Robert D. Hurd, 8th Air Force, 94th Bomb Group, 331st Sqd., Flight
Engineer, B-17. Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and POW Medal. August 6,
1944 on 23rd mission over Berlin, Germany, 3 engines started blowing
smoke forcing us to fall out of formation and lighten the plane. Someone
even threw out my chute (we found out later the crew that flew the plane
before us put over boost on it and never reported it). Plane went about
425 miles on one engine, ditching in the North Sea. The plane broke in
two upon hitting the water in 8-10 ft. waves. My helmet was caught on a
cable under the radio table, but I managed to pull free. All of this was
done under water. We recovered 3 rafts, however we couldn’t save the
tail gunner. We were afloat about 26 hrs. before being rescued by a
German Sea Plane. We were taken to the Fresian Islands, marched to a
jail with 2 crewmembers to a cell. From there we traveled by boat and
boxcar finally arriving at POW camp Stalag Luft IV. At this camp 24 POWs
to a room, 3 to a bed. Food was scarce. We were given a dark green soup
we called “Whispering Green Death”. February 6, 1945, we were walked
from camp and marched about 500 miles. Along the way we slept on the
ground and in barns and scrounged for food, whatever we could find or
steal. March 26, 1945 we were liberated by General Terry M. Allen. From
there to Lucky Strike and finally arrived at home in Columbia City in
June 18, 1945.