20th Century Wars

Pictured are original notebook pages of German bombing missions of B-17 of Three Eighty Eighth Bombardment Group (H), given to Jim Bowsher in 1981 by that B-17’s Ball Turret Gunner, Bill Poppe. During my interview with Bill, informed me of their B-17’s bombadier, who had become after war a reclusive alcoholic over crew’s bombing of non-military target of Dresden. I traveled to Kentucky to interview the bombadier, who told me how his (Catholic) brother in infantry (passing through Dresden) shipped him Christ statue (possibly 16th century) he had purchased from starved, young scavenger who had found it in ruins of ancient church Hofkirche. Brother’s note called him “murderer” of hundred thousand civilians! This accusation he claimed to me with tears in his eyes had “bombed his mind; burnt his soul”. Handing me the statue, he told me to leave him; go out and tell his story (though he didn’t want his name used).

Upon returning home, I visited Bill Poppe and told him about my interview with his former bombadier; he became tearful. I asked him if he wanted to see the Dresden statue of Christ? Bill shook his head and told me to tell statue the Dresden story “…not just for the bombadier; but the whole crew.” We both shed tears.