hatley |
| E-mail address: | khatley@khainc,com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.khainc.com |
| Comments: | It is with great sorrow that I must inform you and the many comrades of the Swiss Internee's Association, of my Uncle Clyde S Hatley's passing March 12, 2005.
He was assigned to the 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron. Thee were two planes he was assigned to, 1st The Silver chief, then The Tequila Daisy. The Tequila received Flak and had to limp across the Swiss Border, where they crash landed in Dubendorf. He and crewman Archie Mcyntyre escapeed in January 1945. He was very proud of the Swiss Internees Association, and all of the work it has accomplished in getting the members recognized as POW's. He will be missed deeply in my life, and I know he still has many friends in the Swiss Internee's. Thnak You for all you have done to preserve the meories and stories of these men who have beneglected and denied their rightful place in history. Ken Hatley |
| Name: | Mark Gambaiana |
| E-mail address: | mgambaiana@aol.com |
| Comments: | Thanks to everyone who is working to raise the level of awareness and appreciation for the airmen held by the Swiss during WWII. My father, Paul Gambaiani, of the 367th "Clay Pigeons" was shot down on 4-24-44 and spent time first at Adelboden and later Wauwilermoos. He was released on a prisoner exchange in early 1945. He is 83 and enjoying retirement. |
| Name: | john steinberg |
| E-mail address: | montagne@earthlink.net |
| Comments: | Am a philatelist and very interested in this part of World War II. Intend to accumulate enough material of the mails to and from the camps to create an exhibit and to show same world wide.
All the best John Steinberg |
| Name: | Josh Golden |
| E-mail address: | golden@cruzio.com |
| Comments: | I am the son of Nathan "Sonny" Goldenbloom, bombardier, B-24: "Jackpine Joe",465th, 480th.
Shot down: 19-Jul-44 B-24 # 42-52466 Jackpine Joe Ossingen crashed destroyed . My Dad is 82 and still going strong.Was in Swiss camp. |
| Name: | Norman G. Lewis |
| E-mail address: | thirteenball@msn.com |
| Comments: | I am the son of James W. Lewis BTO on the Wendell O. Scott crew who were interred on 12 July 1944 after landing in Dubendorf on "Gloria" 42-102457. Dad passed away in 1988. Thanks for the great website! |
| Name: | EARL O BRIEN |
| E-mail address: | LEHOSKI@HOTMAIL.COM |
| Comments: | GREAT SITE, I WAS INTERRED 9-22-44, CRASH LANDED
B-24 LIBERATOR THE FLYING OUTHOUSE, 783 BOMBER SQUADRON,55th wing 465tH BOMBER GROUP LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY OUT THERE |
| Name: | Martin / Swiss Mustangs |
| E-mail address: | martin@swissmustangs.ch |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.swissmustangs.ch |
| Comments: | Hello from Switzerland
Congratulations on this great site containing much valuable information on a special page of history of WW2. I am an aviation historian specialized on the P-51 Mustang, but as a sideline have collected many photographs and other material on the interned aircraft during WW2 for almost 20 years now. I would like to share this collection with interested parties / individuals - feel free to contact me by e-mail, stating which aircraft you are interested in - I might have a photograph. Cordially Martin / Swiss Mustangs |
| Name: | Ken Hatley |
| E-mail address: | khatley@khainc.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.khainc.com |
| Comments: | What a wonderful site and service to provide for these heros who have never gained the attention and respect they deserve from the U.S. Army.
