April 29, 1945 - 'Old Blood and Guts' and Operation Manna
After nine days at the horribly overcrowded Stalag Luft VIIA in Moosburg, Gerard Kelleher and David Yemen would finally get the news they were waiting for, when the camp was liberated by the 14th Armored Division of the Third Army.
In his book Time Out. A Remembrance of World War II by American airman Bill Ethridge described the events of the day:
"Daybreak brought the sound of shouting and gunfire at the front gate. From our barracks we could See German troops near that gate, and they were firing in! We were ordered to stay inside as the Germans began fighting each other. We found out later when bodies were being loaded onto a truck that the Gestapo had attempted to take the camp from the Wehrmacht. Little did we know at that time, but Hitler had issued an order to kill all of the prisoners in the camp. The Gestapo and the SS troops attempted to carry out that Order, and the German army had saved our lives. Almost on cue after the fighting stopped, American troops backed by one tank and one Jeep arrived at the front gate. The German army personnel surrendered immediately. The American flag was raised over Moosburg at 1240 hours, and it was a sight that brought tears to many eyes. At 1315, General Patton came through the gate, standing erect in his Jeep behind his driver. Another Jeep followed with four heavily armed soldiers. There, finally, was Old Blood and Guts in Person with those famous pistols on his hips."
In the book In Enemy Hands: Canadian Prisoners of War 1939-1945 by Daniel G. Dancocks, Allied Flying Officer Wilf Blewett, another prisoner at the camp was quoted: “General Patton came through and stood up on his tank with his pearl-handled revolvers and said, “Well, you’re brave men, you’ve made it. My troops will help you as much as they can, but we’ve got work to do.” Just like John Wayne, you know, and away he went.”
----
Back at 550 Squadron, one-time crew Harris Crew members Albert Colin and William Towle joined their new crews for Operation Manna, delivering food to the starving population of the Netherlands.
In his book Time Out. A Remembrance of World War II by American airman Bill Ethridge described the events of the day:
"Daybreak brought the sound of shouting and gunfire at the front gate. From our barracks we could See German troops near that gate, and they were firing in! We were ordered to stay inside as the Germans began fighting each other. We found out later when bodies were being loaded onto a truck that the Gestapo had attempted to take the camp from the Wehrmacht. Little did we know at that time, but Hitler had issued an order to kill all of the prisoners in the camp. The Gestapo and the SS troops attempted to carry out that Order, and the German army had saved our lives. Almost on cue after the fighting stopped, American troops backed by one tank and one Jeep arrived at the front gate. The German army personnel surrendered immediately. The American flag was raised over Moosburg at 1240 hours, and it was a sight that brought tears to many eyes. At 1315, General Patton came through the gate, standing erect in his Jeep behind his driver. Another Jeep followed with four heavily armed soldiers. There, finally, was Old Blood and Guts in Person with those famous pistols on his hips."
In the book In Enemy Hands: Canadian Prisoners of War 1939-1945 by Daniel G. Dancocks, Allied Flying Officer Wilf Blewett, another prisoner at the camp was quoted: “General Patton came through and stood up on his tank with his pearl-handled revolvers and said, “Well, you’re brave men, you’ve made it. My troops will help you as much as they can, but we’ve got work to do.” Just like John Wayne, you know, and away he went.”
----
Back at 550 Squadron, one-time crew Harris Crew members Albert Colin and William Towle joined their new crews for Operation Manna, delivering food to the starving population of the Netherlands.
Comments
Post a Comment