| Robert Hodgson World War II P. O. W. Diary |
| We were hit by flak while running up on the target, on a raid on Dusseldorf, November 2, 1944, coned by searchlights the bomb aimer was giving instructions to the pilot endeavouring to get clear of the cone. Then all hell seemed to break loose, we were hit fatally by another burst which I'm not too sure where it hit, but have reason to believe it hit the port inner and surrounding area. I reached for my chute as we were badly on fire, aircraft full of smoke, someone called for assistance, stood up beside the pilot, and motioned Engineer to put on chute in order to help me with the skipper -- then a huge explosion occurred in which I went through an experience I never want to go through again. I thought perhaps we had hit the deck, then I must have passed out. I woke up with flak bursting all around me, pulled my ripcord and after what seemed an eternity I hit the deck after all sorts of things had gone through my head "how", "where", "why" had I got out of that kite. I landed in a turnip patch, buried my chute, May West, etc. and began planning my way out, decided to lay quiet until midnight, a three hour wait, then try to get away, small injuries, both knees cut, large lump on forehead. At twelve clouded over, decided to start; looked around and started out, unfortunately ran right into a soldier and a girl, cursed my luck. After searching me for a pistol he took me to an A/A unit -- intelligence officer gave me a slight interrogation, took all my possessions away. I spent the night in a barrack containing eight men, slept on a bench. At 11:30 a. m. they brought me something to eat, unable to eat all of it as my stomach was in a bit of a turmoil, Germans seemed to take a dim view of it. Number of them gabbling at me in German, which I could make out as trying to find out if it was flak that got us. What kind of a kite, to which I turned a deaf ear. Later in the afternoon acivie came in who spoke English; asked me a number of questions about how many were in the crew, what type of A/C etc., when I told him I was unable to answer he became rather annoyed, and assured me he wasn't trying to find out military secrets, but he was trying to help me. I learned from him however that the mid-upper and rear gunner were OK, saw them later in the afternoon when they transferred us to a Luftwaffe drome and put us in a guard house stayed there until 2:30 the next day provided us with a loaf of very dry bread and cup of coffee. 3:30 p. m. started walking to local town, believe named "Lanc" -- five of us and three guards. Took street car to Dusseldorf, found we'd made quite a mess of it, people naturally were not very friendly to us. Got on train around six, travelled a short distance, interrupted by air raid, unfortunately had to change trains at this place, nearly had my head crushed by a hysterical lady and husband who broke through the guards and started swinging canes and umbrellas, meanwhile yelling and spitting. After a train journey, arrived at Oberusel near Frankfurt, arrived around 3:30 p. m. on the 5th, taken to interrogation centre, searched fully and put in a cell 5 ft by 9 ft., containing wooden bunk, stool and electric heater, stayed here twelve days in which various means were used to try and make me talk. * Skin broke out with scabies, also fleas took a liking to me. Eats 2 slices bread and butter for breakfast, soup for dinner, 2 slices bread jam for supper, left morning 17 arrived Wetzlow 18th afternoon. Kitted out R. C. suitcase, containing 2 suits underwear, 2 towels, 3 pr socks, pr pyjamas, boot polish, 2 brushes, toothbrush, and powder, 6 bars soap (two laundry), 2 pkgs pipe tobacco, 3 pkgs cigarettes, pipe cleaners, pipe, razor, and shaving soap, two pkgs blades, roll of toilet paper. Besides this kit, I was issued an American great coat, RAF hat, RAF shirt, 2 collars, and a tie. Given a shower, treated for scabies, cleaned up and shaved, really felt good, had my first cigarette since the 4th, made me quite dizzy. Chow call 4:30 meal tops, made |
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