A little know story of WWII was the relationship of the U.S. and Russia during the time prior to Russia declaring war on Japan. According to International Law, Russia was a neutral country and was obliged to intern personnel of warring nations if they were within the control of Russian armed forces.

Until the mid 1980’s, the activities of these airmen was highly classified.

It all started with the famous Doolittle Raiders. One crew, Lt. York’s, due to a fuel shortage, landed north of Valdivoltok instead of China, and were instantly interned. Over the next three years thirty six other crews, for a total of 291 Americans met the same fate. With the exception of 4 B-29 crews of the 29th Air Force, these airmen were members of the old Army Air Corps and Navy Air Wing 4 form the Aleutian Islands. They were flying missions against the Japanese Kurile Islands.

In case of aircraft damage the preplanned escape route was to Petropovlavsk, Kamchatke Peninsula. “Petro” was a holding point until a group became large enough to move across Siberia to another holding point at Tashkent Russia. The trip across Siberian R.R. to flying in old C-47 is with Russian crews. All in all five separate groups were held and released by various methods. The last group, of which I was a member was released after the war had ended.

The survivors of the ordeal have formed an organization known as the “Americans Home from Siberia” and are a part of the Eleventh Air Force Association.

On October 3, 1992 at the banquet following the 11th Air Force Reunion Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney made a surprise presentation of the P.O.W. medal to the members that were present, recognizing them 47 years after the fact.

There were over 200 USAAF personnel, and 64 Navy personnel approved the POW medal. Secretary of the AF Rice signed a blanket authorization for approximately 218 airmen in 1992. Secretary of the Navy Garrett III, and Acting Secretary of the Navy O'Keefe signed letters of authorization to approximately 64 airmen in 1992.

There were over 200 airmen held at Wauwilermoos Prison in Switzerland, a neutral country as well. They were placed in the prison for punishment apprehended while attempting to escape. Such an act by the Swiss was a violation of the Geneva Convention, Article 56, dated 1929. War Crimes testimony reveals circumstances, which the Secretary concerned should have found to have been comparable to those under which persons have generally been held captive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed conflict. However, the Air Force is denying recognition for those that suffered acts not suitable for public view. The simple recognition many living veterans and/or next of kins are asking is the Prisoner of War Medal.

To date there have been two internees approved the POW medal held in the prison. First, to a veteran authorized by General Fogleman AF Chief of Staff, presented by Lt. General Record in 1996. Second, to a veteran approved by AFBCMR in 2006 with the help of his daughter, and Congressman Matheson of Utah.

Where is the balance of recognition? Where is the support by members of the Eighth AF? Some members may believe there are more important things going on. To the former internees, and next of kins of those passed, believe me when I say it is very important to receive recognition for their ordeal spent in a prison for attempting to do the correct act. If you happen to be interested in copies of the initial guideline authorizing the POW medal, copies of letters by the Secretaries, letter from General Fogleman, photograph of the presentation, conclusion of approval by the AF, conclusion of denial by the AF, please contact me. As a veteran of a more recent era, there is no doubt there are former members of the Eight Air Force that are interested to step up to the plate, and support our fellow veterans.

My collection of over 215 World War 2 stories has received appreciation and recognition from the General Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit in California where it is exhibited during special events.

Please contact me to discuss the details of my project, and how you can be an important source of World War 2 history by telling your story about your personal military service and sacrifices.

Participant references and testimonials regarding my work are available.

Very respectfully,

Peter D. Minix
Former SGT. U. S. Marine Corps
Former California Army National Guard Member

I have a LOT of mentors who guided me through my Army career (1980-2004, retired LTC). One of my mentors was a C-47 pilot whose first combat mission dropping paratroopers behind the D-Day beaches. He avoided most questions about his tour, but he instilled in me respect and curiousity for this period of history and for those brave few who had sacrificed so much. I send my sincerest thanks to them (and you) for their bold defense of freedom.

HOWEVER, I would also like to mention that by some strange quirk of fate, I was stationed at RAF Molesworth from 1998-2001. I walked those halls and defended freedom (in a slightly different way, and nowhere as near as dangerous) with the heritage sketches, photos, and commemorative plaques adorning the otherwise sterile corridors.

