Oral history interview with James E. Magruder, [videorecording], 2002.

ArchivalResource

Magruder, James E., 1922-2003. Oral history interview with James E. Magruder, [videorecording], 2002.

Oral history interview with James E. Magruder, [videorecording], 2002.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/757825831

James E. Magruder, a Washington, D.C. native, discusses his service in the Army Air Corps during World War II and his experiences as a prisoner of war. Magruder mentions failing his physical when he tried to enlist in the Navy, enlisting in the Air Corps, aerial gunnery training in Florida, and armor gunnery training at Lowry Field (Colorado). After joining the 447th Bomb Group in Washington state, he talks about volunteering to be a ball turret gunner so that his friend could join the crew in his old position as tail gunner. Magruder explains the dangers faced by ball turret gunners. He lists missions he flew to Germany and details his mission to bomb Regensburg on the 25th of February, 1944. He tells of reporting damage to the plane, realizing the crew had bailed, and being wounded by flak and a rough parachute landing on ice. Magruder recalls being captured by a civilian with a shotgun, getting beaten by a civilian woman, and being arrested and reunited with his crew by the German Home Guard. He describes being interrogated for fifteen days in Frankfurt and living in Stalag Luft VI. Magruder talks about his failed escape attempts, playing in a softball league, and working various jobs around camp. Evacuated as the Russians were drawing near, he tells of being transported by ship and train while handcuffed and with no food or water. After arriving at Gross Tychow (Poland), he tells of the guards getting riled up by Commandant Pickert and setting dogs on the prisoners, who were being double-time marched to Stalag Luft IV. Magruder speaks of spending several months in tents and trying to keep busy. He characterizes Francis Troy, his camp leader. Magruder details his experience during the "Black Death March," an eighty-six daylong evacuation on foot. He addresses lack of food, cold weather, prisoners grouping together to carry those who couldn't walk, trading cigarettes for food, common illnesses, lice, and inadequate clothing. One morning, he tells of seeing a limousine arrive with some English officers and German Commandant Pickert, who informed the prisoners they would be free at ten o'clock that morning. Magruder describes the joyous responses of the prisoners, his physical condition upon release, being unable to eat regular food, passing through Lüneburg and Camp Lucky Strike, seeing the fortifications at Le Havre, and his homecoming. He explains being hesitant to discuss his experiences for many years, but eventually becoming a speaker for schools and churches, where he emphasized that freedom isn't free. Magruder touches on the good rumors that were always flying around the prison camp, POW statistics for the war, and the average age of the German guards. He relates losing touch with most of his crew, having a reunion with his pilot, and being given a photograph of his crashed airplane. Magruder describes a happy moment after arriving at Staling Luft VI and seeing airmen whom he'd thought were dead. Explaining an inaccuracy of Hollywood movies, he relates why individual gunners didn't take credit for shooting down enemy planes.

Video recording : 2 video cassettes (ca. 60 min.) ; sd., col.; 1/2 in.Transcript : 19 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center