When I asked for the 293 (Casualty) File for Daniel S. Wilson, this is one of the documents in it. A Graves Registration Team interviewed townspeople who were involved in deciding what would happen to this “dead American Flying-Lieutenant.” No one in the family had seen any of them before.
Schwanberg, July 25th 1946
DECLARATION
On the American Airman crashed on February 19th 1945 at the community of SCHWANBERG.
I Four air planes attacked the railroad station of SCHWANBERG. Approaching the station it touched slightly a telegraph pole. The plane was damaged and crashed approx two kilometers south of the railway station on a forest. The plane was completely demolished.
II. The removal of the plane was accomplished by a special recovery team of the former German Wehrmacht. A dead American Flying-Lieutenant was found in the plane. This team searched thoroughly him, found the identification tag and identified him. I am not able to give any details on the other personal effects. Probably they were taken away by German Military.
III. The plane in question was a two engine one.
Stamp: Markt SCHWANBERG Bezirk DEUTCHLANDSBERG
Signature: Franz HERMANN
Schwanberg, July 25th 1946
DECLARATION
On the burial of the crashed American Flying-Lieutenant Daniel S. WILSON, which took place on February 20, 1945.
I The a/m was buried with his uniform in a wooden casket in the community cemetery of SCHWANBERG.
II At the burial were present: Franz MULLER, Inspector Franz KOCH, Grave-Digger Franz HERMAN [sic], Secretary of Town.
III The grave was provided with a wooden cross with the following inscription:
Daniel S. Wilson 12. 2. 1945 [sic]
IV The burial ceremony was made secretly by the Roman Catholic Priest of SCHWANBERG.
Stamp: Markt SCHWANBERG Bezirk DEUTSCHLANDSBERG
Signature: Franz HERMANN
The burial had been made secretly. . . . You bet I cried.
Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II is available from Amazon in paperback and ebook, also as an audiobook, narrated by Paul Berge.
It’s also the story behind the Wilson brothers featured on the Dallas County Freedom Rock at Minburn, Iowa. All five served. Only two came home.
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Oh wow. The burial made secret by the priest. 😢 that is so touching…
Just four men at the burial.
Very sweet that they did that. I guess if it was secretly done then that implies that sort of thing was frowned upon or not allowed.
It was Nazi-occupied territory.
Four men who witnessed the burial of one of America’s heroes.
What an amazing story. It’s like something out of a movie or something.
A touching part of the historical record that these men gave their enemy a Christian burial.
I’m not sure the Austrians were thrilled that the Nazi’s had taken over their country.
I expect you’re right.
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Thank you!