Issue 10.14
During World War 2, Reed Ellsworth was a navigator on a B-24 in the 15th Air Force flying bombing missions out of a base in Italy to targets in Germany, Italy, Austria and other places. His Bomber was shot down over German occupied Italy and most of the surviving members of the crew were taken prisoner by the Germans. Reed however, evaded capture and was taken in by an Italian family, at the peril of their lives, to live in secret for a time. He left this family and made his way to the American lines but before he reached his safe destination, the Germans captured him.
Reed was taken first to Dulog Luft for interrogation. The Germans were interested to find out how he stayed as an evade for so long. After interrogation, Reed was taken to a Stalag Luft to be interned for the remainder of the war. He hated that hard life and vowed to get out.
Reed pretended to be “flack happy” which is another name for shell shocked. He played his part so well that the Germans rated him as only 8% competent. The Germans and the Allies traded the unserviceable and badly wounded through the neutral (in favor of Germany) nation of Sweden. Reed was exchanged for a similar rated German before the war in Europe was over.
After the war, Reed returned to his home in Utah. Almost immediately, Reed was sent on an LDS mission to Italy where he met up with the family who so courageously harbored him from the Germans.
As told to Sam Wyrouck by Ralph Henderson.
Sam Wyrouck can be contacted at 801-707-2666.