Dutch National Archives List of American Airmen Shot Down Over The Netherlands Who Evaded Capture

The Atkinson List

The following list, referred to as the Atkinson List, was found at The Nationaal Archief, the Dutch National Archives, in The Hague by a researcher who copied and shared it with me.  Researchers Diana Morgan and Frank Haslam directed my attention to Leslie Atkinson, a Reserve Captain in the French Air Force who, with Ralph Patton, played an important role in the founding of the Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society.  More details can be found at the History page of the Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society (AFEES) at http://airforceescape.org/history/.  The book, Air Forces Escape & Evasion Society, Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Co., 1992, on p. 76 lists Leslie A.G. Atkinson as the Representative in France among the officers and directors of AFEES.  It seems likely that he is the person after whom the Atkinson List was named.

The Atkinson List provides the airman’s name, date shot down, location in The Netherlands where he was shot down, and some identification as to the the route he took in getting out of Nazi-Occupied Europe.

I prepared a typed, alphabetical list of the names which I have inserted prior to the images.  The line number from the image appears following the airman’s name in parentheses. With the line number you can go directly to the airman’s name in the image and see the additional information about him.  Following the line number, I have added the escape and evasion (E&E) report numbers along with direct links to the airmen’s  E&E reports at National Archives II in College Park, MD.  In some instances I have been unable to find any E&E report for the person in the National Archives database, in which case I have entered the words “no E&E report.”  There could be several reasons for this: (1) the airman’s name was misspelled on the Atkinson list and I haven’t been able to guess the correct spelling, (2) the airman escaped from The Netherlands but was captured by the Germans elsewhere with the result that no E&E report was ever prepared, (3) the name is a very common one making it difficult to identify, (4) there is an error in the National Archives database (for example, Earl Thornsen’s last name was indexed as Thornson), and (5) more than one airman may share the same report number and the name of one or more of them did not get indexed by the National Archives.  In the index to the Atkinson List I have also corrected several errors, particularly spellings of last names.  For example, “Salvador Chavex” should be “Salvador Chavez,” and I changed it accordingly.  I have also added full first names based on the E&E reports when, in the Atkinson list, they were only first initials.  Please let me know of any additional errors or omissions.

Notice how most airmen were shot down in 1944.  Out of 324 total names, the breakdown is as follows:

  • 1943:  27
  • 1944: 273
  • 1945: 12
  • No date: 12

Users of this list will want to compare it to the main list of American airmen shot down in WWII by escape and evasion number.  On that page scroll down to the lower part of the page to view the list.

My thanks to researcher Paul Pouwels for correcting some spelling errors and identifying 55 men on the list as glider troops.  They are to be found immediately below this paragraph as well as on the main list where they are identified as “glider infantry,” except for F/O Phil Jacobson, F/O James Cleary, James Luton,, A.F. Moss, and Chester Ritter, glider pilots.  Note that Cleary does not appear on the Atkinson list.  Where there were differences in spelling between a name in the Atkinson list and Mr. Pouwels’ research, I placed his spelling in parentheses.

  • Alm, J.B.
  • Burke, J.J.
  • Bokesch, M.A.
  • Bulinsky, J.
  • Casey, J.
  • Cleary, F/O James, 327 GIR, 101 ABD
  • Connell, Tinsley G.
  • Connell, Walter J.
  • Corn, Eugene
  • Davis, Debron H.
  • Fichtner, Werner J.
  • Franks, F. (or R.E.?) (probably Robert F. Franks)
  • Gagen, Kenneth
  • Gommell, R.
  • Grove, J.M.
  • Hammond, C.
  • Haney, E.E.
  • Hiney, Willie R.
  • Hahnemann, Kenneth C.
  • Jacobson, Phil, glider pilot
  • Johnson, D.
  • Kosterno, Edward
  • Kotlarczyk, John W.
  • Lair, Terry W.
  • Lambert, B.F.
  • Larick, L.L.
  • Lemoine, N.
  • Luton, James, glider pilot
  • Lyskawa, E.J.
  • Mayer, J.
  • Mitchell, D.J.
  • Morgan, James F.
  • Moss, A.F., glider pilot
  • Moukad, Paul R.
  • Nyeste, J.
  • Pellum, Elija,
  • Pierzchalski, Henry S.
  • Porter, G.L.
  • Pruitt, Junior
  • Ritter, Chester, glider pilot
  • Robinson, A. (not on Atkinson list)
  • Schoenborn, James E.
  • Shuler, Leslie
  • Siebert, C.
  • Stombery, M.E. (Mervin E. Stromberg)
  • Sufrin, David
  • Sukma, Stanley A. (Stanley A. Sulima)
  • Tamborini, P.
  • Toepker, Charles C.
  • Tufnell, Robert J.
  • Vaught, William R.
  • Woods, C.A.
  • Wright, L. (not on Atkinson list)
  • Weum, Robert E. (mispelled as Weun on the Atkinson list)
  • Wyzesien, S.

