I thought you might like to know that the MAPS Air Museum in Canton, Ohio has a new display dedicated to bombardier Reamer "Buzz" Sewell. He flew in Phillip G. Simkins' aircrew with the 558th BS in "Angel Puss" S/N 42-95930 and was shot down on his 15th mission to bomb a tank assembly and repair depot near Saarbrucken, Germany on October 12, 1944.

Buzz passed away last year and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Buzz kept a diary of his time in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany and his march and transfer to Stammlager VII-A in Moosburg. His diary and other items from his time in the AAF are available for viewing at the MAPS web site. You can read his entire POW diary and view other documents contained in the display.

www.mapsairmuseum.org

Direct link:

http://www.mapsairmuseum.org/Sewell_Display.asp

Ken



[image]local://upfiles/9698/D462AA7124614C9F80D8B1B0DDEC3C94.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Ken Alexander
Son of 1st Lt. Clair B. Alexander Jr.
Pilot, B-24s: 10/12/1944 - 04/24/1945
15th AF, 49th Wing, 461st BG, 764th BS
Torretta Airfield, Cerignola, Italy

From Buzz' diary, it is evident that the Red Cross packages were lifesavers for the POWs. Supplementing the food received from the Germans and providing the POWs with cigarettes and items they could use to barter with the guards and German civilians. (Read his diary at the web site shown in previous window.)

Additional items from the display.

Letter explaining POW status.

Liberation photo.

Check out more at the web site above.

Ken

[image]local://upfiles/9698/4AA4D1179055428793C894E61E1E5D77.jpg[/image]

[image]local://upfiles/9698/76B53A248C6C46A590495065D2F881DE.jpg[/image]

[image]local://upfiles/9698/4F28BA5E90FD4FE8B721D8A0ACA8FE88.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Ken Alexander
Son of 1st Lt. Clair B. Alexander Jr.
Pilot, B-24s: 10/12/1944 - 04/24/1945
15th AF, 49th Wing, 461st BG, 764th BS
Torretta Airfield, Cerignola, Italy