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WWII GERMAN POW DOGTAGS ISSUED TO AMERICANS


KASTAUFFER
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I only have two numbers for IIIA, both in the 8x,xxx range. Most POWs in that camp transferred in from other places and had numbers from their first camp.

 

Kurt

 

thanks Kurt, I appreciate the effort, I will continue to research and see what I come up with....in any case, it's a neat thing to have in my collection

 

thanks again, much appreciated,

 

Rick

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Here is mine from a 106 Div veteran who was captured during the Battle of the Bulge.

 

I like the beer bottle stopper too!

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Great Items What did PVT Burleson write? Do you know what unit he was in prior to his capture?

 

He was in the 120th Infantry Regiment, captured 8/7/44.

 

Kurt

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German/American Spy in Stalag Luft 1?

 

Here is the set I bought that got me started on my Stalag Luft 1 research book. I got these on Ebay, in the good old days, from a dealer in Florida. I started doing research and found all sorts of stuff, but nothing on him.

 

It turns out he was not part of a regular crew. He was a natural born German that came to the US in the 1928. He ended up enlisting in January of 1944.

 

On 11 Dec 1944 he was on the B-24 “Mission Belle” (42-52421) of the 780th Bomb Squadron of the 465th Bomb Group when it was shot down over Vienna, Austria. He was listed as “Voice Interceptor” for the crew position and as a Corporal, MACR #10602. Other documents I have found list him as a Lieutenant? I have contacted the 465th BG Association and they only know that he was not part of the crew. Naturally all I can think of and I hate to use the word, spy?

 

After several years I decide to start putting my data together for others with the same goal I had and now have data on well over 11,000 servicemen that spent any time in Stalag Luft 1 including all the allied except the Russians, which were treated more like animals since they had not been part of the Genève Convention and most of them just disappeared.

 

I am always happy to give/receive help from other with the same interest.

 

Happy hunting,

Mark

post-15093-1284152258.jpg

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  • 3 months later...

Voice_Interceptor11Dec44.doc

German/American Spy in Stalag Luft 1?

 

Here is the set I bought that got me started on my Stalag Luft 1 research book. I got these on Ebay, in the good old days, from a dealer in Florida. I started doing research and found all sorts of stuff, but nothing on him.

 

It turns out he was not part of a regular crew. He was a natural born German that came to the US in the 1928. He ended up enlisting in January of 1944.

 

On 11 Dec 1944 he was on the B-24 “Mission Belle” (42-52421) of the 780th Bomb Squadron of the 465th Bomb Group when it was shot down over Vienna, Austria. He was listed as “Voice Interceptor” for the crew position and as a Corporal, MACR #10602. Other documents I have found list him as a Lieutenant? I have contacted the 465th BG Association and they only know that he was not part of the crew. Naturally all I can think of and I hate to use the word, spy?

 

After several years I decide to start putting my data together for others with the same goal I had and now have data on well over 11,000 servicemen that spent any time in Stalag Luft 1 including all the allied except the Russians, which were treated more like animals since they had not been part of the Genève Convention and most of them just disappeared.

 

I am always happy to give/receive help from other with the same interest.

 

Happy hunting,

Mark

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Mark,

 

I read your entry “German/American Spy in Stalag Luft 1?” with great interest and can provide some amplification on his “Voice Interceptor” position aboard the B-24 that was shot down over Vienna, Austria on 11 Dec 1944. As a bit of background, I am a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, who served 21 years (1956-1977) as a Russian linguist (voice intercept operator) at both Air Force Security Service ground intercept sites and aboard USAF reconnaissance aircraft—my job as a linguist was to monitor, intercept, analyze and issue intelligence reports on adversarial military communications.

 

In the later years of WW II (1944 and 1945), the US Army Air Forces installed an intercept receiver on some B-17 and B-24 bombers (typically one or two bombers per bomb group due to the critical shortage of both intercept receivers and German linguists). In the European and Mediterranean Theaters, second generation German linguists were recruited from other Air Corps jobs and used as voice intercept operators on combat missions (usually one linguist flying aboard the bomb group leader’s aircraft). (a few second generations “Nisei” Japanese linguists flew similar missions in the Far East and CBI Theaters in 1945).

 

Listed as an “11th crew member” or “voice interceptor” on B-24 missions, the German linguist intercepted Luftwaffe air-to-ground and ground-to-air communications between fighter control centers and fighter pilots sent aloft to attack bombers in combat formations. In turn, the linguist/voice interceptor kept his aircraft commander informed of approaching German fighters and the fighter pilot’s intentions, with the aircraft commander using the voice interceptor’s inputs to position accompanying Allied fighter escorts to engage and destroy the German fighters.

