Hi,
 
Americans who made it into the USSR and other Soviet held territory from the West after missions over Germany and other Axis Countries.
 
Not to confuse these airmen with those that entered from the East and were Interned.
 
These men came to be  in a Friendly and Allied Country which was at war with Germany and its Allies. They were not interned, they were not POW's they were allied airmen.
 
How many airmen were there and what became of them and their aircraft ?
 
Thanks
Alex

ORIGINAL: Alex Smart

Hi,

Americans who made it into the USSR and other Soviet held territory from the West after missions over Germany and other Axis Countries.

Not to confuse these airmen with those that entered from the East and were Interned.

These men came to be  in a Friendly and Allied Country which was at war with Germany and its Allies. They were not interned, they were not POW's they were allied airmen.

How many airmen were there and what became of them and their aircraft ?

Thanks
Alex

 
Alex,
Not answering your question but perhaps relative to it, On Feb. 14th, '45, we were badly shot up over Brux, CZ.  We had been briefed that if we couldn't make it back to England or Belgium we were to fly into Russian held territory and bail out.  We would not be permitted to land.  Sam Goldin, our pilot, polled the crew on our options of bailing out over our Russian ally or flying back alone for several hours over Germany.  It was unanimous we would, and did, take our chances and return to Ridgewell, England even if we would straggle alone.

Bob Gilbert
Ball Turret Gunner, Goldin crew
381st Bomb Gp., 533rd Bomb Sq.
US 8th Air Force

Alex....This is not too well known.  http://777avg.com/unithistory/

Jim  :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

I saw this on the news some years ago. Paratrooper Joe Beyrle fought for U.S and the USSR. He was captured after jumping into battle against the Germans.

In time he escaped the Germans and made contact with a Russian Outfit. He fought along side the Russians. His dog tags were used by the Germans when they used Germans as a way to misguide Americans at intersections of roads. The German wearing his was killed so they told his parents he was killed.

He continued to fight with the Russians until he was wounded. They sent him to Moscow for medical treatment. He was able to get word to the American Embassy. They took his finger prints and he finally was released to the Americans. He was afraid he would never be released had he not gotten hold of the American Embassy.

He in time received campaign medals and other medals from both the Russians and the Americans and was invited to the Russians Unit Reunion. 

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jrbeyrle.htm

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of T/Sgt. Ray A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks
7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
AAC Armorer (P) 911
P.U.Citation1942

Alex Smart


Hi,



These men came to be  in a Friendly and Allied Country which was at war with Germany and its Allies. They were not interned, they were not POW's they were allied airmen.

How many airmen were there and what became of them and their aircraft ?

Thanks
Alex

Alex,

       They were internees, but suffered as much if not more than POWs held in Stalags.  Approximately 218 USAAF, and 64 Navy airmen were awarded the POW medal in 1992.

       This compares with only 2 airmen awarded the POW medal out of approximately 200 held at Wauwilermoos Prison in Switzerland.

Robert  

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Robersabel/POWs%20In%20Soviet%20Union/?action=view&current=Mears02POWsInSovietUnion01.jpg
 
 
 
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Robersabel/POWs%20In%20Soviet%20Union/?action=view&current=Mears02POWsInSovietUnion02.jpg