My Uncle is Clyde S Hatley, a T/Sgt on the crew of the "Tequila Daisy" which was damaged by AA over Germany and made a crash landing in Dubendorf, Switzerland. The museum of Aviation has the Nose Piece with the art on display there. It seems the Swiss give more recognition to these veterans than our own government. As the 492d Bomb Group left from Peckinham, England, my Uncle Clyde was serving as waist gunner that day. They were on a mission bombing Munich, from what I understand. After they crash landeds in Switzerland they were taken first to Adelboden, then he was was interned in Wengen and held at the Hotel Regina. After some time there, he and a fellow internee, Archie Mcntyre escaped by dressing as a Swiss School girl and boy. He said they went to Lauterbrennen, and boarded a train to Lusanne. The French underground met them at the Lake at night there and rowed them across into France. He says there were a few scarey moments, one in particular when a German or Swiss Sgt on the train tried putting the make on Macintyre, thinking he was a girl. While my wife and I were in Switzerland, we visited this beautiful location, and the hotel has not changed one bit since the internees were there, even the same chairs and tables are still around the fire place and lounge. Pictures of the Regina can be found on the internet, and the young owner we spoke with, would very much like to get some stories from those airmen who were there, and pictures if possible. I will provide the address if anyone is interested. Thank you, and any hyelp I can provide for this organization that is so dear to my Uncle Clyde's heart, I will be glad to. With Warmest Regards, Ken Hatley |
| Name: | Greg Krucek |
| E-mail address: | aflac2002@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | I am the son of Sargent John O. Krucek A.S.N. 36639628 United States Army Air Force. Dad was stationed at Framlingham Air Base in England in the 390th Bomb Group / 570th Bomb Squadron. Their letter designation was "J" and their flight jackets had a 4" diameter patch with a Joker and 4 aces behind the Jokers cap. Dad still has his patch today. His B-17G, # 42-97957, Beyond My Dreams, was forced to land by the Swiss Air Force on July, 12, 1944 at Payerne. Their plane had been hit by German AA on a raid over Munich, Germany, the plane had lost 1 / 2 engines and with mechanical difficulties they were loosing altitude and air speed. Not able to keep up with the bomb group they thought they may be able to make it to Italy, and Allied Territories, through Switzerland. Anyway, my Father is still alive and will be 81 this Christmas and his memory is O.K. but not the best. Dad's not sure but thinks they were taken to Wengen for interigation. The Swiss seperated the Officers from the Enlisted and pops thinks he ended up at Adelboden. (Their is alot more details here but Dad is not sure about all the places he was taken to when in Swiss custody. I will work with him on this for another day.) Pops has kept some pictures from that time and I belive the crew members names are as follows: Officers - 1st pilot Lt. John P. O'Hare, Co-Pilot (?) Navigation Lt. Bernard Kahn, Bomb Lt. William H. Wilkinson, N.C.O.'s Chester Roberts - Flight Engineer, John Krucek - Flight Engineer & Waist Gunner, E.L. Thompson - Tail Gunner, Earl Thomas (Chief) - Waist Gunner, Luther Hughes - Communications, R. Faulks - Ball Gunner. Dad is not sure of everyones title but this is what he thinks is correct. We know how to contact Earl Thomas who is doing well in Ferndale, Washington. If anyone out there knows my Dad of the status on any of his crew please contact me by e-mail. We are living in the Chicago suburbs. |
| Name: | Sara Cardwell |
| E-mail address: | sacardwell@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Thank you for such an informative site. I found it while searching for information on Switzerland POW camps so that I could teach other classmates of mine in a european history class about Switzerland's POW. My great uncle was in the Air Force and was an internee/POW in Switzerland. I was very excited to tell him that his B-24's serial number was on the aircraft listing page. Once again, thank you for such a great site.
