301st Bombardment Group 06/05/1944
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE
APO 520 U. S. Army D-JAR-fs
21 October 1944
Ref: USA/SKP/68
ESCAPE STATEMENT
Born – 4 Dec 1923 Enlisted – March 1943
Home Address – Crawfordsville, Ind.
Peacetime Profession – Printer
MIA – 5 June 1944 RTD – 21 October 1944 Missions 37
Source landed at Mulzzano about ten (10) miles SW of Rimini. He was met by a priest who took him to a house where he was fed and given some civilian clothes to wear.
Source headed south, but as he had injured his foot in landing, he made little headway and finally hid out in field where he was found by peasants who brought some foot, and attended to his foot as best they could.
Source reports that there is an organized band of Partisans in region between Rimini and Reccivre. The leader of the band was contacted and source was taken by cart close to a town half-way between Rimini and Reccivre.
Source spent three weeks in the leader’s house and in the house of a friend. He spent all of July hiding out in the fields. In the middle of August, he was taken by the Partisans to the Republic of San Marino, where he was hidden in a cave. Source stayed here until the English forces approached and he went through the lines.
Of the source’s crew, five were captured, one is missing and three are with the Partisans north of San Marino.
Escape Kits: Source would have liked more chewing gum in his kit. Complained of getting very thirsty. Suggests carrying snapshots on person for use in forged documents.
JOS. A. REID,
1st Lt., A.C.,
Interrogator.
(Transcription of official Escape Statement: Johnston, Max E. S/Sgt, 35095925, 32d Sqd., 301 B Gp, Hq, 15th AF, 21 October 1944.)
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Max Johnston of the 301st Bombardment Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Max Johnston's combat experience.
Max Johnston: Personnel File
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