 

A couple of comments on your description of the voice interceptor’s mission. – You list the B-24 “Mission Belle” as tail number 42-52421, but other sources identify “Mission Belle” as Serial # 42-51421, which appears to be the correct ID. You also indicate that you have found him listed as a lieutenant. I believe you may be mixing up details from two completely separate persons—one being the voice interceptor who most likely was a corporal (or Sgt.) and the other a 2nd Lieutenant who was a POW for 16 months. You list the voice interceptor’s name as “Edwin H Meyer,” but the name on the dog tag that you attach is difficult to explicitly identify. The first name on the dog tag appears to be “ERTIN” although the second and third letters on the dog tag are unclear, especially the third letter. The second letter could be an “R” but is most likely not a “D.” Additionally, the third letter does not appear to be a “W.” Thus, the name “Edwin” for the person’s dog tag seems highly improbable. Could the corporal’s name have been “ERTIN H Meyer????????

 

In reference to your comments on the “Lieutenant,” I note that there was a 2nd Lt. EDWIN H. MEYER, who was a POW in WW II. I found an obit on the internet suggesting that the Lt. Meyer who was a POW was born in New York City in 1928 and passed away in Granville, Ohio, in July 2010 at 87 yrs old. As further confirmation that two persons with LAST NAME MEYER are associated with your entry, the airman’s service number on your dog tag is “42066907” whereas 2nd Lt. Edwin H Meyer’s service number was “O-692051.”

 

FYI, I am the author of a three-volume set of books (Freedom Through Vigilance) on the history of USAF Security Service, and I am currently writing Volume IV, Freedom Through Vigilance, which will document the history of USAFSS airborne reconnaissance, reference my website: www.larrytart.com. I flew airborne recon in USAFSS for 10 years, and Volume IV addresses airborne voice interceptors during WW II as well as those involved in USAFSS airborne recon during the Cold War. I have several documented instances of voice interceptors during WW II, and any details or documents you are willing to share with me regarding the voice interceptor involved in the Mission Belle mission on 11 Dec 1944 would be greatly appreciated.

 

Good luck on your book on Stalag Luft.

 

Larry Tart

Currently 'snowbirding' in Destin, Florida

Destin phone: (850) 837-4597

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Mark,

 

I read your entry “German/American Spy in Stalag Luft 1?” with great interest and can provide some amplification on his “Voice Interceptor” position aboard the B-24 that was shot down over Vienna, Austria on 11 Dec 1944. As a bit of background, I am a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, who served 21 years (1956-1977) as a Russian linguist (voice intercept operator) at both Air Force Security Service ground intercept sites and aboard USAF reconnaissance aircraft—my job as a linguist was to monitor, intercept, analyze and issue intelligence reports on adversarial military communications.

 

In the later years of WW II (1944 and 1945), the US Army Air Forces installed an intercept receiver on some B-17 and B-24 bombers (typically one or two bombers per bomb group due to the critical shortage of both intercept receivers and German linguists). In the European and Mediterranean Theaters, second generation German linguists were recruited from other Air Corps jobs and used as voice intercept operators on combat missions (usually one linguist flying aboard the bomb group leader’s aircraft). (a few second generations “Nisei” Japanese linguists flew similar missions in the Far East and CBI Theaters in 1945).

 

Listed as an “11th crew member” or “voice interceptor” on B-24 missions, the German linguist intercepted Luftwaffe air-to-ground and ground-to-air communications between fighter control centers and fighter pilots sent aloft to attack bombers in combat formations. In turn, the linguist/voice interceptor kept his aircraft commander informed of approaching German fighters and the fighter pilot’s intentions, with the aircraft commander using the voice interceptor’s inputs to position accompanying Allied fighter escorts to engage and destroy the German fighters.

 

A couple of comments on your description of the voice interceptor’s mission. – You list the B-24 “Mission Belle” as tail number 42-52421, but other sources identify “Mission Belle” as Serial # 42-51421, which appears to be the correct ID. You also indicate that you have found him listed as a lieutenant. I believe you may be mixing up details from two completely separate persons—one being the voice interceptor who most likely was a corporal (or Sgt.) and the other a 2nd Lieutenant who was a POW for 16 months. You list the voice interceptor’s name as “Edwin H Meyer,” but the name on the dog tag that you attach is difficult to explicitly identify. The first name on the dog tag appears to be “ERTIN” although the second and third letters on the dog tag are unclear, especially the third letter. The second letter could be an “R” but is most likely not a “D.” Additionally, the third letter does not appear to be a “W.” Thus, the name “Edwin” for the person’s dog tag seems highly improbable. Could the corporal’s name have been “ERTIN H Meyer????????

 

In reference to your comments on the “Lieutenant,” I note that there was a 2nd Lt. EDWIN H. MEYER, who was a POW in WW II. I found an obit on the internet suggesting that the Lt. Meyer who was a POW was born in New York City in 1928 and passed away in Granville, Ohio, in July 2010 at 87 yrs old. As further confirmation that two persons with LAST NAME MEYER are associated with your entry, the airman’s service number on your dog tag is “42066907” whereas 2nd Lt. Edwin H Meyer’s service number was “O-692051.”

 

FYI, I am the author of a three-volume set of books (Freedom Through Vigilance) on the history of USAF Security Service, and I am currently writing Volume IV, Freedom Through Vigilance, which will document the history of USAFSS airborne reconnaissance, reference my website: www.larrytart.com. I flew airborne recon in USAFSS for 10 years, and Volume IV addresses airborne voice interceptors during WW II as well as those involved in USAFSS airborne recon during the Cold War. I have several documented instances of voice interceptors during WW II, and any details or documents you are willing to share with me regarding the voice interceptor involved in the Mission Belle mission on 11 Dec 1944 would be greatly appreciated.