-Sara |
| Name: | james D. Brice |
| E-mail address: | jbrice@academicplanet. com. |
| Comments: | Hello,
My father was Douglas D. Brice and served with 44th Bomb Group, 506th Squadron. After a bombing mission over Friedrichshafen, Germany his crew crash landed near Zurich, Switzerland on 18 Mar. 1944. My father was interned at Camp Maloney at Adelboden until he escaped sometime after Nov. 1944, the last date of entry in his Wartime Log book he recieved at Camp Maloney, and he was back in U.S by Dec. 1944. His plane, a B-24, was named the "Wotto Load", serial number as seen in the photo he had, at rest in Switzerland at Dubendorf, was 2100400 and I believe you have it listed as 42100400. His pilots name was Lt. Lucas. My father also has photos of a plane named Paper Doll from the 44th Bomb Group but I can't make out any serial number on it.Photos of some members with him at Camp Maloney were named as Jake Stambaugh along with ? Decker, Walker, Waddel, and Brown. I have learned much from your site. Thanks To All James Brice |
| Name: | Jarrell F. (Jerry) Legg |
| E-mail address: | lnsmpolcat@msn.com |
| Comments: | I along with my wife and daughter Lynda attended the 10/04,
reunion held in Coca Beach, in Flordia. Great tours and accommodations, greatly appreciate the hard work put forth by the Mac Spaddens and others to make this a success and Bob Long for keeping us togeather. I would remind everyone that we are self destructing fast at 80 + years, attend the next reunion and lets stay in touch. Jerry Legg |
| Name: | robert martyr |
| E-mail address: | robbie539306@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | hi everyone
my computer has been down for the last few weeks so i've had to change my email address, also the computer wiped out 6,ooo of my emails and pix i had on my research so if anyone still has pix or emails to me from the last 8 years please do let me know as i have lost abit of work and me being me i didn't have any backup files either , for the moment as i can't send or recive any with outlook express at the moment so i'm still alive and kicking just in case anyone has tried to contact me and not recived an email back and i hope to be back online within the next few weeks my friends. i hope you all are keeping well my friends and if your'd like to email at the above address that would be great and to all my friends have a great day and i hope to speak to you again soon. yours robert martyr |
| Name: | dennis sinitsky |
| E-mail address: | dennis_s239@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Hi,
Just want to say hi to Joseph Sinitsky. And please say hi to his family members who (I hope) are also by the name sinitsky. Regards, Dennis |
| Name: | Victor A Fabiniak S/Sgt |
| E-mail address: | fabavic@wmconnect.com |
| Comments: | Interned Feb 27th l945 Thur may 18 th 1945 target Augsburg Marshalling yards. Tail gunner ,24 sortie missions. I was in the15th Air Force 99th Bomb Grouop 346 BS flying out of Foggia Italy.Our B17 G was a new Mickey Ship 44-8187.This day we flew lead for the 346th in the Charlie box of the bomb group and the 99th BG flew the Charlie box of the 5th Wing of Six Bomb Groups.Mission was 22000 ft. The flak was a solid black cloud. We lost 3 engines and headed for Duebendorf.We lost our wing B17 #2 , it exploded over the target all bailed out except the Pilot. |
| Name: | Victor A Fabiniak S/SGT |
| E-mail address: | fabavic@wmconnect.com |
| Comments: | I was in the 99th Bomb Group 15th Air Force. Our crew flew out of Foggia. Feb 27th 1945 we flew lead for the 346th BS Charlie box of the fifth wing. The target was Augsburg marshalling yards at an altitude of 22000 feet.We lost 3 engines over the target. We were able to throw out anything that we could to lighten the aircraft. Our Pilot Len Smith was able to maintain the aircraft so we headed for Duebendorf where we made a bumppy wheel landing. Our B 17 G was a brand new Mickey Ship 44-8178. Iwas the tail Gunner on this crew with 24 sortie missions.I was interned until May 18th 1945. The 5 officiers and flight engineer were exchanged two weeks later and I , radio operator and the two waist gunners remained behind. |
| Name: | forrest s/ c;lark |
| E-mail address: | b24vet@aol.com |
| Homepage URL: | http:// warvets |
| Comments: | I published a new book about WWII called Innocence and Death in Enemy Skies./\\
It includes some experiences as a Swiss Internee in 1944 The book is available for order on my email B24vet@aol.com |
| Name: | harry malin |
| E-mail address: | hmalin3@aol.com |
| Comments: | Mision to epinal fr may 11,1944
flak before target 2nd run on target,gas about gone. land geneva scary runway(short) Sent to military prison then later to bern for interrogation. Then to gurten Kulm in Bern for quarantine.Then to adeldoden then to Wengen then to escape attempt then to Hunenberg barb wire camp/back to wengen then repatriated in Feb 1945 back to base in England 467 Bomb GR.Shoup crew |
| Name: | Charlene Wilkey |
| E-mail address: | chasw@worldwide.att.net |
| Comments: | My deceased husband, William (NMI)Wilkey from Nashville, Illinois, was a tail gunner on the Naughty Nan, B-24 which landed in Switzerland on September 22 (24?), 1944. He was nearly executed with some other men having suffered some of the ravages of hell in Straflager Wauwilermoos. In order for him to receive a POW status he had to write a complete letter of his (mis)treatment in Switzerland. I learned from that letter many things he had never talked about in our almost 50 years of marriage. To my knowledge he did not make a copy of that letter and I am wondering if anyone out there can tell me where to contact to get a copy of that letter which I want for our only child, a son. He did receive the POW pension so I know someone of autority did get my husband's letter. May I please hear from someone, anyone, who can direct me to the proper source? Thank you.
