Stalag XVII-B

Prisoner of war camp
media-28901.jpeg UPL 28901 SSGT Joe B. Dobbs
Left Waist Gunner
John Fouts Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Shot down 8 April 1944.

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 28901 - SSGT Joe B. Dobbs Left Waist Gunner John Fouts Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Shot down 8 April 1944.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Detailed History

Allied aircrew shot down during World War II were incarcerated after interrogation in Air Force Prisoner of War camps run by the Luftwaffe, called Stalag Luft, short for Stammlager Luft or Permanent Camps for Airmen.



Stalag 17B was situated 100 meters northwest of the village of Gniekendorf. This village is located six kilometers northwest of Krems, Austria.



Air Corps NCO's were held at this camp and they regretted they were not in an Air Force camp. They considered that they were entitled to a special camp and the privileges of aviators.



Further detailed information, photographs and stories can be found at :

http://www.b24.net/pow/stalag17.htm



As the war was winding down, the Russians were advancing from the east and the POWs were forced marched west, across Austria, and ended up at Braunau Am Inn, on the Danube.

Any POW that couldn't walk faced either execution by the Germans or interment by the Russians.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37308868
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17063731
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35402140
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14124737
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12128743
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Engineer; Gunner

Missions

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Changes to media associations

Date
ContributorMums05
Changes
Sources

My Grandfather was the Tail gunner for B-17 42-29663 and was a POW at this camp afterwards. His name was Ed Oscar Seabourne, he was the best man I've ever known.

Date
Changes
Sources

Update to Place Type.

Date
Contributortorinoscj
Changes
Sources

My uncle, Porter D. Clemens, was a POW here

Date
ContributorBelinda Wommack
Changes
Sources

Journal - personal collection

Date
Changes
Date
Changes
Date
Changes
Sources

Associated prisoners of the 457th Bomb Group from http://www.457thbombgroup.org/POW/POW.html

Date
Changes
Sources

Associated prisoners of the 457th Bomb Group from http://www.457thbombgroup.org/POW/POW.html

Date
Contributorstu
Changes
Sources

Justin Sturak grandson of Stanley J Sturak

Date
Changes
Sources

Renamed Stalag Luft XVIIb for consistency.

Date
Changes
Sources

Amended basic details.

Date
Changes
Sources
Date
Contributordrh1957nb
Changes
Sources

various websites

Date
Contributordrh1957nb
Changes
Sources

various websites

Date
Contributordrh1957nb
Changes
Sources

Stalag 17 website

Date
Contributordrh1957nb
Changes
Sources

U.S. Archives

Stalag XVII-B: Gallery (30 items)