93RD TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON
439TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP
APO 133, U S ARMY

Subject: Squadron History for February, 1945

[Summery of F/O Harold Russell experience in BASTOGNE]

On 15 February F/O Harold Russell, who had been listed as missing after the Bastogne glider resupply mission on 27 December, 1944, and had been later reported as wounded and in hospital, returned to the squadron. His experiences were among the most interesting experienced by a member of the squadron. He was the pilot of the glider which Captain [Edward A] Nachowitz, [O-737621,] was towing, and when the ow plane was hit and went into a dive some miles short of the LZ, the glider released and the pilot began to look for a suitable landing field. A burst of machine gun fire crashed through the nose of the glider and F/O Russell was hit in the thigh. He landed fast but safe and found himself surrounded by a party of Germans.

F/O Russell states that Captain Nachowitz' plane caught fire in the air and that he saw two parachutes bellow out before it crashed out of his sight. He saw nothing further of the crew, nor did he even know until his return to this base that four glider pilots who followed him in were missing. After his capture he was taken to a German command post and then to an aid station where his wound was dressed. The aid station was not busy and F/O Russell, who understood German, had the interesting experience of listening to the conversation to the German attendants and doctors as he lay on the straw covered floor. They appeared to be confident of success in their offensive, which had not at that stage been stopped, and spoke of the "V" weapons up to ten in number.

Rather suddenly that afternoon they were given the order to evacuate the station as 3rd Army troops began to pour up to the Bastogne area. In the hurried and confused preparations which were being made for the departure, F/O Russell was able to conceal himself in a potato ben in one of the rooms of the farmhouse were the aid station was located, and evade the rather superficial search made by the German personnel.

The next morning the owner of the farm returned and later brought a rescue party to FO Russell’s aid. After treatment in hospitals on the continent and in England he returned to the squadron and a few days later ordered to Paris for examination and interrogation. He was accompanied by Squadron Intelligence Officer and was questioned briefly by M. I. 9. After a physical inspection he was pronounced fit for flying duty.

SOURCE: A0994A - 163