Well it is not morning and I am back again.

Christoph, wait until you see what Larry has done on researching some of the deceased POW's.

You guys are off the charts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fascinating news on Butler - he died after Dad left (3/15) if the date is Apr. 24th. Was he liberated from Waldbrol and died in an American Hospital. he was buried in an American Cemetery in Epinal, France.

When I get Waldbrol list we will know if he was on it. If there are records on him in St. Louis maybe we can fine more.

Larry, you have originated a very exciting story and puzzle! In trying to track the Waldbrol men will we find that some others died after their liberation! Gad, what a thought!

Larry, you really must do this for a living???????? This is unbelievable research!!!!!!!!!!

More,

Jean

It is Saturday morning and I could hardly wait to go back to looking at the information that Larry sent me!

I don't know what to say - how many more positive expletives exist to describe Larry and what he has done and is doing! This is beyond a Miracle!

I am at the moment pretty emotional as I think of these 5 men that Larry on his own decided to learn more about. They are Leland Butler, George E Campbell, John J Culik Jr., Guy W. Wade, and Roy L. Westgate, Jr.

These men have been gone so long and none of us know anything about them and the supreme sacrifice that they had to make.

Christoph and I know of 4 of these men - because they were buried at the Cemetery at the Prison Camp/Hospital/Abbey at Siegburg. We know that because of earlier information that Christoph was able to track down. Christoph located a Mr. Stolz who prior to his becoming unreachable because of health issues, and Mr. Stolz telling me that, sent me a list of some men that were buried in the little Cemetery and a map (not my Dad's) and some other things. (In addition he got me in touch with a translator for that brief trip to visit the Nun because Christoph was not going to be in Germany at that time.).

Mr. Stolz had this very unusual information because his passion had been locating planes, or remains of them, and tracking down information on downed Airmen. One of which, Philip C. Dryden, was buried there at Siegburg by my Dad.

The map and information my Dad supplied to the Allieds after his escape/leaving Siegburg - is still something I have not unearthed.

So from Stolz's list I have tried to locate information on the deceased gentlemen. It has been a slow and frustrating journey on so many of them - and I have more to still research. The Archive folks at St. Louis have been wonderful but if there are no records there then they can not do any more. Well Larry did the 'More' on the 5 mentioned men.

I am going to sign off, so I do not lose this as I so often do, and start another post.

Jean

I am still pretty emotional over the 5 men and this incredible research/work that Larry did. I had not yet sent Larry the Stolz documents - and last night I sent him the list and just now sent the map. The map appears to be dated March 9 1946. We can figure that some men were moved before then?

My memory was that Dad buried more than the 20 plus on the list - and after the War he got phone calls for over 2 years from the families of the fallen. The phone calls were very difficult on him he said.

We moved from NY to Fla. in 1948 - and from then on no one would have known where to find Dad.

So back to the information on these 5 men! Larry it is so incredible! You have given life back to each of them and the families they were a part of! Their poor families - parents, siblings, and everyone - never to be the same again! So tragic and so final! At least when the knock at the door and dreaded telegram arrived if it was MIA - there existed hope. But a KIA Telegram had to destroy not only the soldier but the families right along with it.

Most of these men according to your research seem to have limited chances for finding close relatives.

The information you found on Culik is quite amazing. I think he is part of my latest batch of inquiries for NARA St. Louis. Will be fascinating to see what they have on him and compare that to the huge amount that you discovered. His time near or in Zweifall, Germany is fascinating. I want to compare it to the time that the 4th Division was there because I have some stories from that period from one of the Division level Vets that I am in close contact with. Prior to Zweifall, in Bleialf, Germany, Ernest Hemingway and John Groth attached to the 4th Division.

Larry, I am still in Shock with what you did for me and these men and their families!

A HUGE Thank You!!!!!!

Jean

There are not enough ways to say THANK YOU!!!!

