"Hi, I was a Tail Gunner on the Hopkins crew when we arrived at the 100th Group. I was taken off the crew to make it a 9 man crew. Later I was told that I would be a spare Ball Turret Gunner. My first 2 missions were on (9-27-44) to Mainz and (9-28-44) to Merseburg. I'm not sure who the pilot was. At one time I thought it was Lt Bennett. Mission # 3 through # 7 was with Lt Ricci. Mission # 8 started with Lt Gwin and ended with Lt Gwin on (3-15-45) at Orangeburg. I ended my tour on Feb 15th at Oranienburg. I was told that I could go home. The printing on the old bomb tags does not look as good as it did back in 1944 and 1945. The only picture that I have is one of the Ricci crew before I got on the crew. I hope this info. clears things up for you. Thanks for your trouble. " Charles Koons

EYEWITNESS: "A/C #520 appeared to be in trouble shortly after leaving the I. P. at 1102 hours. Bombs were salvoed and one engine feathered. The A/C stayed in formation to the R. P. (rally point. . . pw)  where another engine was feathered and the aircraft began a gradual controlled descent. When last seen the aircraft was below the cloud level at six or seven thousand feet, heading in a westerly direction under apparent control. "

German report in the MACR is to the effect this aircraft, badly damaged by flak, made an emergency landing and seven (7) crew members were captured. Other documents list all nine of the crew as captured and Sgt. Kenneth E. Yeater in the hospital.

From: Kenneth E. Yeater

To: Paul West

Beginning with our first mission, the following is the record I have, and is to the best of my knowledge accurate.

5 Nov. 1944: Ludwigshafen, Ger. Plane #520 "Going My Way"

The events that took place after we crossed the target are in the notes of Oren E. Hopkins, Pilot. I has hit by flak that spun through my left leg at my knee. When the flak hit, I was thrown to the other side of the radio room. Didn't realize I was hit until I saw my leg. The left leg of my heated suit was cut off when I received the hit. I have few recollections of our crash landing, except remembering being pulled over a mound of dirt where the ball turret had been, when we all were evacuating the plane. Then nothing until the rest of the crew said farewell to me at the German hospital where German soldiers took all of us following our capture. The rest of the crew were taken by the soldiers, separated, and taken on to prison camps. I was kept on at the hospital, somewhere near the Moselle River (town of Trier may have been location), for several days. When allied troops, began crossing the Moselle River, the hospital was evacuated. All were put on a train on the other side of the town. The train stopped at Stuttgart where I was placed on a stretcher at the station, guarded by 2 German soldiers until a truck from Stalag VA picked me up.

I was the only member of the Air Force of the 17 Americans there at Stalag VA. It was located at Ludwigsburg, about 14 kilometers from Stuttgart. It had been an Infantry Barracks during WWI. One three story structure, was the hospital where I was placed. There were Quonset type buildings where Russian, Polish, French, Belgian and others were held prisoner. I remember a German Guard singing to us in the evening, and a French Priest making the rounds with a large can full of tea, offering sips to us then too A Belgian Doctor, a prisoner also, took care of us as best he could, had determined that my leg could not be saved, and had scheduled amputation. God was with me, as allied planes bombed out the water supply in the whole area. Miracles do happen, my leg began to turn back to normal gradually after that. I still have my leg'

I was liberated on April 21, 1945 by a French Armored Tank Division.

Must relate a bit of humor regarding our liberation by the French. They had lobbed artillery into the town for about 2 weeks prior to coming in. What a sight they were. Tanks had laundry hanging from the guns their women were with them, also their dogs. When they came to the 3rd floor where I was, they asked us what we wanted most. We told them a radio so we could hear what was happening in the world.

When they asked what else we needed, we all told them something to drink. Shortly after our request was made, a horse drawn water tank used for sprinkling the streets appeared, full of wine, along with 14 radios!

One of the most spectacular sights at the Stalag occurred about 3 days prior to the French coming in. A group of P 51's flying single file came down to my 3rd floor level, departing, they dipped their wings to let us know help was coming. The Germans had all departed several days after the artillery started coming in. We were taken by truck several days later to Ludwigshaven, put on a hospital train to Nancy, France. I stayed in a hospital there for 6 weeks. I finally caught a B 17 from the 94th Group flying back to England. Then a ride back to the 100th at Thorpe Abbotts. Found everyone who was going back to the States had already left. I then went to the 8th Air Force Headquarters, and was sent to Southampton to await passage home. Spent 6 weeks there. My name finally appeared to go to Liverpool to board a ship for home. 22 days after leaving Liverpool on "The Nishmaha", arrived at New York harbor, then on to Newark, N. J. where we docked in the USA July 20, 1945.

Sometime after we all arrived home, Gene Jamison stopped in Michigan City to visit, and told me of one of the miracles that did happen just prior to our being taken prisoner. The crew had popped a parachute and placed me on it. All the while rifle and mortars were being fired at me and the rest of the crew. Not a single shot hit me or the chute, or any of the other crew members, who were spread out on a sloping hill where our plane came to rest. Shortly thereafter, we all were taken prisoner.

Kenneth E. Yeater, 351st Sqdn. 100th Bomb Group
 

HOPKINS, O. E. Page 5 of 5

Thursday, June 16, 2011

S/Sgt G. A. Windisch TG

Ernst's leg amputated in German Hospital night of 3/2/45 & he was soon exchanged.

See "CONTRAILS" p. 131 & S. O. C. p. 95. Also p. 219/223 of "FLYING FORTRESS" by E. Jablonski.

EYEWITNESS REPORT from MACR # "A/C #44 8379 was hit by flak, reported to be a ground rocket a few seconds before bombs away. A/C continued on run and dropped bombs. Fire and dense white smoke was seen in the fuselage and bomb bay, including the cockpit. Bomb bay doors closed and then reopened. Pilot opened his window and peeled gently off to the right, directing deputy leader to take over on VHF. A/C headed NE and flew level for a few moments while six members bailed out (3 appeared to come from waist or tail and 3 from bomb bay. . There was a small explosion in #3 engine nacelle and thd A/C headed down, burning and beginning to spin when last seen at 15/000 feet. Observers believe entire crew had an excellent chance to bail out. "