Sgt. Green held Captive by Germans - 1944

Sgt. Earl F. Green So. Otselic Gunner Missing in Poland

DeRuyter Gleaner, May 4, 1944

Mr. and Mr. Louis M. Green, of South Otselic have received a telegram informing them that their son, Staff Sgt. Earl F. Green, 20, has been missing in action over Poland since Easter Sunday.

 

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps November 9, 1942, and was sent overseas about December 31, 1943.  He was stationed in England as radio gunner on a Flying Fortress. Sgt. Green had completed 12 missions over enemy occupied territory, and on March 12 he received an Air Medal for meritorious achievement on five separate missions.

 

Sgt. Green is Held Captive by Germans

DeRuyter Gleaner, June 15, 1944

The underground movement in Nazi-occupied Europe has been brought close to Mr. and Mrs. Louis M. Green of South Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], whose son, Staff Sgt. Earl F. Green, shot down in an attack on Germany and now held prisoner by the Nazis, sent word to his parents through an unidentified member of the underground movement in Denmark.

 

Green entered the U.S. Air Corps Nov. 9, 1942.  He became a radio gunner on a Flying Fortress about Dec. 31, 1943, and was transferred to England.  About April 20, Mr. and Mrs. Green received a communication from the War Department that their son had been missing in action over Europe since April 9.  This is the last information which they received from the U.S. Government.  A few days ago Sgt. Green's parents received an air mail letter with a Swedish postmark and marked on the envelope was "Via England."Although the postmark is indistinct, a magnifying glass discloses that it was postmarked in a settlement on the southern coast of Sweden.  No signature closes the letter but typed at the end is "with kindly regards from a Dane who has lived five years in California."  Enclosed was a short note from Sgt. Green to his parents, as follows:

 

"Dear folks:  Just a line to let you know I'm well and O.K.  Please don't worry about me because I will see you when the war is over but not until then.  Hurt my left leg, but it is rapidly improving.  I will come thru in fine shape.  Most of all take care of yourself for me.  God bless all of you.  Keep your chin up and keep smiling.  All for now.  Love to all.  Your son, "Earl"

 

The letter from their son was written on a small piece of paper half the size of a sheet of regular writing stationery.  It was written hurriedly, but Sgt. Green's parents recognized his handwriting.  No information has been received by the young aviator's parents form the War Department that he is a prisoner of war  This is the first news that they have received that he is alive.

Shot Down Over Denmark, South Otselic Man is Safe

Binghamton Press, June 10, 1944

Word that their son, Staff Sergt, Earl F. Green is safe in Denmark today had been received from two sources by Mr. and  Mrs. Louis Green of South Otselic.  Mr. and Mrs. Green received a letter from Denmark and also from a Danish citizen stating that he was safe.  The letter from Denmark stated that the young soldier had been shot down over Denmark returning to England from a bombing mission over enemy territory and was hospitalized with bullet wounds in his left leg.  It stated further that as soon as he was able to be moved, he would become a German prisoner of war.

Both letters which came via England and had not been in German hands were dated April 22, 1944, one day earlier than the notice received by Mr. and Mrs. Green from the War Department stating that their son had been shot down over Poland in an air raid and was reported missing.

Sergeant Green was a radio gunner on a Flying Fortress and stationed in England.  He had flown several missions and received an Air Medal in March.

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Note:  Earl Francis Green died February 18, 2013 in Syracuse VA Medical Center at the age of 89 years.  The following information was included in his obituary:

 

"....In [1942], he enlisted in the U.S. Army and after completing basic training went to Deopham Air Base near Norwich, England.  On April 9, 1944 he was shot down over Denmark, crash landed in a B17 Bomber, and was taken to the hospital in Denmark with a wound to his leg.  Four months later he was taken to a German Prisoner of War Camp and remained there until he was released by the Russians at the end of World War II.  He was discharged from the Army on October 14, 1945 and shortly after the war, went in dairy farming in Otselic until his retirement..."  [K.L. Sharp Funeral Home, on-line obituary]

He was buried in South Otselic's Valley View Cemetery.