Additional corrections as to where certain airmen actually came down were shared by researcher Jaap de Boer (the location as given on the Atkinson list appears in parentheses):

  • Barker, Mabry D. (312) – Haulerwijk (Veenhuizen).
  • Johnston, Stanley E. (280) – Haulerwijk (Donkerbroek).
  • Reed, Guille D. (313) – Een (Veenhuizen).
  • Trombley, Richard (311) – Een (Veenhuizen).
  • Stevens, John R. (281) – Haulerwijk (Donkerbroek).

Index to Atkinson List of American Airmen Shot Down Over the Netherlands Who Evaded

For instructions on how to access the escape an evasion (E&E) report listed below, go to the following page on this website: https://wwii-netherlands-escape-lines.com/research/national-archives-research/escape-evasion-reports-available-on-line/

  • Abromowitz, L.H. (50) E&E 1842
  • Alexanian, John (87), E&E 2137
  • Allison, William R. (101), E&E 2254
  • Alm, J.B. (204), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Alukonis, Stanley (6), E&E 321
  • Anslow, James R. (49), E&E 1838
  • Applewhite, Thomas B., Jr. (9 & 10), E&E 324
  • Arnold, George T. (225), E&E 2611
  • Ashcraft, John T. (5), E&E 305
  • Atherton, Joh. L. (269), E&E 2874
  • Autanovich (Misspelled.  Should be Antanovich.), Alex, Jr. (282), no E&E report
  • Aycock, Joseph M. (104), E&E 2257
  • Babcock, Ford W. (54), E&E 1891
  • Baker, William F. (169), E&E 2529
  • Barker, Mabry D. (312), E&E 2967
  • Barton, Leonard (120), E&E 2295
  • Bell, Norman L. (61) E&E 1948
  • Belton, Cecil K. (262), E&E 2847
  • Bevins, Ervin J. (298), E&E 2946
  • Bistline, Roy M. (307), E&E 2961
  • Blake, Robert L.J. (42), no E&E report
  • Blanchard, Jack D. (259), E&E 2830
  • Blaylock, W.T. (146), no E&E report
  • Blodgett, Donald E. (73), E&E 2025
  • Bokesche, M.A. (163), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Bonekat, B. (320),E&E 2977 for Harold W. Bonekat
  • Bonitz, George E. (51), E&E 1843
  • Boon, Jucole, Jr. (114), no E&E report
  • Booth, Harold (93), E&E 2195
  • Bouley, Stuart E. (290), E&E 2937
  • Bradley, John J. (40), E&E 1590
  • Bradshaw, Horace F. (116), E&E 2284
  • Brady, Carl (210), E&E 2584
  • Brandenburg, S. (207), no E&E report
  • Brennan, George F. (244), E&E 2736
  • Broga, F.D. (224), no E&E report
  • Brooks, W.F. (199), no E&E report
  • Brown, Arthur F. (257), no E&E report
  • Brown, Robert F. (279), no E&E report
  • Bulinsky, J. (187), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Burke, J.J. (160), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Burnett, James F. (300), no E&E report
  • Campbell, William R. (89), no E&E report
  • Cannon, Howard W. (236), E&E 2693
  • Carter, C.E. (155), no E&E report
  • Casey, J. (195), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Cavanaugh, Philip R. (293), E&E 2939-2940
  • Cech, Martin (287), E&E 2934
  • Chambers, Irvin J. (47), no E&E report
  • Chapman, Harold L. (288), E&E 2935
  • Chaskin, Lester (211), E&E 2585
  • Chavez, Salvador (85), E&E 2119
  • Cheek, Roy A. (256), E&E 2796 (note corrected spelling of his first name)
  • Clalford, David, Lt. Col. (59), no E&E report
  • Cleveland, Robert (41), E&E 1596
  • Cobb, Albert M. (271), E&E 2880-2883
  • Cole, Warren W. (31), E&E 821
  • Coleman, John B., Jr. (221), E&E 2607
  • Connell, Tinsley G. (140), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Connell, Walter J. (179), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Converse, Theodore G. (136), E&E 2411
  • Cooper, H.F. (83), no E&E report
  • Cooper, J.E. (231), no E&E report
  • Corn, Eugene F. (178), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Coslett, Franklin D. (314), no E&E report
  • Cottriell, Kenneth D. (318), no E&E report
  • Crawford, Donald H. (71), E&E 2008
