2nd Lieutenant Donald E. Casey was born November 6, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. The second of four boys, Casey was deeply affected by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 and when he turned eighteen the following year traveled to Lafayette, Indiana and volunteered to be an Aviation Cadet. Casey reported for active duty at the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center in February of 1943. He tested well and was selected for navigator training, his first choice. Over the next six months, Casey went though basic training and then advanced navigation school. On October 23, 1943, Casey received his silver wings and was made a 2nd Lieutenant with the Air Force. In January 1944, Casey was sent to England to begin his tour of duty. His first mission was a bombing of an enemy airfield in Dijon, France. Twenty-eight missions later, with only two to go before he could be sent back to the states, 2nd Lieutenant Casey's plane was shot down over Germany and he was taken prisoner by German troops. After a round of questioning by German officials, Casey was sent to Frankfurt, Oberusel, Lufwaffe Interrogation Center, Dulagluft and finally Stalag LUA III, a permanent camp for Allied Aircrews. Casey and thousands of other POWs remained there until Russian bombing only 30 miles from the camp forced the Germans to move them. Nearly ten thousand prisoners of war were relocated, taking trains and walking miles during the worst winter Germany had seen in 25 years. Once they reached their new camp, the POWs stayed there until April 29, 1945 when General Patton's Fourteenth Armored Division of the 3rd Army rescued them. Casey returned home to Chicago in June of 1945, where he still lives today.
From the description of [Donald E. Casey 379th Bomb Group 8th Air for WWII collection]. 1942-1945. (Pritzker Military Library). WorldCat record id: 231399367
