Edward Appel as a Lt in 1944.

I starting researching my father's (Edward Appel) Evasion and Escape journey in January 2015 because I wanted to retrace his steps in April on the same days that he did, April 16 to April 26, 1945. I developed this map to show the places and cities I picked to walk to and state why they were significant. There are various excerpts from military documents and letters that I found in my fathers things attached to it.

Hiding place of Edward Appel in Hochfelden France. He hid here with the son of the family, Georges Wencker, from Sept 8 to November 23, 1944. Edward stayed in contact with the family for a few years after the war, and Georges later named his son, Edouard after Edward Appel, the American pilot that hid with him in the barn.

Outside of the Wencker home in 2015. Juliann Pendolino and David Appel, children of Edward Appel, visited this home on Thanksgiving Day November 27, 2015 and was able to meet the descendants of the French family that helped Edward Appel evade and escape in 1944.

French Resistance, Lucie Grasser on left, Edward in middle, and daughter, Frances Wencker. Frances wrote very good English and stayed in contact with Edward until the 1950's after the war. Other people who helped out in 1944 and spoke English were Father Zirn and Madame Haag.

Liberation Day 23rd Nov 1944 in Hochfelden France. Picture of townspeople, French Resistance/Underground, Edward Appel, Georges and Louis Wencker, It was Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving Day, 2014. Same background as the picture from Thanksgiving Day 1944. David Appel (Edward's son), Edouard Wencker(Georges' Son), Juliann (Appel) Pendolino (Edward's daughter), Marie France (Wencker) Pitre (Georges' daughter).

Louis and Marie Wencker. On Sept 8 1944, Edward approach this couple as they were harvesting in their field near Hochfelden, France. He war cold and hungry. The quickly told him to hide in their wagon and brought him to their house. He hid in their hayloft until November 23, 1944 with their son, Georges, who had been forced into the German army, became wounded and then AWOL. Edward wanted to leave several times, but was convinced by the French Resistance it was to dangerous.

History book from Surbough France, where the B24 of Edward Appel's crew crashed. The crash was observed by then 8 year old Joseph Scharrenberger of Subourg. Joseph retold the story to Edward's children in Nov, 2014. Marie Fassel, 9 years at the time, was also an eyewitness at the crash. She talk about retrieving the parachutes and making dresses out of them. The meeting was arranged by Gerard Ober, historian of Hochfelden.

Edward Appel crew from the crash of Sept 5, 1944 near Surbough France.