  • Crook, Charles D. (126), E&E 2308
  • Croy, Leroy (72), E&E 2009
  • Davis, Debron H. (180), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Davis, Joseph F. (276), no E&E report
  • Deason, Frank M. (65), E&E 1974
  • Dell Antonia, Albino A. (238), no E&E report
  • Dencavage, Michael (107), E&E 2269
  • Devaty, Raymond S. (261), E&E 2843
  • Donohoe, William W., Jr. (148), E&E 2474
  • Drysdale, Douglas R. (113), E&E 2281
  • Duffy, John B. (119), E&E 2290
  • Duncran, Gleen E. (317), no E&E report
  • Dungan, Charles W. (137), no E&E report
  • Dunitrovich, S.C. (215), no E&E report
  • Durbin, Woodrow W. (245), E&E 2747
  • Edmonson, Robert E. (234), no E&E report
  • Elkin, Norman (26), E&E 641
  • Ellis, R.D. (214), no E&E report
  • Elsberry, William E. (38), no E&E report
  • Ely, Loyce E. (227), E&E 2613
  • Euronghty, Frank W. (286), no E&E report
  • Farr, H.B. (201), E&E 2590
  • Ferrari, Victor J. (20), E&E 607
  • Ferrell, Jack G. (315), E&E 2969
  • Fichtner, Werner J. (206), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Fletcher, Wertwood H., Jr. (127), no E&E report
  • Forkner, Hamden C. (92), no E&E report
  • Foster, Kenneth E. (304), no E&E report
  • Franks, R.E. (Robert F.) (156), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Frolking, James E. (228), no E&E report
  • Fry, Dwight A. (15), E&E 360
  • Fuller, Richard P. (283), E&E 2928
  • Fulmer, Edward S. (233), E&E 2631
  • Gagen, Kenneth E. (188), E&E 2568, glider infantry
  • Geary, John M. (266), E&E 2871
  • Geary, Thomas S. (77), E&E 2084
  • Gecks, Russell H. (35), E&E 1381
  • Gerritz, Fred J. (316), E&E 2973
  • Gilchrist, Robert C. (16), E&E 378
  • Gilcrease, Elmer C. (130), E&E 2340
  • Gladys, Henry H. (44), E&E 1677
  • Glaze, Ivan E. (28), E&E 797
  • Gommell, R.E. (189), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Gottlieb, Max (53), E&E 1885
  • Granrud, Elmer T. (230), E&E 2625
  • Gregory, Nobel K. (91), no E&E report
  • Gregory, Paul E. (17), E&E 379
  • Grove, J.M. (165), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Haagenson, Ernest W. (149), E&E 2505
  • Hahnemann, Kenneth C. (181), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Hall, Ersel L. (272), E&E 2880-2883
  • Hammer, William A. (294), E&E 2941
  • Hammond, C. (190), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Hand, Alvin L. (295), E&E 2942-2945
  • Haney, E.E. (164), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Hanley, Clifton E. (67), E&E 1977
  • Hannan, Robert J. (111), E&E 2275
  • Harrington, Robert W. (310), E&E 2964
  • Haupt, Charles A. (82), E&E 2109
  • Haygen, Wilbur T. (68), no E&E report
  • Heafnerp, H.L. (289), no E&E report
  • Hele, Frederick N., Jr. (152), no E&E report
  • Hern, Walter (223), E&E 2609
  • Heyg, John B., Jr. (239), no E&E report
  • Higgins, Charles J. (131), E&E 2341
  • Hilditch, Eric J. (84), E&E 2114
  • Hilger, Frank (128), E&E 2324
  • Hiney, Willie R. (142), E&E 2532, glider infantry
  • Hively, Eugene F. (246), E&E 2748
  • Holloman, E.B. (247), no E&E report
  • Homa, Walter (229), E&E 2617
  • Hopkins, T. (63), no E&E report
  • Horton, Harry H., Jr. (11), E&E 330
  • Hubbard, Lt. Col. Thomas H. (29 & 30), no E&E report
  • Hudkinson, Leroy V., Jr. (60), no E&E report
  • Hunter, Edward S. (117), E&E 2288
  • Hurst, John K. (8), E&E 323
  • Ivey, Ashley (273), E&E 2880-2883
  • Jacobson, Philp (168), E&E 2528, glider pilot
  • Johnson, D.F. (166), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Johnston, Stanley E. (280), no E&E report
  • Justice, John K. (2), E&E 283
  • Keith, Rolph B. (220), no E&E report
  • Kevil, Elton F. (7), E&E 322
  • Killliam, Harold J. (32), no E&E report
  • Kindig, Richard J. (37), E&E 1433
