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Allied airmen in Buchenwald
Hello
168 airmen, that were captured by Germans while trying to evade capture in France, probably all wearing civilian clothes when they were caught, were not sent to POW camp but to the concentration camp of Buchenwald in April 1944.
156 left this camp on the 18-19 Oct 1944 and 10, that were sick at the time of the transfer, left later and all went to POW camps. Two men of this group died in Buchenwald. Depending from source, they are said to have been sick at the time of transfer or to have died before.
The two men are Flg Off Philip Derek Hemmens of 49 Sqn RAF and 1st Lt Levitt C. Beck, Jr of 514th FS, 406th FG USAAF.
The American Battle Commision gave the date of death of Beck at 29 November 1944.
On the other hand the CWGC shows Hemmes death date as the 18 October 1944, and that date is just the last day the group remained in the camp, so I wonder if the real date of Hemmes' death is unknown and it was administratively set as the 18 Oct 1944 (maybe the last day he was seen alive by the other POW). If anyone know more of the subject I'm interested.
Thanks in advance.
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