Jean

No i dont do this for a living, i`z just an old retired truck driver with a spare time hobby.

Concerning Butler, with a death date of 24 April 45 and that he was buried at the temporary cemetery at Solers Cemetery, Melum, France, i`d say he was alive when liberated ( we dont know where from yet ), he most likey died at a army hospital near Paris. After the war, they family had the option as to which of the AMBC permanent cemeteries to be buried at.

Quick info on 1st Lt. Philip C. Dryden

Date of Enlistment: 17 June 1942

Place of Enlistment: Newark, New Jersey

ASN 12093249

GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION: Pvt., Private

BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION: AC, Air Corps

Residence State: New Jersey

Residence County: Somerset

Source of Army Personnel: Civil Life

Nativity: Dist of Columbia

Race & Citizenship: White, Citizen

Education: 3 years of college

Civilian Occupation: Actors & Actresses

Marital Status: Single, without dependants

Component of the Army: Reserves - exclusive of Regular Army Reserve and Officers of the Officers Reserve Corps on active duty

under the Thomason Act (Officers and Enlisted Men -- O.R.C. and E.R.C., and Nurses-Reserve Status)

Philip C. Dryden

ID: O-812956

Entered the Service From: New Jersey

Rank: First Lieutenant

Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 599th Bomber Squadron, 397th Bomber Group, Medium

Died: Wednesday, January 03, 1945

Buried at: Netherlands American Cemetery

Location: Margraten, Netherlands

Plot: H Row: 8 Grave: 14

Awards: Air Medal with 11 Gold Stars, Purple Heart

Dryden`s B-26 Was shot down 23 Dec 1944

Plane Data: Serial Number: 43 - 34159

Type: B - 26G - 1

Nickname: Hun

Destination: Eller RR. Bridge, Germany

Mission: Operational

MACR ( Missing Air Crew Report ) Number: 11897

Crew List

Pilot: Dryden, Philip C. 1st Lt. 0 - 812956

Co-Pilot: Stang, Robert F. 2nd Lt. 0 - 823730

Bombardier: Cummings, Benjamin B. F/O T - 5736

Engineer-Gunner: Ahlgren, Elwood R. T/Sgt. 6148071

Radio-Gunner: Kish, Stephen J. T/Sgt. 13060624

Arm-Gunner: Lefever, Paul W. Sgt 13022121

http://www.b26.com/p...oup_history.htm

DECEMBER INSTALLMENT

UNIT HISTORY OF HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT, 397TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (M)

For The Period 1 December -- 31 December 1944.

***** ** *****

1. For the month of December, the 397th Bombardment Group remained at A-72, Mons En Chaussee, France. The usual operational activity for the month was limited considerably by weather, with the Germans taking advantage of this change in climate to launch a strong counter-offensive in the 12th Army Group Sector. The attack began the 16th of December, under the protective cover of low fog and conditions unsuitable for our air forces to oppose the drive. However, on the 23rd of December, medium bombardment aircraft were out in strength, striking important communication zones directly behind the German onslaught. On this day, the mission to the ELLER RR Bridge in Germany, the group suffered its first major losses by enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft. After the turn off from target, on course to home base, approximately 25 single engine fighters attacked our formation. The group’s records show a loss of eight B-26’s to enemy aircraft encounters and two B-26’s to heavy flak. Our gunners hit back for a total tally of four enemy aircraft destroyed, three enemy aircraft probably destroyed, and eight enemy aircraft damaged. This total does not include enemy aircraft presumably destroyed or damaged by the ten missing bombers.

An interesting side note, in the historical report of the 397th BG for the month of March 1945, it shows the group bombed Siegborg on March 6 1945.

Larry, I want to first respond to your post before this last one - were you really a truck driver? And if so, there will never be another one like you again!!! Oh how I wish I had seen you on the road! I am, of course, curious about the kind of truck, loads, distances traveled, cost of insurance on you and the vehicle, music you listened to, routes, how you picked that occupation and a million other questions...

