Newspapers / Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter / Feb. 1, 1965, edition 1 / Page 3
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FEBRUARY, 1965 THE PIEDMONITOR PAGE THREE Bob Reagan, Assistant Direc tor of Communications, recently made a nostalgic journey into the southern part of France where exactly two decades ago, he parachuted from an Air Force B-17 shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. Last September, Reagan at tended a joint meeting of the Airline Electronic Engineers Committee in Brussels. Prior to the meeting, he and his son va cationed for three weeks throughout Europe. Three days of the tour were pleasantly spent visiting near Cognac with Gerard Castillon du Perron. First Meeting Different Not so on Reagan’s first ac- quaintenance with Perron twen ty years ago. Then a technical sergeant — radio operator/gun ner, Reagan was barely 18 years old. He was just out of training and on his first mission when anti-aircraft fire sent his plane catapulting earthward. Recalls Reagan, “There was a barrage of bullets, flak, and fire; then, I was out. I remember that my parachute fell behind the am- came rushing up to Reagan. They • led him to the kitchen where the Germans interrogated him for some three hours. From then on, Reagan, though some what apprehensive, was more curious than frightened. Gestajjo Meant Solitary He was taken to Gestapo head quarters in Cognac, and after one night there, a midnight ride to Bordeaux, and four days and nights of solitary at Gestapo headquarters in Frankfort, Rea gan and three boxcars of other prisoners made the six day ride to Krems, Austria. Thus began 16 months as a prisoner of war in the Nazi’s infamous Stalag 17. For “Krieg- ies” — shortened from the Ger man “kriegesgefangener” mean ing “war prisoner” — the peri od was spent in lice-infested bar racks that leaked when it rain ed. Kriegies were fed poorly, and water was available only three times a day. Sometimes, food and/or water was withheld for days at a time as punish ment for some infraction of German rules. tries were located in adjoining areas, but the Germans tried to keep them apart from each oth er as much as possible. The Russians fared the worst. They did not have the advantage of an agency such as the Red Cross to provide them with supple mental food. And they weren’t protected by such' wartime agreements as benefited the Americans. However, although U. S. prisoners were not allowed to work under an agreement of the Geneva Convention,, it turn ed out to be somewhat of a dis advantage. Those who worked on the farms sometimes were able to pilfer food. It was not all bad, however, according to Reagan. It is true ■that the prisoners suffered from disease as well as from idleness and they certainly missed feminine company, but, otherwise, the boys found ways to spend their time. They or ganized a theater using, as in Shakespeare’s day, male actors for all roles. They formed a soft ball team and constructed a box ing ring. And, of course, harrass- Reagan's son, Bob, Jr., the Frenchman, Perron, and Reagan himself vey the spot where Reagan parachuted from his Air Force plane. Reagan Recalls Kriegie Days munition boxes when the plane was hit, so I had to jump with a spare chute that just happen ed to be on board. It was on up side down, too.” He landed “scared stiff” but unhurt, in an open field near Perron’s estate. The French man and three German soldiers But the German soldiers were like babysitters compared to the storm troops and Gestapo that inspected the camp about once a week. “When they came around,” recalls Reagan, “we kept quiet and out of sight.” Americans Had It Best P. O. W.’s from other coun- per Two Kriegies carry back fruits of Red Cross “pay day." Sometimes, the Germans would puncture canned goods with a bayonet, but they had to let the Red Cross supplies through because of Genova war agreements. Xuvn /u T/fii ; Ben Plielper Reagan's barracks is an indication of living conditions. Tin cans and drains hung from barracks ceiling to catch the drips from a leaking roof. In the foreground is a blanket drying on the barbed fence. ing the enemy held a certain amount of intrigue. Escapes were always imminent, though none was successful. Morale was, in general, quite good. Only a few were unable - to withstand the strain. Occasion ally, a man would be so burden ed by imprisonment that he might run wildly across the warning wire and throw himself senselessly at the high, barbed fence. To do so was suicide, since the German guards were under orders to shoot without question anyone who trespassed over the wire. 4500 Americans Marched It was in April, under threat of advancing Allied forces, that the Nazi’s moved all able-bodied prisoners to Brannau in a 200 mile, 18 day march. Kriegies were fed only once in the 18 days. They foraged additional chickens, eggs, and potatoes along the way. The motley 4500 Americans spent less than two weeks in the rain-drenched woods of Brannau. What shelter they had, they built for them selves out of wood, bark strips, and foliage. The Allies liberated the prisoners on the 11th day, May 5, 1945. Second Visit For Reagan Reagan’s September trip was the second such visit to Cognac. Two years ago, he and his wife actually stayed with Perron, al though this time the large house was already occupied by the Frenchman’s relatives. The two men, Reagan and Perron, have developed a friend ship out of the wartime happen ing. Reagan, shortly after be ing liberated, testified in Per ron’s behalf when the latter was charged with turning the Amer ican flyer over to the Nazis. Though the charge was untrue —three Germans were on the spot when Reagan hit the ground—Perron was imprisoned and some of his property con fiscated by political enemies. It is still one of Reagan’s greatest hopes that the French man will be able to visit him here in America. Would Repeat Experience In thinking back over his war experiences, Reagan comment ed, “There’s no doubt that it was an adventurous experience •— especially for a young boy. I’d probably do it all over again if I knew it would turn out the same way. The worst part of all was that three of my crew didn’t make it.” Ben I’lielper One hundred and thirty-six men had to share one tub of soup. The Germans sometimes warned Krieg ies to watch for worms and small bugs which were unavoidably cooked with the chow. Only 11 days were spent in the makeshift campsite that took 18 days to reach. It rained 10 of those 11 days. The men managed to build shelters out of the wood and grass found in the area. . .1 After the march to Brannau, a soldier listens to news of Allied vic tories on a crystal set made from soap dishes and parts smuggled in by the French.
Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter
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Feb. 1, 1965, edition 1
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