HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE

APO 520 - U.S. Army

10 October 1944 Ref: USA/SKP/117

ESCAPE STATEMENT

1. Lucht, William, 1st Lt., O-700485, 746 Bomb Sq., 456 Bomb Group.

Born - 8 Oct. 1918                                          Enlisted - 10 Feb. 1943 Home Address - 5900 Patterson Ave., Chicago, Illinois

Peacetime Profession - Mechanic

M.I.A. - 28 Aug. 1944  RTD - 10 Oct. 1944  Missions - 50  Duty - Pilot

1. Ritchey, Louie, Sgt., 39161895, 746 Bomb Sq., 456 Bomb Group.

Born - 28 Nov. 1915                                       Enlisted - 21 July 1941 Home Address - Hamilton, Montana

Peacetime Profession - Shipping Clerk

M.I.A. - 28 Aug. 1944  RTD - 10 Oct. 1944

2. On 28 August Lt. Lucht was piloting a B-24 on a raid on a bridge at Trento, N. Italy. The target was hit and two bridges knocked out. A direct flak hit was scored on bomb bay severing the “C.I.”, and control cables. The plane could not be controlled, so source gave the order to bail. Source was seventh man to jump, having the co-pilot on board.

3. St. Maria Hospital 7 Sept. ‘44 - 7 Sept. ‘44; Samaden Quarantine Camp 7 Sept. - 9 Sept. ‘44; Bad-Lostorf Quarantine Hotel 9 Sept. - 27 Sept. ‘44; Pully-Lausanne school building 27 Sept. - 30 Sept., ‘44; Adelboden “Palace Hotel” 30 Sept. - 4 Oct. ‘44.

4. After source hit the ground he contacted Sgt. Ritchey on morning of 30 August in area - Molveno 4610N 1050E. One man in the crew is unaccounted for as Italians and other crew members say they only saw eight chutes. Two other members of crew reported to have landed in town of Molveno, and captured by Germans. One injured not seriously (name unknown). When Lt. Lucht landed he left chute in a tree and hid from pursuing Germans by hiding in a mountain; covering himself with branches and dry leaves. After six hours source was able to move, made his way North along a road, contacted a farmer who took him to his home nearby, where he spent the night and had food. The following morning he moved towards Switzerland and spent the night in an isolated dairy farm where he contacted Sgt. Richey.

Sgt. Richey landed in the mountains N. of Molveno - having counted seven chutes as he came down - he hid his chute and went 1 mile into the mountains, (which German patrols were at that time searching) where he spent the night. The following morning he contacted two Italian civilians who fed him and exchanged his chute, “mae west”, and clothes for a civilian outfit and showed him the direction of Switzerland. The following morning he arrived at a dairy farm, 30 August ‘44, where he joined up with Lt. Lucht (Richey was wounded by flak when the ship was hit, one small piece entering near his left shoulder blade). Locality not known but near Molveno. On the same morning (30 Aug.) both started south for the Allied lines (wearing civilian clothes) as they had been told that the Swiss Alps were impossible to cross. Having got 6 miles S. of Molveno they contacted some English speaking Italians who told them the area was full of Fascists and advised them to turn back before they were captured.

They returned to Molveno, and on 31 Aug., with an Italian guide, started for the Swiss frontier. The route traveled was via the Campillo Mts., Almazzaga, 4618N 1055E - Termenago,

4620N 1047E, to Peio, 4622N 1038E. Here the guide left them, as he would not risk crossing the glaciers into Switzerland. Sources went on their own via …ormio, 4628N 1047E, along the main road, and in pouring rain and thick fog, passed empty German sentry boxes on the frontier and were taken in charge by the Swiss Guards near St. Maria, 4636N 1020E, on 7 Sept. ‘44.

During their journey from N. Italy to the Swiss frontier, food was carried by sources. Italians contacted on the way were most unhelpful - particularly those who had lived in the States - in some cases they even refused to allow sources to sleep in their homes.

At St. Maria sources were contacted by the Swiss Guards who, after taking wings, etc. as souvenirs, passed them on to the British Legation.

On the 8th Sept. ‘44 sources were sent under escort to Samadan, 4632N 9 55E, to the British Legation Hq. The next day contacted the American Legation near Olten, 4722N 7 55E, where they remained until 27 Sept. ‘44.

On 27 Sept. sources were sent under Swiss M. Police with Pfc. Tekavae, Albert, #35026701, and Pvt. Ruggless, Dwight, #39543626, to Lausanne. Here they parted and both sources went into Adelboden, leaving the other two men in quarantine under American Legation arrangements.

At Adelboden sources lived for two days with American internees at the “Palace Hotel”. Here they received two months pay and for the first time did not have any guards over them. Both left on 5 Oct. ‘44 by train to Berne, stayed overnight, then traveled by train with some Polish escapees to Geneva. From here they took another train to the border, contacted an American Lt. who took them by car to Annecy, France. From here they were evacuated by C-47 via Lyons to Naples which they reached 8 Oct. ‘44.

J. G. K. Kennedy, Captain, AIS, Interrogator

4 Incls - Ltr. 383.6; Appendices B, C, F.