Charlene Wilkey, widow of William Wilkey. |
| Name: | Warren B. Carah |
| E-mail address: | wcarah@livingonline.com |
| Comments: | I am in the process of editing my father's memoirs of WW-II and would like to ask if any readers associated with Swiss internees had contact with him during 1943.
My father, 2nd Lt. John M. Carah, was a pilot with the 381st. Bomb Group, 533 Bomb Squadron based at Ridgewell. On 4 July 1943 his aircraft was shot down in conjunction with the LeMans, France raid. He took refuge with a French farm family in Lassay, Mayenne. Also at the farm was 2nd Lt. Reynold P. Lasher of the 95 Bomb Group who had been shot down near Rennes on 29 May 1943. Together, Lts. Carah and Lasher, plus a French Resistance guide by the name of Daniel Crevrier, made their way to the Swiss border, successfully crossed, and made their way to the American Legation at Berne in August 1943. Classified as escapees, the Swiss government gave the two American officers free travel privledges thoughout Switzerland. Mr. Chevrier returned to France via Italy and brought back some 10 more American flyers in 1944. My father was appointed Assistant Military Attache and aide-de-camp to Brig. General Barnwell Legge, the Military Attache at the American Legation. Although my father was somewhat economical in his description of his duties, he apparently spent a good deal of his time renting hotel rooms and later, entire ski resorts, for use as quarters for interned airmen. Lt. Carah served under General Legge from August 1943 until January 1944. At my father's request, General Legge, Alan Dulles and British Air Commodore West developed an escape route from Geneva to Lyon to Perpignan to Barcelona. On 4 January 1944, Lt. Carah and 7 other American and British airmen left Switzerland and finally arrived in Barcelona, Spain on February 28. From there, they returned to Allied control at Gibralter on 2 March 1944. I would like to correspond with any internee or escapee who knew or worked with my father during this period. Warren B. Carah |
| Name: | Anthony Peraggine |
| E-mail address: | shortckt@optonline.net |
| Comments: | I am the son of Louis A. Peraggine, one of the crew members of the Association's President. Mr. Long, this is a very nice sight. I saw the picture of "Miss Fortune", and was very proud. I hope all is well.
Tony |
| Name: | clint houston |
| E-mail address: | ch10825@aol.com |
| Comments: | My father, Lt. Sam Houston (Selman)piloted the Rowdy Dowdy (B-24) that crashed in Switzerland in April 1944. I have pictures of him and others, made to dig graves, while interned. I also have a copy of his escape story as narrated by Lt. Max wilson (B-17)also interned. The two escaped togehter in August of 1944. Lt. Max Wilson lived in Rancho Santa Fe, California last I heard. Sam Houston passed away in 1965. He was 44. |
| Name: | Matthias Baars |
| E-mail address: | info@crashplace.de |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.crashplace.de |
| Comments: | Hello!
You have a good Site. Is intresting. Mattias Baars www.crashplace.de |
| Name: | Edmund Maul |
| E-mail address: | edmaul@optonline.net |
| Comments: | My late uncle Lt. George Filush, Bombardier, 447th BG, 710th sqd., based at Rattlesden #126, was in the Ray Thornbury crew, B17G, SN 42-107021, (no name), damaged on mission to Augsburg, 13 April 1944. Two other 447th planes went to switzerland the same day. He was interned first in Adelboden then moved with officers to Davos in Eastern, Switzerland. The Pilot Ray Thornbury, Navigator Dominick Padula and Ball Turret Dan Rich are still with us.