  • King, Howard B. (69), E&E 1983
  • Kinney, William C. (109), E&E 2272
  • Kling, David P. (97), E&E 2248
  • Kosseff, William (48), E&E 1800
  • Kosterno, Edward (171), E&E 2551, glider infantry
  • Kotlarczyk, John W. (172) E&E 2552, glider infantry
  • Kratz, Harry D. (33), E&E 635
  • Krawczynski, Steve (18), E&E 393
  • Krebs, Frank X. (237), E&E 2692
  • Kuykendall, Charles E. (284), E&E 2929
  • Lair, Terry W. (143), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Lambert, B.F. (191), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Lambert, Earl (57), E&E 1935
  • Lamie, Richard G. (78), E&E 2089
  • Larick, Leo I. (192), E&E 2572, glider infantry
  • Lattin, William S. (254), E&E 2788
  • Lehman, Theodore (94), E&E 2220
  • Lemoine, N., Jr., (184), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Lock, William B. (19), no E&E report
  • Low, John L. (275), no E&E report
  • Lowery, Georg D. (252), no E&E report
  • Lucero, J.T. (150), no E&E report
  • Ludwig, John (124), no E&E report
  • Luton, James A. (202), no E&E report, glider pilot
  • Lyskawa, E.J. (159), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Machulsky, William V. (274), no E&E report
  • Maffei, Albert (321), no E&E report
  • Malanick, Michael J. (249), no E&E report
  • Mandell, Nicholas (22), no E&E report
  • Marcin, Andrew A. (86), E&E 2128
  • Martin, Clyde J. (112), E&E 2276
  • Martin, Loral (23), E&E 634
  • Martin, Roy O. (79), E&E 2096
  • Matt, H. (325), no E&E report
  • Mattson, William R. (24), E&E 638 is for a Mattson who crashed in Belgium
  • Mayberry, Owen L. (278), E&E 2916
  • Mayer, J. (173), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • McBride, Weldon (212), E&E 2593
  • McGillevary, Roger F. (90), no E&E for McGillivary, Royce or MacGillivray, Donald
  • McMichael, Lloyd E. (98), E&E 2252
  • McNeil, Reginald E. (240), E&E 2711
  • Melancon, Samuel J. (80), E&E 2107
  • Melvin, John S. (167), E&E 2527
  • Merz, George C. (151), E&E 2507
  • Miller, Raymond A. (303), E&E 2954
  • Mills, Donald O. (1), E&E 279
  • Milner, Buford R. (95), E&E 2234
  • Mitchell, Charles R. (36), E&E 1432
  • Mitchell, D.J. (174), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Moebius, Howard E. (260), E&E 2833
  • Mordrer, Arthur A. (102), no E&E report
  • Morgan, Herman D. (25), E&E 640
  • Morgan, James F. (141), E&E 2531
  • Morris, Thomas G. (250), E&E 2772
  • Moss, A.F. (213), no E&E report, glider pilot
  • Moukad, Paul R. (139), E&E 2446, glider infantry
  • Muller, J.J. (219), no E&E report
  • Mullins, Charlie H. (21), E&E 532
  • Mullis, Merle K. (251), E&E 2773
  • Murrel, Jack A. (264), no E&E report
  • Nance, Robert E. (52), E&E 1844
  • Nelson, Hal J. (292), E&E 2939-2940
  • Nyeste, Joseph P. (161), E&E 2521, glider infantry
  • Obergfell, Celar J. (200), E&E 2589
  • Oldfield, Charles S. (306), E&E 2960
  • Parker, Grover P. (232), no E&E report
  • Pase, Ross E. (103), E&E 2256
  • Pellum, Elijah (157), E&E 2517, glider infantry
  • Pencek, Raymond F. (55), E&E 1892
  • Persons, Neal W. (76), E&E 2057
  • Phelps, James N. (322), E&E 2979
  • Phipps, Rupert L. (267), E&E 2872
  • Pierzchalski, Henry S. (196), E&E 2577, glider infantry
  • Pipes, Robert F. (291), E&E 2938
  • Pogodin, Myron (133), E&E 2347
  • Pogue, Leonard A. (270), E&E 2880-2883
  • Porter, Donald A. (74), E&E 2047
  • Porter, G.L. (182), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Preus, Serenus William (154), no E&E report
  • Prosperi, Warren J. (134), E&E 2351
  • Proudfit, Jr., Robert L. (248), E&E 2753
  • Pruett, Junior (186), E&E 2566, glider infantry
  • Punches, Jack D. (108), no E&E report
  • Pyles, Elbert E. (132), E&E 2345
  • Quick, W.E. (222), no E&E report
