Photograph as originally submitted to this page in the Historical Marker Database www.HMdb.org. Click on photo to resize in browser. Scroll down to see metadata.

Photographer: Mike Wintermantel
Taken: May 14, 2014
Caption: Prisoner of the Nazis
Additional Description: "We immediately lost engines 1, 2 and 4 while engine 3 was emitting white smoke...The plane descended to about 4,000 feet in 8 or 9 minutes. Upon descending in the unbelievable quietness, I heard the plane explode.

I retrieved my escape kit from my flight suit and removed the language dictionary. I first turned to the French section and indicated to the farmer my identity and my need for help. I was not sure if the farmer was French or German.

He gently took the book from me and turned the pages to the German section. He advised me that he was German and said, 'For you the War is over'."

John McCracken, 570th Bomb Squadron
Submitted: May 14, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Database Locator Identification Number: p273349
File Size: 1.663 Megabytes

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