First assembled a book of records and photos my uncle left. He died in 1960, age 44. I am re-doing the book and always looking for photos and stories of life as an internee in Switzerland. Have read most of the books on the subject. Bob Long is a great guy and most helpful. |
| Name: | Edmund Maul |
| E-mail address: | edmaul@optonline.net |
| Comments: | My late uncle Lt. George Filush, Bombardier, 447th BG, 710th sqd., based at Rattlesden #126, was in the Ray Thornbury crew, B17G, SN 42-107021, (no name), damaged on mission to Augsburg, 13 April 1944. Two other 447th planes went to switzerland the same day. He was interned first in Adelboden then moved with officers to Davos in Eastern, Switzerland. The Pilot Ray Thornbury, Navigator Dominick Padula and Ball Turret Dan Rich are still with us.
First assembled a book of records and photos my uncle left. He died in 1960, age 44. I am re-doing the book and always looking for photos and stories of life as an internee in Switzerland. Have read most of the books on the subject. Bob Long is a great guy and most helpful. |
| Name: | Fredy Peter |
| E-mail address: | mikagejp@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hi friends,
my father served in the Swiss Army during WW2 and guarded to borer to Germany (Austria) He was in the pastrol that foung Lt.Kerr's B-17 that crashed on July 12th, 1944. He told me the story many years later as he did not like to be remembered of the horrible scene at the crash site, a crash site high up in the mountains. His story as well as the stories of Internees are in my book "Jump Boys, Jump", a book dedicated to the US flyers and the Swiss soldiers. I have met many of the former Internees and it is my pleasure as well as my honor having made friendship with so many of them Fredy Peter |
| Name: | James C. Parker |
| E-mail address: | b24wwii@aol.com |
| Comments: | thanks to the swiss newsletter i am now able to read about and send to friends the history of the swiss internee story |
| Name: | Kathryn H. Sykes |
| E-mail address: | kathrynhsykes@cs.com |
| Comments: | I am the widow of John Sykes Jr. who was the co-pilot on Champagne Girl and was an internee in Davos..I have many pictures and much memorabilia concerning Jack's internment..Jack died 6/21/99 and is buried in the National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida..also I am in contact with Wm. Bridges who was the radioman on Champagne Girl and Donald McBey, the flight engineer...Before Jack died he dictated several pages of notes concerning his training, missions and the incident that resulted in their 3 turn spiral spin and how they recovered from it in spite of the damage to the plane..I have an address for Stefan Naef or Naf (as he also spelled it) I also have a phone number for him but they date back to June, l999 when Stefan called me from Switzerland Re: Jack's death...Would be most interested in hearing from anyone!!! |
| Name: | Adam Eisner |
| E-mail address: | ajeisner@comcast.net |
| Comments: | My dad, Eugene Eisner T/Sgt. 2nd BG, 429th Sq was interned in Adelboden and Wengen from July 18, 1944 through his escape sometime in November 1944. I have many photographs of his flight crew and other men while they were interned.
I look forward to hearing from some of the vets. |
| Name: | John Sangas |
| E-mail address: | jsangas1@juno.com |
| Comments: | Its been a long time,memories get blurred,all I know now I was able to make it,wondering how? |
| Name: | harry malin |
| E-mail address: | hmalin3@aol.com |
| Name: | FORREST S. CLARK |
| E-mail address: | B24VET@AOL.COM |
| Comments: |
I WAS A SWISS INTERNEE FROM APRIL 1944 TOI DEC. 1944 IN ADELBODEN AND WENGEN. I WOIULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOIUT THE SWISS INTERNEE ASSOICIATION INC,. AND TO JOIN IT IF POSSIBLE. WE LANDED AT DUBENDORF 13 APRIL 1944 FROM 44TH BOMB GROUP 67TH SQUADRON./ MY PILOT WAS LT. RC. GRIFFITH. SEND ME MORE UP TO DATE INFORMATION B24VET@AOL.COM SEE YOU ALL SOON THANKS SO KEEPING IT FLYING |
| Name: | Robert Long |
| E-mail address: | bobsiai@aol.com |
| Comments: | As the President of the Swiss Internees Association;
Vice Pres. Ferris Martin; Sec. James Goings; Treas. Jack Falk; We were interned in Switzerland. We are the only Official Swiss Internees Association--Incorporated and Licensed by the State of New Jersey Feb. 21, 1986. All others stating such affilliation are improperly using our name and logo. The names associated with such writings are not members nor are they for the most part former Swiss internees. We have the largest collection of material from the Swiss Archives, National Archives and writings from internees. |
| Name: | carl hannon |
| E-mail address: | carlhannon@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://385thbg.rollcall.freeservers.com/index.html |
| Comments: | there is not much i can say except,why these men are not reconized as pow as if try to escape they were imprisoned.