  • Ramlow, Charles F. (263), E&E 2852
  • Redd, Daniel R. (297), E&E 2942-2945
  • Reed, Guille D. (313), no E&E report
  • Reiter, Stephen N. (309), E&E 2963
  • Richmond, William K. (125), E&E 2306
  • Ritter, C.O. (203), no E&E report, glider pilot
  • Roberts, S.V., Jr. (64), no E&E report
  • Roblee, Theodore E. (277), E&E 2915
  • Ruscitto, J.O. (216), no E&E report
  • Ryezko, Victor A. (105), no E&E report
  • Sandusky, Robert D. (56), E&E 1923
  • Schoenborn, James E. (175), E&E 2555, glider infantry
  • Schultz, Henry K. (129), no E&E report
  • Sciligo, George (242), E&E 2729
  • Scott, Richard M. (323), E&E 2981
  • Seibert, C.P. (197), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Sellers, Leslie M. (296), no E&E report
  • Sheenan, Robert F. (13), no E&E report (however, see Sheehan, Robert E., E&E 340)
  • Shell, Robert E. (235), E&E 2675
  • Shuter (Shuler), Leslie (183), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Simmons, T.S. (43), no E&E report
  • Sirak, Peter (209), E&E 2587
  • Slomowicz, Raymond A. (34), E&E 1380
  • Smith, Russell M. (138), E&E 2441
  • Snedeker, James C. (253), E&E 2784
  • Snyder, Walter R. (27), E&E 642
  • Sobolewski, Edward F. (12), E&E 331
  • Spicer, Carl L. (3), E&E 285
  • Standlee, Bradley J. (135), E&E 2356
  • Stanford, Lloyd A. (14), E&E 359
  • Stankiewicz, John (285), E&E 2930-2932 (also for Sheppard, Morris and Mens, Maynard)
  • Stearnsp, Carol A. (265), no E&E report for Stearnsp, Stearn, or Stearns
  • Stegall, Floyd M. (58) E&E 1937
  • Stevens, John R. (281), E&E 2919
  • Stinnett, Myrle J. (66), E&E 1975
  • Stombery (Stromberg), Mervin E. (185), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Strain, John P. (145), E&E 2447
  • Sufrin, David (177), E&E 2556, glider infantry
  • Sukma (Sulima), Stanley A. (205), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Sulkowski, Joseph T. (226), E&E 2612
  • Swain, John (99), no E&E report
  • Swanson, James A. (218), E&E 2601
  • Swick, Raymond E. (302), E&E 2593 (most documents carry the number 2593 but one has 2592 instead)
  • Swider, Alexander S. (39), E&E 1576
  • Sykes, George K. (147), E&E 2450
  • Szucczewski, Eugene P. (96), no E&E report
  • Talbot, David R. (45), no E&E report
  • Tamborini, P.O. (162), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Tarleton, Woodrow W. (62), E&E 1955
  • Taylor, Edgard M. (88), no E&E report
  • Thornsen, Earl R., (324), E&E 2985
  • Toepker, Charles C. (144), E&E 2534, glider infantry
  • Travelstead, Vance E. (81), E&E 2108
  • Trombley, Richard A. (311), E&E 2965
  • Tucker, Thomas T. (106), E&E 2264
  • Tufnell, Robert J. (176), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Tyson, Walter J. (308), E&E 2962
  • Vaught, William R. (170), E&E 2530, glider infantry
  • Vogel, Richard C. (301), no E&E report
  • Voss, Clyde K. (153), E&E 2509
  • Walter, Harvey P. (268), no E&E report for a Walter or a Harvey
  • Watkins, L.R. (208), no E&E report
  • Watkins, William E. (258), E&E 2819
  • Weaver, Ted L. (299), E&E 2947
  • Webb, Tipton V. (217), E&E 2600
  • Wegman, Thomas J. (115), E&E 2283
  • Welsh, Edward G. (243), E&E 2733
  • Welson, Mark T., Jr. (305), no E&E report
  • West, Edwin (110), E&E 2273
  • Weum, Robert E. (193), , E&E 2573, glider infantry
  • Whitlow, William B. (4), E&E 304
  • Whitney, John (70), E&E 1993
  • Wilcox, Thomas C. (241), E&E 2712
  • William, S.F. (326), no E&E report
  • Williams, Leo (46), E&E 1714
  • Willig, Sidney H. (319), E&E 2976
  • Wilson, James R. (122), no E&E report
  • Witkowich, Joh. P. (255), no E&E report
  • Witte, William O. (123), E&E 2304
  • Woods, C.A. (198), no E&E report, glider infantry
  • Worley, Cleon M., Jr. (121), no E&E report

