[303rd-Talk] RE: Possible UCE::[303rd-Talk Swiss Internment

[Bob Van Pelt]

The author of Masters of the Air writes about Dan Culler and his mistreatment by the Swiss.  I have read Dan's book, Black Hole of Wauwilerous (sp).  I doubt many internees had similar experiences as Dan as he tried to escape, I believe, twice, and as a result was locked in a prison/concentration camp.  It would be interesting to know how many other Swiss internees tried to escape like Dan and suffered similar fates.
  Bob

"Tooley, Dave" <Dave.Tooley at allstate.com> wrote:
  John,
In the April issue of WWII magazine there is an article about Swiss
internment. If the question you are asking about is concerning
mistreatment of prisoners by the Swiss, the answer is yes. There were a
couple of camps that were not pleasant places and one in particular was
very brutal, especially to one young American airmen.

If you can't find a copy of the issue, I'd be happy to photocopy the
article and mail it to you.

__________________________________________________
Dave 

-----Original Message-----
From: 303rd-talk-bounces at 303rdBG.com
[mailto:303rd-talk-bounces at 303rdBG.com] On Behalf Of John Jenkins
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 9:10 PM
To: 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum
Subject: Possible UCE::[303rd-Talk] Masters of the Air

Regarding the book, Masters of the Air, I too bought a copy
based primarily on the recommendation of a book club to which I belong.
Basically, I agree with the earlier comments made in that the volume was
at least disappointing, but I did read the whole thing to try to see
where the author was going. Aside from the errors that were more or
less obvious to those of us who had some actual experience, I think the
main problem with the book is that the author appears to belong to a
sort of fraternity of academic historians who, years after the events,
are given to write what has come to be called "revisionist history". At
a fairly safe distance in time, they are able to give their own
interpretation of events in the apparent hope of selling what they write
to individuals who have little way of knowing whether they are reading
factual information or not. This, of course, is because few of the
actual participants are around to dispute the matter.

This is a belief of mine that could be amplified on, but this is
perhaps not the time or place for such remarks. However, for those of
you who have copies of the book, or who are curious enough to look into
it, I do recommend reading Chapter Twelve, titled "Prisoners of the
Swiss". Here the author presents information that I cannot recall ever
encountering before concerning the way the so called "friendly neutral"
government of Switzerland treated aircrew members who were interned in
that country, and the inaction of the United States' representatives
there in looking out for their interests. Do any participants in this
forum have direct knowledge of this subject?

John I.
Jenkins
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