 

Good luck on your book on Stalag Luft.

 

Larry Tart

Currently 'snowbirding' in Destin, Florida

Destin phone: (850) 837-4597

 

 

 

 

Wow, thanks for the reply Larry! Other then the basics I have found nothing else on him. You are absolutely correct. I get Erwin and Edwin mixed up in my typing if it is not right in front of me. Erwin is the German born, listed as a Corporal but in other documents something higher, the tag belongs to. He died in Florida which is where the tags came from. I have not invested in searching his German side YET. I would be glad to help if I have anything useful and would like to pick up a copy of your next book on the VI’s when it comes out.

 

:twothumbup:

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  • 3 months later...

Picked up a few more tags in the past 3 months so here they are!

 

1st Tag was issued to a Gunner with the 306th Bomb Group, 8th AAF who was shot down on the second Schweinfurt Raid on 10/14/43 and held in Stalag 17B. His tag is stuck in the back of his POW " Wartime Log ".

 

Notice the POW number on the letter matches the tag.

 

 

MVC_007L.JPG

 

MVC_008L.JPG

 

MVC_009L.JPG

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US and POW dogtags to a soldier captured near Kasserine pass while serving with the 34th Division in February 1943 . The POW # on his tag matches the mail. He was held at Stalag IIIB, but passed through 7A where he was issued his tag.

 

MVC_012L.JPG

 

MVC_013L.JPG

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Set of US Dogtags and POW tag to a soldier who served with the 47th Infantry , 9th Division who as captured 11/26/44 in the Hurtgen Forest. Again, the POW number on the tag matches the POW # on his mail.

 

 

MVC_006L.JPG

 

MVC_005L.jpg

 

MVC_010L.JPG

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A word of advice if you want to buy POW tags from an American is to NOT buy the dug ones from Europe. They are real, but 99.9% of the ones I have seen were not issued to Americans. Most of the ones I have seen came from camps that mostly contained Polish, Russian, French, Belgian, and British POWs. You see a lot of Stalag 344 tags, and many men in that camp were British.

 

Kurt

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  • 2 weeks later...
Corsair pilot
This thread is dedicated to the unsung heros of WWII.. the POW's .

 

I have been collecting POW material for a long time, and I have always treasured POW ID tags worn by Americans.

 

Most of the POW dogtags on Ebay are not tags worn by Americans, but recently dug ones from camps Americans were not even held in. They have minimal value. Documented dogtags to an American are fairly scarce.

 

Most of the tags I have in this thread are documented to a specific POW by his POW ID number. I do not have a list that shows the numbers, but I do have original documents in each grouping referring to the POW listing his " Gefangennummer" or POW number. Some of the tags came on the same dogtag chain as his US tags.

The first set of tags belonged to Sgt Albert Brault. He was a member of the 601st Tank Destroyer Bn and was captured in North Africa on 1/20/43 .

 

He was in 3 different Stalags during the war. The first was Stalag VIIA at Moosberg, which is where he was issued his metal tag in 1943 . He later transferred Stalags IIIA ( Luckenwalde ) and IIIB ( Furstenberg ) . While at IIIB he was also issued a paper tag which survived. These are super scarce.

post-105-1176147804.jpg

I have never seen these before. Thanks for sharing.

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  • 1 month later...

Greetings,

I am new to the forum. This is a great web site. I have attached a picture of my father's POW tag. Thought you might like to see it.

post-44363-1306197993.jpg

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Jack's Son
Greetings,

I am new to the forum. This is a great web site. I have attached a picture of my father's POW tag. Thought you might like to see it.

Greg,

Do you have any picutres from when he was a POW to post along with the tag??

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flight helmets 522
This second tag was issued to 2nd LT Charles A. Dubinski at STALAG LUFT 3 at Sagan Germany . The tags says " OFlag " because originally it was an officers camp only. An oflag is an "Offizierlager" . He was a fighter pilot with the 27th Fighter Bomber group and was captured in North Africa on 9/19/43 .

 

Also included is his barracks card from Luft 3.

post-105-1176148126.jpg

 

This is a very interesting and informative collection and posting. Sometimes it seems like such a small world. I recognized Charles Dubinski's name. My Grandmother's brother, 2nd Lt. Charles A Head, was a pilot in the 27th Fighter Bomber Group, during the time that Dubinski flew with the 27th. My Great Uncle Charles was KIA, 9-26-43, in Italy.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Phil.

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Hello, I have a POW tag from "STALAG XVII B" , number "20151". Is this number consistent with an original POW tag? Thank you for any information. Ken

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KASTAUFFER
Hello, I have a POW tag from "STALAG XVII B" , number "20151". Is this number consistent with an original POW tag? Thank you for any information. Ken

 

That number is alot lower than all the 17B numbers I have seen assigned to US POWs. They tend to be in the @90XXX-@120XXX range.

 

Kurt

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