Page 1, Airmen 1-60, Mills to Hudkinson

2.13.208-7090_A1

Page 2, Airmen 61-117, Bell to Hunter

2.13.208-7090_A2

Page 3, Airmen 118-169, Zuurhagen to Jacobson

2.13.208-7090_A3

Page 4, Airmen 169-226, Baker to Bulkowski

2.13.208-7090_A5

Page 5, Airmen 227-281, Ely to Stevens

2.13.208-7090_A6

page 6, Airmen 282-326, Antonovich to William

2.13.208-7090_A7

Additional Comments

10 responses to “Dutch National Archives List of American Airmen Shot Down Over The Netherlands Who Evaded Capture”

  1. James | May 3, 2015 at 1:14 am | Reply

    Wondering if there is any information regarding Magchiel van Berkel’s involvement in hiding downed American pilot(s). How can I find out?

    If you examine the list of Dutch helpers on this website, Page B-10, BERK to BEUGEN, you will see an entry for an M. v. BERKEL, living at Heulweg 57a, WATERINGEN. His Award Grade for helping Allied airmen was 5, the most common grade. If you go to the “WWII ESCAPE AND EVASION RESEARCH” major page on this website and scroll down to the “National Archives Research (U.S.),” you will find information on the U.S. National Archives where there is likely to be a copy of his helper file as compiled by Allied Military Intelligence. Or go to the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) major page on this website and select “How Do I Learn About an Allied Airman Who Was Shot Down?” to find links to the National Archives, independent researchers, and other sources of help.

    Bruce Bolinger

    • James Vanberkel | November 20, 2015 at 3:01 pm | Reply

      Thanks for the info. We were able to contact Mr. Buck and he has sent us the helper file of our Opa. Unfortunately, the name of the soldier assisted was not listed. Are there any other resources to find his name?
      Also, is there any access to the Dutch Military files as Opa also was a soldier?
      Thanks again, James

      • wwiinetherlandsescapelines | November 21, 2015 at 5:48 pm |

        I suggest you contact the Dutch Ministry of Defense (https://www.defensie.nl/contact), requesting an extract of his service record. I have been successful in getting such records. If the helper file of your Opa gives the names of any of his contacts, their helper files might mention the name of the airman he helped. Helper files allow you to tract an airman’s movements because they list the previous helper of an airman and the next helper to whom he is passed. Have you contacted the local historical society of the town where your Opa lived? You may be able to find it in an Internet search by combining the name of the town and “heemkundekring” (historical society). If that doesn’t work, try the local VVV (tourist bureau) and town library or archives. Take a look at https://wwii-netherlands-escape-lines.com/faqs/how-do-i-learn-about-an-allied-airman-who-was-shot-down/ on this website for further suggestions.
        Bruce Bolinger

