Steve Boyle

Your day started early like many others you've had since you arrived in England. Someone shaking your shoulder at zero-dark-thirty to tell you your on for today's mission. After muttering a few pleasantries you slowly make your way to your feet. Its cold, dark and damp and the stove is not putting out enough heat to cut the chill. Even that extra blanket you scrounged didn't help keep you warm during the night. Now, here you are at 25,000 feet sucking oxygen through a mask, flak bursting all around you with one engine out and another on fire. The pilot rings the bell and warns everyone to prepare to abandon ship.

Servando Corrillo

You rip off your flak vest, interphones and drop your helmet. You struggle to get your parachute connected to the harness. The fort is bouncing as the pilot fights to keep her airborne and steady. You grab your regular shoes and attach them to your harness as you notice the ball gunner struggling to get out of his turret. You make your way over to help him when the second bell sounds. Its time to go! As the ball gunner finishes connecting his chute you grab his shoes and thrust them at him and make your way to the waist door.

Bryan Cox

Your buddy opens the door, but hesitates. No time for manners now, you help him out and follow close on his heels. He gives himself a short count and pulls his ripcord. You're concerned about enemy fighters and give yourself a longer count to clear the aircraft. When you think you're clear you grit your teeth and pull at your ripcord too. With a loud THWACK and a bone jarring jolt, you're jerked upright.

John Fersinger

You take a quick look up to see a good chute. The canopy is in full blossom and the lines are tight and undamaged. The straps cut into delicate "equipment," you shift your weight as best you can, but you'll have to deal with that later. You check your harness to make sure everything is OK. You shudder as you recall the stories of men slipping out of their harnesses and falling to their deaths. At 9 O'clock low you see Bob, at your 4 O'clock high Larry is dangling from his chute. Struggling to look behind you you see another of your crewmen at your 6 O'clock low. You can't see anyone else so you worry and hope everyone made it out.

Hunt (or Hardy)

You look further out and see the plane you just left settle down; a dark gray trail of greasy smoke marking its flight path as it starts its death plunge. As you watch a chill runs through you and you put your head on a swivel to check for German fighters. You've heard stories about the Germans shooting at men in their chutes. You relax as your discover you're in the clear, and discover the eerie silence that surrounds you. The sounds of battle have faded away as you drift on the wind like a dandelion seed.

Orville Jacobson

Then you realize your right foot is cold. Glancing at your dangling feet you discover that you've lost a boot. No matter, you have your shoes and will put them on when you land. You look past your feet at the vista below. It looks pretty and serene, but there's a war going on down there. You start to wonder exactly where you are. Did your pilot get you across the lines? Are you in friendly territory or on the enemy's side. You contemplate your options. "Which way is west?" you mutter as you scan the country side.

Chester Kology

You pray that no one sees you land and you can evade capture. Your mood turns somber as you realize you won't be going home tonight. But, what if you are discovered? Better to be found by the Luftwaffe, or Wehrmacht rather than take your chances with the SS or an angry mob of German citizens. Suddenly you're hit with a realization that makes you chuckle. "That ol' Nissen hut wasn't so bad after all!"

Dick Kowlaski

The photos on this page are part of an airman's capture kit. Every airman has a photo of himself taken in civilian clothes in the event he finds himself evading capture and is lucky enough to be found by the underground first. These photos are used to create forged identification papers and passes.

Freddie Kraft

Unless otherwise noted, these photos are reprinted from the O&W newsletter dated Fall '85. These pictures are part of the John Farsinger collection and are submitted by Bill Sartain, brother of Jack Sartain (KIA), 835th.

LT Vickers.

LT John C. Albanese
Bombardier, 833rd
(John C. Albanese)

John Pederson