German and US POW aviators defect/escape together?

[Richard Aigner]

Frka, Novak & Pogacic"La Force Aerienne Croate 1941 - 1945", p. 302:
(the original is French, the clumsy translation mine), for 3 April 1945:
"Having escaped from a German prison at Tulln, near Vienna, 4 German aviators and 4 American POW aviators reached the airfield at Langenlebarn, where they succeeded in stealing a Ju52/3m ambulance, and took off towards the south. A gasoline mishap forced them to make a crashlanding near the village of Nin, close to Zadar, where they were captured by partisans."
Does anyone on the board know more about this? What became of the 8 aviators?
TIA, Richard

[Boris Ciglic]

The Germans were taken into captivity and Partisans promised to the American airmen that they will treat them well. If they actually did so, who knows... The Americans were quickly evacuated to Italy. A friend of mine mentioned recently that he found their escape statement. If you wish I can get you in touch with him. The aircraft was eventually dismantled and repaired and was in use by Yugoslav AF after the war.

Cheers,
Boris

[Richard Aigner]

Well yes, that would be interesting. Quite a story, isn't it?
Richard

[vathra]

Yes, it is interesting story. In my opinion, one of the top 10 escape stories from Yugoslavia. And more than 2,500 allied airmen evaded from Yugoslavia, so it was very tough competition.

One of the aviators wrote a book about it:
Talmadge Callison, "Hit the silk"
Unfortunately, it is old and I could not find it on Amazon, etc.
It seems circulation was small.

In Escape statement is generally what Boris already wrote. After capture in Hungary, Americans were transferred to Tulln, Luftwaffe base (not regular prison). They were approached by German Luftwaffe officers who were in custody due to overstay from leave, and frightened of soviet advance. Germans organized escape and transport to airfield. Allied airmen were supposed to be used as their pass when they reach Italy.

[RolandF]

This story can be read on this webpage(unfortunately only in German):

http://www.gotech.at/lale2/langenlebarn_2.html

under this caption:
"Die Flucht amerikanischer und deutscher Piloten vom Fliegerhorst"
Scoll down to the 2nd half of the page

Regards

RolandF

[vathra]

Nice text, RolandF. It gives some more details than Escape statement (and it is much more readable, too).

Names of two German airmen were given in Escape statement as:
- Friedel Thybusek (Fredl in German text)
- Bernd Kersting (Bernhard Kersting in text)
(probable spelling errors in both sources).
It seems that German text is based on Callison's book.

[RT]

Hello Boris,

"The aircraft was eventually dismantled and repaired and was in use by Yugoslav AF after the war."

Is there some lists of the german booty-planes used by Youg.AF after the war ??

Rémi

[Boris Ciglic]

Originally Posted by RT

Hello Boris,

"The aircraft was eventually dismantled and repaired and was in use by Yugoslav AF after the war."

Is there some lists of the german booty-planes used by Youg.AF after the war ??

Rémi

Hi Remi,

I'm not aware of a systematized list but I think it could be reconstructed with high degree accuracy when it comes to aircraft types. However, exact W.Nr.'s are different story. Are you interested in something in particular?

Cheers,
Boris

[RT]

This Ju52 particulary could be a good start

Rémi

[Boris Ciglic]

This Ju 52 was flown to nearby Prkos airfield near Zadar by capt. Zlatko Dimčović (it barely took-off, as the field was very short) and from there to Zemun, where it became part of Transportna grupa (Transport Group). It carried number 4 on the nose and after the establishment of Yugoslav AF register, received the serial number 7202. Unfortunately its W.Nr. is unknown, as is of other three Ju 52's in use by the YAF post-war.

Cheers,
Boris