Camps
Held In: FRANKFURT AM MAIN, DULAG LUFT, WETZLAR ON LAHN
RIVER, STALAG LUFT 4 COMPOUND-D
How
Long Interned: 215 days
Liberated
/ repatriated:liberated
Date
Liberated: 05/02/45
Age
at Capture: 19
Medals
Received: PURPLE HEART MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL PRISONER OF
WAR MEDAL
Military
Job: BELLY GUNNER / TAIL GUNNER
Company:
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Occupation
after War: OPERATING ENGINEER
Bio:
James M. Tuchel served as Staff Sergeant during World War II with the
U.S. Air Force 409th Bomb Group, 643 Squadron. He was a tail belly
gunner and a tail gunner on a B-17. After being shot down over Frankfurt,
Germany and being captured on Sept. 29,1944, he was held in many POW
camps including Frankfurt am Main, Dulag Luft, Wetzlar on Lahn River,
and also Stalag Luft 4 and Compound-D in Grosstychow in the Pomeranian
sector of Northern Germany. During his 215 days in these camps he also
survived the 87-day "Death March" from Feb. 6 to May 2,1945.
After he was liberated by British Troops on May 2nd, 1945, Mr. Tuchel
received many medals for his time in the services that includes the
Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, and on October 1988, at Chanute
Air Force Base he received his Prisoner Of War Medal.
James died July 11th, 1998, before he passed away he spent time with
many organizations. He was a lifetime member of the American Ex-Prisoner
War, a member of the Disabled American Veterans Post 40 and 8, and a
member with the 409th Bomb Group Air Force Division 9th AF ETO. He was
also a Past Commander of the American Legion Post 448 in Minier,
Illinois.
Mr. Tuchel’s wife Joyce of 45 years, his son and daughter survives
him.