But so we don't get penalized I should say, did you drive distances from like Siegburg to Bonn. Or Siegburg to Remagen. Or .. Thus, there is nothing personal and Marion will know we have stayed on topic.

If you were still truck'n, I would be a disaster - and, probably try to clear the roads so no one could get near you!

I am very fortunate that you are the kind of man you are - Brilliant for one! and Generous beyond words!

Thank You for Everything!

Jean

More to follow on the INCREDIBLE Dryden info - as soon as I can,

Jean

I fear I am going to get interrupted and have to leave - but wanted to get started because this information is so again, incredible.

Separate from the death of Dryden discovering the March 6th date of his group doing the bombing over Siegburg is really so unlikely. But it must be true? Did one plane cause the damage at the Abbey or multiple planes. According to the person I communicated with over in Siegburg - March 6th was the last bombing they ever received in Siegburg.

I certainly never thought it was possible to find out what group did that last bombing - it could have been the English too - but that Larry found it - is possible because he seems able to find out anything! But that it was Dryden's group - is pretty bizzare. I wonder if folks in that group wrote personal stories about those missions. I don't think it was intentional that Dryden's group went back to the area near where Dryden went down - at least I don't think so. The reason is the fear so many of the POW's in many locations had about being bombed by their own Airmen. No one could be sure of what happened to Dryden or his crew - they could be alive and somewhere in the areas being bombed.

It is thanks to that bombing that Dad could see that the fencing somewhere around the Camp had been bent down so one could go over it/ through it and he immediately thought of that and ultimately did it - is what he told me.

I researched Dryden and the crew and have to go back to my notebook to refresh myself on what I learned. I actually was able to locate Mr. Lefever and he shared with me a great deal. Fortunately I got what I got (and use some shorthand when talking to people) because the next time I called him I could tell he did not want to talk about it and he said so. He said he did not sleep well after we talked and it was a problem for him. Obviously, I did not discuss that period in his life again. And quite some time later - maybe a year or more? when I was so excited about something I discovered, I took a chance and called him. I did it with great trepidation. Mr. Lefever did not answer his phone! I might have tried to call one more time .... but must review the notebook...

Larry it is all STUNNING information that you have been able to find - and so much more than I did!!!! And mine took weeks to acquire and here you are in hours coming up with this! YOU ARE AMAZING! And a gift to humanity!

Thank You seems too small to say, so THANK YOU, but still not big enough, but I know you understand how much I appreciate what you are doing for me and all of these men!!!

Jean

.

The target of the bombing raid on Siegborg, 6 March, (M/Y) was the railroad marshalling yard. undet of pff means the results were undetermined by the PFF, or lead aircraft.

PFF was abreviation for Pathfinder Force. The PFF ship was the lead ship in the bomber formation that had the precision radar target locating system know as GEE. Gee was the code name given to a radio navigation system used by the Royal Air Force during World War II. It measured the time delay between two radio signals to produce a "fix". It was the first hyperbolic navigation system to be used operationally.

The only way to find out the number of planes in the raid is to get the actual mission 189 reports of the 4 squadrons composing the 397th Group.

On 6 March, the the 1st Infantry Division was about 3 miles from Bonn and the germans were retreating across the Rhine ( the Bonn bridge was blown on the 8th) . The railyards in Siegborg were a legitimate military target at that time. The abby may have been a secondary target or target of opportunity because of possible use as an observation point.

Larry, Thank You for further explaining that. It is helping me better understand these bombing raids.

I do not know how you do this Fantastic Research!

It is so exciting to see what you uncover!

I did go back to some of my notes on Dryden and tomorrow will add some details..

Good Night and there are not enough words of praise to Thank You for what you are doing for me and for my Dad!

Jean

Good Morning Larry!

I will be out probably all day but wanted to share something personal about Dryden with you. You brought him back to life because of your relentless pursuit of WW2 research!

