The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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219827 WO. Reginald Wilfred Everson Royal Air Force 305 (Polish) Sqd from:Sutton, Surrey My father Reg Everson trained as a pilot under the Arnold Scheme in America. On return to the UK he was a trainer, until Jan 1945 when he was sent to 305 (Polish) Squadron in Epernay, France. He flew Mosquitoes. He was shot down (by friendly fire from Americans he found out later) and taken to Gummersbach, Stalag 6G. He remembered living in wooden huts. There were several American airmen After a few days they were roused about 2 a.m. with Ersatz coffee and marched away under armed guard. Eventually they reached a POW Camp near Enbach. The prisoners did not cooperate with the inefficient guards. Breakfast was Ersatz coffee, lunch soup water in which vegetables had been cooked but removed, supper black bread and margarine. American troops were getting closer and by 19th April 1945 the Camp was virtually run by the prisoners. The 78th Division Army Infantry arrived at 14.00 hours by which time the guards had already handed over rifles and guns. Fried chicken and real coffee was greatly appreciated. A few days of Medical Checks etc followed, before being taken to Giesen by truck and then to Paris by Dakota aircraft. Then Reg returned to rejoin 305 Squadron in Epernay. So Reg was trained by Americans, shot down by Americans and released by Americans. (taken from his diaries and conversations by his daughter, Joan Joan Beck Add to this record.  Related Content: No. 305 (Greater Poland) Polish Squadron Royal Air Force Stalag 6g Prisoner of War Camp Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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