I am trying to contact veterans, or the families of veterans, of 9th Air Force fighter units who were active in the area between Nordhausen, Muhlhausen and Leipzig in March and April 1945.

I am compiling a book of the experiences of Allied POWs from Oflag IX  A/Z who were marched from Rotenburg an der Fulda, Hesse, to Wimmelburg, nr Eisleben in Thuringia during this period. Their diaries are full of references to USAAF fighter-bombers, particularly attacking trains. It would be great to have some of the pilots experiences included in the book and information on the squadrons involved. The fighters were operating in support of 6th Armoured Division and then 3rd Armoured Division.

In addition the liberated POWs were flown home from an ex-Luftwaffe airbase at Esparstedt, on the 14th or 15 April. The airfield was known as R20. The USAAF unit involved here was 97th Squadron, 440th Troop Carrier Group, 50th Troop Carrier Wing. Any further information on this unit would be welcomed.

Very many thanks in advance.

Peter Green
peter@castra.org.uk