According to Mr. Lefever he was an extra gunner and filled in for the crew that day. He was a tail gunner and because he was not part of the regular crew he did not really know them. But he knew of or knew Dryden.

It was Dryden's 65th mission - and Dryden said that when he got back he was getting out and going back to the States. This was to be his LAST mission!

I did not verify the 65 missions - and thus I did not learn the destination of them.

More on this later but I must say again Larry , you touch so many lives by what you do to help us all!

Jean

Jean might run out of ink & paper printing today`s email. Am i going too fast again?

Christoph and Anyone that reads this, and I am sure Marion knows it, but Larry with that intimidating Logo, is one of the kindest men you will ever meet!!!

He spent the day tracking down so many of the men that were buried in the Siegburg Cemetery! What an Honor to them!

I have not even reviewed everything he sent - it is that much!

Having Larry in your life is like hitting the Jackpot in the Lotto - The Big Jackpot!!!

And while I am writing this - this incredible man, Larry sends a message that he has 7 more names on the Stolz list to go!

He also mentions it might rain tomorrow. That is a good thing for these 7 other gentleman - apparently Larry stays in doors and just keeps researching and researching on rainy days.

I asked him what he thought of rain - and he responded "wet." Fascinating to try to understand what makes up this genuinely beautiful human being!!!

Larry represents all that made America Great!

And these deceased men and the outfits they were in is all now known! They can be properly honored and their Outfits told more details about the men. In many cases, like Dryden, the Outfit did not have some basic info on him. And we all know the limitations of the records in St. Louis.

I am so happy that one man was from the 35th Div. Their Association is excellent and I will send the information that Larry found to them. I will let them know that it is Larry that did all of this research. They already know a little bit about Larry over there.

And now there is a much greater likelihood that we can understand when and where they were wounded and captured and why going to the Siegburg Hospital made sense.

Was this the biggest and best hospital around for a certain number of miles/kilometers. From my research many of the very seriously wounded men that survived did not have to undergo further surgery after their liberation. The care they got was that good. And Dr. Kayser, the German Dr., played a key role in at least one of the gentleman's life.

More to follow, but for now, I can not express enough gratitude to Larry - I still can not look at that Logo though - so intimidating - but maybe a good thing.

Jean

I think this Forum should be changed to the Larry Fan Club Site and then we, of course, need one for Christoph!

Latest Larry the Legend news:

Whoops, I hit something and now here I am... but what was to follow so that post was not off topic was - trumpets are blowing - remember Larry found Guidry's family so all of this news comes from Larry's efforts!!!

Just got sent a copy of a copy of the Famous photo that I heard about of Dad and Guidry. Dad looks great and Guidry too - Guidry's smile is huge. Dad looks quite handsome!

The typewritten caption includes that the 2 of them get their first American Bread and Jam in more than 5 Months from PFC Lawrence Morel of 158 Spring St. Newton, NJ And it says the 2 soldiers were captured on the 7th Army Front Last Year and were liberated by the 78th Lighting Division East of the Rhine.

So new clues to help find debriefing info - and research came back with nothing from the 78th Div - but can try again. Maybe Morel will be a clue. I bet Larry is working on that right now.

Christoph, Guidry looks a head shorter than Dad - so your theories could be right that Dad could have helped him over the Sieg. The other good piece of news from that caption is Dad did not try to swim the Rhine with Guidry! And with Dad, you could never be sure what he would do.

So many pieces of the puzzle to figure out and so many pieces coming together.

I did not know when I could devote the kind of time required for me to try to find Guidry or anyone in his family. I had already failed at quick efforts. And I might never have been successful, even with a full scale effort.

It is 'Larry the Legend' who found the source of all of this! I feel confident that someday I will get a better copy of the photo - but if I never do - it will be my Most Favorite Picture of My Dad!

Larry my Dad would want to be President of Your Fan Club!!!

THANK YOU!!!

Jean