KASTAUFFER Posted October 27, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 27, 2007 I was getting ready to fall asleep in a hotel room while on a business trip to Atlanta earlier this week when I got a call I was not expecting. It was from the Navigator of a 8th AAF bomber crew I had been researching. About 8 years ago I purchased a grouping to a Bombardier from the 303rd Bomb Group named Donald Beers . During my research I got to know the webmaster of the 303rd BG website and sent him some photos to post on the site. Three weeks ago the webmaster contacted me and asked me if I knew what had happened to Don Beers and I let him know Beers had died in 1972. He thanked me for the info and I thought " that was that " . To my surprise , the final surviving member of the crew , Carl Neilsen , had been looking for Beers and wanted to talk to me and called ! We spoke on the phone for over and hour and he related to me his own personal story of the mission and his journey through the German POW camp system. His name sounded familer and I realized I had in my collection, his POW capture card he had mailed his wife from Dulag Luft , the Luftwaffe interrogation center ! I told him I had it and he was dumbfounded. He couldnt remember getting rid of it . I told him I bought the card at a Stamp Show in Seattle. He was glad I had it and asked for a copy which I sent him. I also sent Carl a copy of the GO awarding him the DFC which he did not have. I now have a new friend , and a real link to the items I have been collecting. That is what collecting is all about. In only a few more years, opportunities like this will exist no more. He is 85 years old and his health is not good. Here is a link to a thread featuring the grouping to Beers : http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...amp;#entry67862 Here is a link to the 303rd BG website feauring the crew : http://www.303rdbg.com/359walker.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DM1975 Posted October 27, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 27, 2007 That is a great story. To bad more searches do not end so productive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldog Posted October 28, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 28, 2007 That is a great story, awesome!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 4, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted November 4, 2007 Thanks guys! Carl said he would be sending me some copies of documents he has. If he does I will post them. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted November 4, 2007 Share #5 Posted November 4, 2007 Kurt, This is very cool. Stay in touch with him and let us know more. Please!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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