now in my book when one has his freedom taken away like this. you a pow. write your congress man or women and let them know they should at least get a POW medal. all i got to say. lets suport them |
| Name: | David Manley |
| E-mail address: | dmanley@prodigy.net |
| Comments: | Glad I found this site. Am wondering if any Internee from the Palais Hotel or Bel Air Bar winter of 1944/45 remembers a young chambermaid/waitress whom you nicknamed "Betty"? Betty is a sharp, still attractive woman who lives out here in the SF Bay area. I serve as a volunteer interviewer and videographer for the Veterans Home, Yountville, CA, and I am currently getting Betty's story. And pictures...she kept a scrapbook/photoalbum/autograph book with quite a few pictures and many, many of your signatures and yearbook style notes.
Would love to hear from anyone who remembers "Betty." |
| Name: | Matt Sullivan |
| E-mail address: | mattsullivan01@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | What's up dude- good looking website!
Matt |
| Name: | Melissa |
| E-mail address: | puddleywuddley@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Great website! My gradfather is on here, Howard Melson. I told him about this and he didn't even know her was on it. |
| Name: | Peter Parker |
| E-mail address: | officeratwithaprinter@yahoo.de |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.muenzweltsammel.de/ |
| Comments: | Hi, I just came over to your site. it looks great! I wonder, when I will see an update. cya 'round. --"I'll be back!" |
| Name: | vincent campellone |
| E-mail address: | campellone@sbcglobal.net |
| Comments: | Anything on Belford Gap |
| Name: | Versicherungsvergleiche |
| E-mail address: | reinhard@juling.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://versicherungen.2itb.com/index.htm |
| Comments: | Great Site...enjoyed visiting... |
| Name: | Raphael Spörri |
| E-mail address: | raphael.spoerri@bluewin.ch |
| Comments: | Does anybody know the email adress of Stephan Tanner??? He wrote the book Refuge from the Reich and i have a question to him concerning the long entry that i made in here before. Thanks a lot! |
| Name: | kostenlose Klingeltöne |
| E-mail address: | Spittterr@hotmail.com |
| Name: | Raphael Spörri |
| E-mail address: | raphael.spoerri@bluewin.ch |
| Comments: | Grüezi
My name is Raphael Spörri and I am from Switzerland. My grandfather served in WW2 in the swiss army.(Beside other things he also guarded "your" planes at Dübendorf Airport) When i was younger he told me a lot of storys about his duty and his experience during the war. And as a little boy i was especially interestet about the storys of those big planes from very far away who sometimes had to land in our small country because of damage or lack of fuel. Well, i grew older and this interest grew with me. Now, I am 25 years and able to use the advantages of modern technic. So I ordred already many books about the European Airwar and especially the bomber crews and their planes. The last book i orderet is called "Refugees from the Reich". There, the whole story about downed planes and their crews in Switzerland is told. Of course there are also some pictures from planes and crew memeber. And one of those pics is the reason why i write too much in your guestbook. The picture shows Cyril Braund (Member of your organisation) and his swiss friend Stefan Naef in the swiss mountains beside the wreckage of Cyril Braund's B 17 G Champagne Girl. This plane crashed on the 19. July 1944 into a mountain after the crew could save herself with their parachuts. The photo was taken in 1996 so i guess that wreckage, who can be seen on that photo, is still there. My goal now is it, to see that wreckage. I have no idea if it is still there and if it is a kind of an attraction up there in the mountains but it seems that here in Switzerland nobody knows anything about that. Not even the tourist office in Obersaxen which is the closest town of the wreckage. And it is also not possible to fiend that swiss friend of Cyril Braund, Stefan Naef. There are a few Stefan Naefs living in Switzerland but to call all those 15 Stefans is definitly the last thing i will do..:-) So, if anybody who ready that terrible long note knows anything about that or has any help or requests to offer, please conatact me under my mail adress raphael.spoerri@bluewin.ch Thank you very much for your help, and if i am that lucky that Cyril Braund himself reads my words here, please contact me! Thank you all very much again Raphael Spörri |
