219827 WO. Reginald Wilfred Everson Royal Air Force 305 (Polish) Sqd from:Sutton, Surrey My father Reg Everson trained as a pilot under the Arnold Scheme in America. On return to the UK he was a trainer, until Jan 1945 when he was sent to 305 (Polish) Squadron in Epernay, France. He flew Mosquitoes. He was shot down (by friendly fire from Americans he found out later) and taken to Gummersbach, Stalag 6G. He remembered living in wooden huts. There were several American airmen
After a few days they were roused about 2 a.m. with Ersatz coffee and marched away under armed guard. Eventually they reached a POW Camp near Enbach. The prisoners did not cooperate with the inefficient guards. Breakfast was Ersatz coffee, lunch soup water in which vegetables had been cooked but removed, supper black bread and margarine.
American troops were getting closer and by 19th April 1945 the Camp was virtually run by the prisoners. The 78th Division Army Infantry arrived at 14.00 hours by which time the guards had already handed over rifles and guns. Fried chicken and real coffee was greatly appreciated.
A few days of Medical Checks etc followed, before being taken to Giesen by truck and then to Paris by Dakota aircraft. Then Reg returned to rejoin 305 Squadron in Epernay.
So Reg was trained by Americans, shot down by Americans and released by Americans.
(taken from his diaries and conversations by his daughter, Joan
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