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

[kaki3152]

What's most interesting is the mention of the captured P-38 Lightning that was presented to Luftkriegschule 7.

[Matti Salonen]

Ogfr Bernhard Kersting, * 2.4.1920 at Münster/Westfalen is reported as MIA in the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Vermisstenbildliste Band LH, Page 257. Last info from him was in January 1945 and he belonged to IV/JG 53.
Maybe the Partisans didn't kept the promise to treat the POWs well.

Matti

[vathra]

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

Ogfr Bernhard Kersting, * 2.4.1920 at Münster/Westfalen is reported as MIA in the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Vermisstenbildliste Band LH, Page 257. Last info from him was in January 1945 and he belonged to IV/JG 53.
Maybe the Partisans didn't kept the promise to treat the POWs well.

There is info on Germans in Roland's link:

Am nächsten Tag kam er, identifizierte uns und wir wurden den Briten übergeben. Wir flogen von Zarra aus zu unserer Einheit zurück. Die vier Deutschen, denen Steves, Brown, Johnston und ich versprochen hatten, dass sie Gefangene der Amerikaner werden, kamen in ein jugoslawisches Arbeitslager. Fredl, der Pilot, kam in eine Sägemühle, im Herbst verletzte er sich beim Fällen von Bäumen und er wurde in seine, nun von den Sowjets besetzte, Heimat entlassen. Seine Nachbarn akzeptierten ihn nicht und er wurde als Verräter beschimpft. Christian und der unbekannte Deutsche wollten aus dem Arbeitslager fliehen. Sie wurden gefangen und erschossen. Bernhard Kersting arbeite fünf Jahre in dem Arbeitslager bevor er nach Hause zurückkehren konnte.

If I understood well through Google - Kersting and Friedel returned home after imprisonment, while other two were shot during attempted escape.
Considering they could be shot as spies on spot, one can say they were treated well.