| Name: | C.C.Brown |
| E-mail address: | ccbrown@epost.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.internetflughafen.de |
| Comments: | Fantastic Site - Loaded with great information - particularly your graphics and pictures and I will soon com back.... C.C.Brown, Geneva, CH |
| Name: | Rupert Hutchinson |
| E-mail address: | Rupalhutch@wowway.com |
| Comments: | As you cam see I have changed my E-Mail address. |
| Name: | robert martyr |
| E-mail address: | robert@cmartyr.freeserve.co.uk |
| Comments: | hi all
in just over a weeks time, may 26th , i will be laying a wreath in honor of the men of the swiss internees assoc i will also be laying a wreath for james d. stotts who died while in switzerland in 1944. i will be taking afew photo's to send to bob long to put in the internee archives for all to see. the swiss internees wreath is for the 61 men who died in switzerland, those who have since passed on and to the internees that are with today. i hope to be laying a wreath every year for many years too come. have a nice day my friends and i will speak to you again soon. i did have a hotmail e-mail address but it's kaput now so if anyone has tried to reach me thru my hotmail address it's been at least 8 months since i have been able to access it so could anyone who has tired my hotmail contact me thru the above e-mail address instead, especially bob hiller and ruth wise as your e-mail addresses changed but i didn't add them to my outlook express address. take care my friends. yours rob martyr |
| Name: | Peter G Pierce, III |
| E-mail address: | ppierce2@cox.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.FirstBethany.com |
| Comments: | My late father, Peter G Pierce, was a radio operator in a B-17 squadron of the 15th Air Force based in Foggia, Italy. As radio men were in short supply, he was shifted from crew to crew as needed. His plane was shot down during a mission over Austria [?] and crashed (without serious casualties) a few hundred years inside the Swiss border; my mother has a picture of the B-17 in a potato field. The crew he was with were just a couple of missions away from being rotated to US. He was interned at Wengen. He escaped into France in December 1944. He was picked up by the French Resistance and, when London, confirmed his status as an American aviator, was repatriated. Dad was from McAlester, Oklahoma, and trained at Ardmore (OK) AAFB. He was sent to North Africa in 1943 and then to Italy following its surrender. He finished the war ferrying B-29s to Kwajelen Atoll. He visited Wengen in the 1980s; his skis were still in the attic of the Gasthof where he was billeted.
If anyone knew him, I would appreciate hearing from you. Pete Pierce Norman, Oklahoma |
| Name: | Peter Simeon |
| E-mail address: | p.simon@swissonline.ch |
| Comments: | Hello
Sorry for my english but I hope you can understand it! I'm from switzerland and life near the old airport of Dübendorf. I have some reproductions from the US-Airplanes where was there! Maybe someone is interested to have a look. Please let me now. Peter Simeon |
| Name: | Robin Speer |
| E-mail address: | rspeer@adams.net |
| Comments: | I'm an associate member; my dad is Bob Long. It's great to see the website! I can't wait to see more internee stories in the future. God bless all of you who served in WWII! |
| Name: | William D Jones |
| E-mail address: | senojrd@iowatelecom.net |
| Comments: | Saw the Alps many time during my tour in 43 & 44 Was downed over Steyer, Austria on 4-2-44.
