War In The Air Combat Captivity And Reunion - The Untold Stories

In the history of warfare, few conflicts have captured the imagination and bravery of individuals quite like the War in the Air. This article delves into the untold stories of combat, captivity, and the incredible reunions that took place during this turbulent period.

The Deafening Roar of Engines

As the engines roared and the propellers spun, brave young men and women took to the skies to engage in aerial combat during the War in the Air. Whether it was the iconic Spitfires of the RAF or the powerful Messerschmitts of the Luftwaffe, these aircraft became symbols of heroism and sacrifice.

A Captive Sky

But not all battles took place in the clouds. Many brave pilots found themselves captured and imprisoned during the War in the Air. Life in captivity was fraught with challenges and danger, but incredible bonds of friendship and resilience were formed within those prison walls.

The Things Our Fathers Saw—The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation-Volume III: War in the Air—Combat, Captivity, and Reunion

by Matthew Rozell (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	772 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	226 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

A Desperate Escape

Among the many heart-wrenching tales from those captured during the war, few match the bravery and determination of the prisoners who plotted their escape. From daring tunnel excavations to disguises and forged papers, these individuals risked everything for a chance at freedom.

Reunion - A Bittersweet Homecoming

After years spent in captivity, the end of the war brought about long-awaited reunions. Families and friends were finally able to embrace those who had been missing and feared lost. Yet, the joy of reunion was often tinged with the sadness of lives forever changed by the scars of war.

Forging Friendships Amidst Turmoil

Within the walls of captivity, friendships were formed that transcended national boundaries. Despite being on opposing sides, prisoners found solace in one another's company, forming bonds that would last a lifetime. The incredible stories of camaraderie amidst the chaos highlight the indomitable human spirit.

A Legacy of Heroism

The War in the Air left an indelible mark on history. The courage and sacrifice of those who fought and endured captivity should never be forgotten. Their stories serve as a reminder of the incredible resilience and bravery displayed during one of the darkest periods in human history.

War in the Air was a time of epic battles, brutal captivity, and emotional reunions. The untold stories of those involved shed light on the human spirit's remarkable capacity for courage and friendship. As we reflect on this tumultuous chapter, let us honor the heroes who took to the skies and those who endured the hardships of captivity, ensuring that their legacy lives on.

The Things Our Fathers Saw—The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation-Volume III: War in the Air—Combat, Captivity, and Reunion

by Matthew Rozell (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	772 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	226 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

WHAT DO YOU FILL YOUR POCKETS WITH when you’re rousted awake in the middle of a freezing German night to be death-marched across Germany?

WHEN YOUR BUDDY STAGGERS AND FALLS by the side of the road, and no longer even knows who you are, do you keep moving to keep yourself alive? — “The next day we marched almost twenty hours, so now we were coming up to a town, now everybody is falling over, but I was in a group where everybody made a pledge to watch each other. I found myself off the side of the road and I lay in the snow and I said to myself, ‘Wow, this is so warm.’ I was so damn cold, I didn’t know my name or anything, or where I lived—I was gone!” —B-24 bombardier, shot down, taken prisoner
Dying for freedom isn’t the worst that could happen. Being forgotten is.
— “We got shot down around noontime by a Messerschmitt. I was in the top turret shooting at them, and I could see [their faces] as clearly as I'm looking at you. They wiped us out completely.
I'm following him with the top turret gun and you could see bits of the plane coming off his tail section, but not enough to bother him. As I'm turning, the electrical cord on my flying suit got caught underneath the swivel of the turret. I ducked down, I untangled it… now I got back into my turret. Fellas, the turret wasn't there anymore. That son-of-a-gun who had been eyeing me came in and he hit his 20mm gun, took the top of that Plexiglas and tore it right off!
The fighters made another pass. They hit a couple of our engines; they made another pass and they shot away our controls! We peeled off into one of these spirals—you've seen them on television where the plane will come over on its back and just spiral into the ground. Trees are coming up at me; I had my hand on the ripcord and out I went, headfirst.” —B-17 engineer
Maybe our veterans did not volunteer to tell us their stories; perhaps we were too busy with our own lives to ask. But they opened up to a younger generation, when a history teacher taught his students to engage.
— “I was standing on the train in Paris right next to an SS colonel—he had a satchel handcuffed to his arm, and a guard with a Sten gun. The train started up, and the SS colonel bumped into me. And he turned around to me and said, 'Pardonne moi.' I thought, ‘Oh, my God!’” —B-17 crewman/evadee, shot down on his first mission
As we forge ahead as a nation, do we owe it to ourselves to become reacquainted with a generation that is fast leaving us, who asked for nothing but gave everything, to attune ourselves as Americans to a broader appreciation of what we stand for?
This is the third book in the masterful WWII oral history series, but you can read them in any order.
— “What made me cry was this is a guy from Texas, and even if he didn’t like blacks, or he didn’t like Jews, or Catholics, or whoever, no German was going to tell him what to do—no general was pushing him around! He says, ‘We are Americans in this camp, and we are all the same.’ They asked him for a list of all Jews, and he said, ‘You’re not going to get it—if you’re going to shoot them, you’re going to shoot us all, because we are not going to tell you which ones to pick out.’ So these are the things that make me feel damn proud to be an American!” —Lead navigator, PoW It's time to listen to them. Read some of the reviews below and REMEMBER how a generation of young Americans truly saved the world.

Or maybe it was all for nothing?

— “A must-read in every high school in America. It is a very poignant look back at our greatest generation; maybe it will inspire the next one.”

Reviewer, Vol. I