Early in my time there, the O6 (COL)commander pointed out one of your sketches hanging near my workspace and jokingly asked when I had done it and how long it took. I was just stunned that the coincidence had even occurred...let alone how motivational it was just before my deployment to Bosnia.

So, sir, your work of so long ago continues to be both an archive for those who respect what you did, and a motivator for young defense professionals three generations on.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. Sincerely, Robert (Bob) W. Hand

I have been a professional meteorologist for 43 years and worked at Prestwick 1968-73 - renowned for its freedom from fog which often affected all airfields throughout NW Europe. US planes landed there after crossing the Atlantic during ww2. When I was there, MAC were still doing the "Coca Cola runs" in C47s even then!

On nearby hills on the Island of Arran (2800ft) are crash sites of several aircraft. I was not interested or aware at the time, but as a camper and hill climber in about 1968 I came across crash wreckage at about 2500 ft and found later it was a B24. (One of two, I believe). Our UK high ground and bad weather caused a lot of crashes and deaths even before combat was imminent. What a waste the whole thing is. The public at large were never told at the time that half (about 25,000) of our British Bomber Command fatalities occurred in accidents.

I still have an exploded 0,5" shell case from the B-24 and at that time there were dozens. Made me think a hell of a lot about the brave people who died so tragically there so close to the airfield. Life was cheap then. I see from a website that the very next day about 20 died when a fully laden B24 crashed and burned on take off on the Heathfield runway of Prestwick.

I worked in the Met Office with an older guy who told me he at one time worked in the RAF with a team who went to crash sites to pick up remains. He says he witnessed a fully laden heavy bomber explode in mid air just after lifting off the runway.

On a more positive side, Prestwick must have been an exciting place in the early 1940s - all that state of the art US aircraft coming and going. 25 years later my greatest thrill there was to give a met. briefing (albeit by telephone) to Sir Douglas Bader - our most famous WW2 fighter ace. He joined up despite having lost both legs in the thirties when he crashed his trainer (Avro 504 IIRC. It was difficult to stay cool for me at 23 when a legendary British hero - who I knew all about from the book and film "Reach for the Sky" - was calling me "old boy"! In civilian life he had become an executive aircraft pilot.

As a young forecaster there, I remember in about 1970 one of the senior forecasters talking about the disastrous Schweinfurt mission(s). I had never heard of them - tv documentaries and books on the subject cannot have been widely available, I guess. There sure are plenty now and every time some of our next generation sound off in a negative way about America, I always remind them that about 26000 guys from the US operating from bases thousands of miles from home in Eastern England, gave their lives so that we and the rest of the world might stay free from Nazi rule. They seem to go quiet then. I blame ignorance - most of them only think of the US military in a very negative way because they have been raised on movies about Vietnam, etc and do not seem to know of anything before that. I suppose that must be the fault of folks in the media/arts and education belonging to my generation.

Anyway, warm regards to you guys on here with big respect. Iain in Scotland

I learned much from my father about the war. He made me understand the reason for the war; why Hitler had to be stopped at all costs; that everyone in this world has the right to freedom from oppression. It took a tremendous amount of courage/guts to do what these men accomplished. I have an enormous amount of respect for all the men who served our country in WWII. Thank you to all, and may God bless you.

The first time I got to look inside a B-17, I cried. The experience was so profound. It's amazing that these tin cans, held together with bolts and barely enough room to turn around, actually FLEW hundreds of miles over enemy territory, through the German flack. But they got the job done!

Thank you for this great website in dedication to these men. The world must never forget. With this website, their legacy will continue. Love, Peace and Honor to all.

For every World War II Veteran we loose, a piece of history is gone forever. I believe that it should be told to someone who is willing to take the time to document their story.

For the men and women, who served during World War II, they all have a great story to tell, whether they were in combat or sitting behind a desk. They answered the call to duty in a time when more the half the world was at war.

When it is my time to pass on, all this information will be placed in the General Patton Museum in Chiriaco Summit, CA so that future generations will know what these men and women went through. One day, all of our Veterans from World War II, will have passed on and so will their stories.

Peter Minix, Former Marine Sgt., Indio, CA

Now enjoy a wonderful story out of RAF Alconbury (Part of the JAC based at molesworth) about a former 303rd veteran family member’s return to Molesworth. Just another indication that we, the family members recall and honor the contribution you made in the war effort and final victory in the airwar over Europe.