Just found your web-site and will return again. |
| Name: | Rupert I. Hutchinson |
| E-mail address: | Rupalhutch@aol.com |
| Comments: | Just found this address and wanted to let others know that I am still around and hoping to hear from some of you guys out there. Hoping that everything is going good for all of you. |
| Name: | Jarrell F. (Jerry) Legg |
| E-mail address: | LnsmPolcat@AOL.com |
| Comments: | Internee begining 3/16/44 until 2/17/45, tail gunner B-17G,
385th BG 550th SQ - Great Ash Fied, England. Mission Augsburg Germany. Aircrft lost nose, ball turret and #4 engine as a result of fighter attack (ME-109s) Nine Crew members bailed out. Lt. Williams chute failed to open. Lt.Meyer brrilliantly executed a textbook ditching (Lake Zug) The Swiss rowed out and rescued him. The Plane was retrieved from Lake Zug in 1952 by a Swiss filling station called Bomber Schaffner The Plane was on display in Switzerland for 20 years. Scrapped St. Mortiz 1972. |
| Name: | Jarrell F. (Jerry) Legg |
| E-mail address: | Lnsmpolcat@aol.com |
| Comments: | Currently living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tailgunner on the
Lonesome Polecat, Great Ash Field, England. B-17G 385th Bomb Group, 550th Sq. Shot up on a misson to Augusburg, Germany. Interneed in Switzerland- Adeleboden - Wengen and Hundenberg Attempted Escape, back to Wengen. Eleven months interned. Love to have you send me an E mail. |
| Name: | Forrest S. Clark |
| E-mail address: | B24vet@aol.com |
| Comments: |
Good job on the Swiss web site. I like it much. Lost track of the association since moving to Florida. Too bad because I have had bypass surgery and had heart attack in Alaska flying over the glacier. If any Swiss internees live within 50 mi. of Orlando Florida let them get in contact with me. Would like to have a bull session and see if we can compare notes. Good luck,. Forrest S. Clark Adelboden and Wengen, 1944. Into Swistzerland 13 April 1944. Say hello to Ralph jackson if he is still with us. |
| Name: | Sharon Thomas |
| E-mail address: | smthoma@mtco.com |
| Comments: | Hi: I received an e-mail to check out this web site. Very nice. I have been looking for information or people who flew with my dad SGT. Edward J. Miller from chicago. His number was 42-95218. He was a Swiss internee. He was the tail gunner of a B-24. Anyway, if anyone knows him or has any pictures of him I would love to see them. He is currently living in Crest Hill Illinois. That is close to Joliet Illinois. His e-mail address is: spec_ed@juno.com. I know he would love to hear from people who where in the same situation as him. Thanks for reading. Regards, Sharon |
| Name: | Edmund G. Maul |
| E-mail address: | edmaul@optonline.net |
| Comments: | My uncle Lt. George Filush, Bombardier, 447th HBG, 710th Sq. landed at Dubendorf, April 13, 1944. Escaped, Sept. 1944. Was on the Thornbury crew. |
| Name: | ROLAND K. COLGATE |
| E-mail address: | rcolgate@gis.net |
| Name: | Becky Smith |
| E-mail address: | nokomts@ktc.com |
| Comments: | Hi, Dwight!
I just want to thank you for setting up this web site! My father, Jack R. Smith, was a Swiss Internee. He was a bombardier. All of my dad's crew got safely back to the U.S. after some harrowing experiences for some of them. I've been fortunate to find several of them and it was wonderful to be able to talk with them and hear their story first-hand. They were a courageous bunch of guys! If you are interested in more information on them I'll be happy to share what I know. Thanks again and good luck to you, Dwight! Peace to ALL, Becky Smith |
| Name: | robert s. martyr |
| E-mail address: | robert@cmartyr.freeserve.co.uk |
| Comments: | hello everyone
i just got the address for the website from dwight mears and it's really good to know the swiss internees now have their own website to share the storys, pix and info of their time while in switzerland during 1943 to 1945 as their storys are a major part of our history and should never be forgotten and with the swiss internees website millions more people will be able to read just what really happened to most of the men in switzerland as far from being neutral switzerland not only helped germany but also punished those internees who wanted to get back to their own lines and many of them was treated badly, to say the least. i have been researching into the internees for about 6 years and it's been my pleasure to have written and spoken to some of the men and their familys who have helped me more than i could ever imagined when i first started, those of you know who you are as i could probable spend hours writting down the names. i'd like to dedicate this message to the 61 men who paid the ultimate price for our freedom while trying to make it into switzerland or died while in switzerland, god bless them all. i will be sending the address out to all the people i know so as to spread the word of the swiss internees. have a good day my friends. yours rob martyr |