  2. Mark Terry | October 5, 2015 at 10:29 pm | Reply

    My first cousin (once removed) was Lt. Jerome K. Hanson, navigator in the 326th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group. His aircraft, B-17F 42-30677 was piloted by Lt. Edward C. Walsh. The crew’s first mission together was to bomb the dockyards of Bremen, Germany on 16 December 1943. Due to #3 engine failure, their plane dropped out of formation and bombed separately. About 10-15 minutes afterwards, they were attacked by fighters. Walsh and his co-pilot dove to low cloud cover in an attempt to evade, but could not. At about 1,000 feet altitude, four crewmen were able to bail out and survive: BTG Herman D. Morgan, RO Lee Folsom, RWG Bill Higbe, Jr. and LWG Loral Martin. To this day, no one knows where “677” crashed. Meanwhile, the four landed close to one another. Higbe immediately left the others for unknown reasons (he stated he broke one ankle and sprained the other on landing). Folsom had been wounded during the fighter attack and was hard pressed to move. The next day he turned himself over to the Germans. Both of them were captured and became POWs. Martin and Morgan were able to evade capture, contact the resistance in the Netherlands and eventually made their way back to England. Both of them have their E&E reports here: Martin #634, Morgan #640. Here is the problem: in the Atkinson List, they are listed as landing near Meppel. However, I recently went through both reports and was able to ascertain that they actually landed much further to the NE, west of Stadskanaal. They didn’t arrive in Meppel until 23 December 1943- 8 days later, and by that time having traveled about 60 miles! I’m wondering why “Meppel” is shown on the Atkinson List, but I note that Morgan states that he and Martin first met members of the “Org.” there. Could it be that was the reason? The problem this misidentification has caused is that Dutch researchers have concluded that B-17 “677” ended up in the waters of the Ijsselmeer off Urk. I’m still hoping that the site of the lost wreckage of “677” can be found and perhaps the remains of the 6 crewmembers that didn’t make it can be brought home…

    Webmaster’s response:

    You raise a good point. My guess is that the entries in the column on the Atkinson report in which “Meppel” appears for the Loral Martin entry may have been inserted by the list’s compiler rather casually. For example, Tom Applewhite, whose name is split between lines 9 and 10, came down closer to Hedikhuizen than to Heusden and his plane, “The Wild Hare,” continued on for some distance before blowing up. “Heusden” may have been used because the rest of the crew who survived were detained there briefly.

    Bruce Bolinger

  3. Caroleen Mellen May | May 9, 2017 at 9:16 pm | Reply

    Nicholas Mandell does have an E&E number it is 629. He has a very detailed story of evading. He was with my father Clyde L. Mellen climbing the Pyrenees, but my father was among the 14 captured 1 km from Spain and and safety. Mandell with several others escaped. Mandell made it over the Pyrenees two to three weeks later.

  4. James Stinnett | March 6, 2018 at 5:04 am | Reply

    Where can I found out more about what Mryle Stinnett did in the war, he is mentioned on the list above.

  5. Erika Antanovich | December 30, 2020 at 5:00 am | Reply

    Just a correction, it’s Alex Antanovich Jr.
    It’s misspelled in your website twice. I am a distant relative.
    Thanks.

    Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I have noted the correct spelling on the typed list that I posted on the website. The Atkinson List, however, is an original document from the Dutch National Archives and I cannot alter it.
    Best wishes,
    Bruce Bolinger, Webmaster

  6. Joan ODay | October 11, 2023 at 7:11 pm | Reply

    was told by my Mother that her cousin Carson Brogan was a flyer shot down over the Netherlands. Date 43-44? Cant find him on any list.

    • Mark R Terry | October 15, 2023 at 1:46 am | Reply

      Dear Joan,
      Using the information you provided, I looked up Carson Brogan in the MACR (Missing Air Crew Reports) on Fold3.com.
      I found a MACR for a Captain Robert Carson Brogan (Serial #O-659095) who was the pilot of an F-5, a reconnaissance version of a P-38 twin-engine fighter. He was part of the Eighth Air Force 7th Photo Group, 13th Photo Squadron. He took off from Ludham, England at 1815 hours (6:15 p.m.) on June 20, 1943. His destination was Bremen & Vegesack, Germany and his course would take him 70 miles north of the Frisian Islands. Apparently, his aircraft never returned and the cause of his disappearance was labeled “unknown”. Next to his name written in ink is “KIA”.
      Missions such as this were extremely hazardous. Reconnaissance pilots flew alone without escort and their aircraft were unarmed. Their mission was to take photographs of potential targets or of targets that had been bombed to assess damage from a previous raid.

      Do you think this might be the same “Carson Brogan” who was your mother’s cousin? If you’d like I could see what else I can find out for you.

      Sincerely,
      Mark Terry

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