WWII Letter Western Union Telegram From Government POW Soldier Returned WW2 1306

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WWII Letter Western Union Telegram From Government POW Soldier Returned WW2 1306:
$61.00

An original World War Two Western Union Telegram letter including the cover from the US Government to inform a mother of a POW soldier that her son was returned to Military control.

Gerald A. Rimmel, 349th Squadron, 100th Bomb group, was a crew member on an aircraft which was attacked and brought down while over Brunswick Germany on March 3rd, 1945 during huge raids of 1000\'s of US Combat planes. He was one of 8 members on the plane. The names of the crew were: Jack W. Thrasher, Pilot, Albert L. Egsieker, Radio Operator, Thomas C. Browning Jr, Aerial Engineer, Dean M. Barton, Right Waist Gunner, Cecil A. Baker, Left Waist Gunner, Gerald A. Rimmel, Navigator, Bott, and McGuire. He was MIA for a great amount of time and soon found to be a POW on German soil. Below is some more incredible information on Jerry Rimmel. I have many more listings coming up in the next few months that is associated with this listing!

Written by Commanding Officer, Walter G. Burke, 1stLt. Air Corps Adjutant

Lt. Rimmel was a crew member on an aircraft which was attacked by enemy aircraft while over Brunswick Germany, piloted by Lt. Jack W. Thrasher, 0825033. The # 1 engine was hit and burst into flames; the aircraft then pulled off to the left and within a very short time (about one minute) the left wing crumbled. It then flipped over on its back and there was an explosion; the aircraft was broken up by this explosion and fell in many pieces. Observing crew members counted five (5) parachutes that were believed to have come from the plane. The former Co-pilot has assisted very admirably with our own Intelligence Staff for additional information, but to date nothing has been definite, except a letter which I received from an enlisted crew member, Staff Sergeant Ray Muffley, 19022708, who bailed out successfully, was captured, then liberated by Allied troops, and is now recuperating in a hospital on the Continent. This is apparently indicative that other crew members may be alive as well.

I hope you will convey to Lt. Rimmel’s family and friends, our most sincere sympathy at this time and our hope that soon news may come that he is safe and well. Meanwhile, we can hope and bring good news to you at home, only by continual and unrelently prosecution of our own part in the war.

Written by Mrs. Thrasher, the mother of the pilot of this aircraft

Dear Mrs. Rimmel, June 4th, 1945

I appreciated your letter so much and it is just in the last ten days that I have begun to give up hope. Up until then somehow I just felt that everything was going to be alright. I had a letter from Mrs. Mufley in which she told us that her son said Jack told the boys to “use their parachutes and that he would stay with the ship”. I can’t see any reason for him staying with the plane unless one of the boys near him was wounded and could not bail out. Three years ago tomorrow our older son was killed in a plane crash in Lubbock, Texas and that heart ache is with us just as the day we received the message. I had hoped that it would be in Gods will to spare Jack. This I do know that he will give us the strength to see us through what ever is (*****) of us. I’m sorry to write you such a depressing letter but I know you will understand. I was afraid that you would just hate to write me any bad news that Jerry wrote you but I want to hear whatever he writes.

Sincerely, Matti Thrasher

Dear Mrs. Rimmel, June 26, 1945

We had a telegram saying that Jack was killed in action over Germany March 3. As you know form my last letter to you we had begun to suspect this but it was a shock just the same. When Jerry comes home, which I hope is soon, I wish he would write us every little detail that he knows. I am so thankful that he was one of the boys that are safe.

Sincerely, Matti Thrasher

Newspaper Clippings: Beaten by Civillians

Sgt. Egsieker, radio operator on a bomber based in England, was captured lastMarch 3rd, 1945when his plane was shot down and the crew was forced to parachute. He landed in the back yard in an unidentified German town, and found himself surrounded by infuriated civilians, The Germans called him “Luftgangster!” (air gangster) and beat him with sticks and stones for two hours before he was rescued by members of the Volksturm (home guard). After spending 27 days in a camp near Wetalar, he was liberated. Sgt. Egsieker said his crew included another St. Louisan, Lt, Gerald Rimmel, 6012 Waterman Avenue, who landed safely but was taken to another camp.

London, March 3 1945 While allied dive bombers pounded German troop columns seeking a haven behind the Rhine today, more than 1800 United States Eighth Air Force planes flew into central and southEastern Germany for the third straight day and battered more than a dozen essential to the Nazi war machine. This great fleet including 1100 heavy bombers, first gave Berlin another scare, then swung south over the Brunswick-Mugdeburg region where 13 Nazi planes were destroyed yesterday in the first big air battle over Germany since the middle of January.

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I sell used and unique items. Expect minor evidence of use or imperfections, writing, slight scuff, minor wear, minor creasing, dings, bends, scratches, tears, dirty, etc.

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The letter is in very good condition, the cover is ripped.