Italian war memories
Title
Italian war memories
Description
Ted Neale describes the aircrew and circumstances leading to their baling out near Nereto, Tortoreto, Italy. Some of the crew were captured, but Ted was sheltered by local people. He met up with an English army corporal and travelled by boat to Giulianova. From here, now with three Austrian teenage deserters, they went by boat to Ortona, eventually ended up at Naples where he returned to his squadron at Foggia.
Creator
Temporal Coverage
Language
Format
Five handwritten sheets
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020001,
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020002,
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020003,
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020004,
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020005
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020002,
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020003,
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020004,
MNealeETH1395951-150731-0020005
Transcription
MAJOR DFC. M.i.D. TEL No 2240 MARBLE HALL
SERVICE No 203571V. RANK AT TIME Lt
DATE OF JUMP 10-5-44 37 SQN. WELLINGTON
OTHER CREW MEMBERS
Lt. T. HENDERSON (SAAF) NAV ESCAPED
Sgt NORRIS B/A POW
“ SCULLY W/OP POW
F/O J.A. MCQUEEN A/G POW.
MISSION LEGHORN. LOCATION OF INCIDENT
[underlined] ANCONA [/underlined]
LANDED NEAR NERETO. TORTORETTO
[underlined] Sth OF ANCONA [/underlined]
INJURIES SUSTAINED. KNEE & BACK STRAINS
OTHERWISE O.K.
GENERAL ACCOUNT. ESCAPE.
STARBOARD ENGINE ON FIRE, 65 miles to go to cross front line. then south of PESCARA ON ADRIATIC COAST & ROME ON MEDSIDE, also running out of fuel. Decided to bale [sic] out. all landed safely (this I heard months later) except that SCULLY broke a leg. Navigator managed to esape [sic] as front line moved up, rest of crew caught & end up in STALAG LUFT [circled 3]. I landed among peasants, who although frightened of harbouring me, fed me as best they could (MARIA STAFFILANI) THEY were fearful
[page break]
[circled 2]. of the Germans & the consequences of being caught helping me. Stay low for a couple of weeks & met up with an English army corporal who was captured at Tobruk. (I cannot recall his name). We contacted some Italians & bought a rowing boat for cash plus (“YOUR” parachute. Before parting with the chute I cut out 2 panels which I wrapped round my body under my shirt. These together with the rip cord ladle are still in my possession (and treasured).
Having acquired the boat we were going to row 65 miles. After 4 miles we had to make for shore, we were making water.
We landed at GUILIANOVA where we eventually contacted the so called patriots, we stayed in town with the local fisherman & MAYOR ([indecipherable word]) [indecipherable letters] ATTILLIO BATTISTELLI. Whilst then we heard that Rome had fallen on JUNE 4 & D Day had
[page break]
[circled 3] started on June 6.
Whilst there I met an Italian who owned a small fishing vessel. he said that he intended sailing south. GUILIANOVA being riddled with Germans was a place I wanted to get out of, so talked the Italian into taking me with him. When it was time to depart I was saddled with 3 AUSTRIAN Teenage conscripts who [deleted] wanted to desert [/deleted] [inserted] had [/inserted] deserted from the German Army, and handed their equipment to the PATRIOTS.
We wended our way down through the lines, lazing on the beaches, sunbathing etc. we sailed down & eventually landed at ORTONA south of PESCARA. (2 weeks after baling out) After a long tedious affair with
[page break]
[circled 4] the carabinieri we met a British Transport officer & boarded a cattle truck to BARI from there by train to NAPLES (3 B.P.D). IN NAPLES proceeded to the P. O W camp outside the city & handed over the 3 Austrian Kids. I was assured they would be well treated.
After more hassle I returned to 37 sqdn at Foggia & completed a tour of 34 trips.
My wife’s pride & joy (your golden little [indecipherable word]) is still in her possession
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
F.A. NORRIS
TIGNE COTTAGE
LYBSTER
CAITHNESS SCOTLAND
H.V. SCULLY.
2. CHELWOOD AVE
BROADGREEN
LIVERPOOL 16
LANCASHIRE.
[deleted] T [/deleted] J.A. McQUEEN
5378 STALAG LUTL 3
BELARIA GERMANY
T. HENDERSON
MOOIRNER
NATAL 3300
R of. S.A.
SERVICE No 203571V. RANK AT TIME Lt
DATE OF JUMP 10-5-44 37 SQN. WELLINGTON
OTHER CREW MEMBERS
Lt. T. HENDERSON (SAAF) NAV ESCAPED
Sgt NORRIS B/A POW
“ SCULLY W/OP POW
F/O J.A. MCQUEEN A/G POW.
MISSION LEGHORN. LOCATION OF INCIDENT
[underlined] ANCONA [/underlined]
LANDED NEAR NERETO. TORTORETTO
[underlined] Sth OF ANCONA [/underlined]
INJURIES SUSTAINED. KNEE & BACK STRAINS
OTHERWISE O.K.
GENERAL ACCOUNT. ESCAPE.
STARBOARD ENGINE ON FIRE, 65 miles to go to cross front line. then south of PESCARA ON ADRIATIC COAST & ROME ON MEDSIDE, also running out of fuel. Decided to bale [sic] out. all landed safely (this I heard months later) except that SCULLY broke a leg. Navigator managed to esape [sic] as front line moved up, rest of crew caught & end up in STALAG LUFT [circled 3]. I landed among peasants, who although frightened of harbouring me, fed me as best they could (MARIA STAFFILANI) THEY were fearful
[page break]
[circled 2]. of the Germans & the consequences of being caught helping me. Stay low for a couple of weeks & met up with an English army corporal who was captured at Tobruk. (I cannot recall his name). We contacted some Italians & bought a rowing boat for cash plus (“YOUR” parachute. Before parting with the chute I cut out 2 panels which I wrapped round my body under my shirt. These together with the rip cord ladle are still in my possession (and treasured).
Having acquired the boat we were going to row 65 miles. After 4 miles we had to make for shore, we were making water.
We landed at GUILIANOVA where we eventually contacted the so called patriots, we stayed in town with the local fisherman & MAYOR ([indecipherable word]) [indecipherable letters] ATTILLIO BATTISTELLI. Whilst then we heard that Rome had fallen on JUNE 4 & D Day had
[page break]
[circled 3] started on June 6.
Whilst there I met an Italian who owned a small fishing vessel. he said that he intended sailing south. GUILIANOVA being riddled with Germans was a place I wanted to get out of, so talked the Italian into taking me with him. When it was time to depart I was saddled with 3 AUSTRIAN Teenage conscripts who [deleted] wanted to desert [/deleted] [inserted] had [/inserted] deserted from the German Army, and handed their equipment to the PATRIOTS.
We wended our way down through the lines, lazing on the beaches, sunbathing etc. we sailed down & eventually landed at ORTONA south of PESCARA. (2 weeks after baling out) After a long tedious affair with
[page break]
[circled 4] the carabinieri we met a British Transport officer & boarded a cattle truck to BARI from there by train to NAPLES (3 B.P.D). IN NAPLES proceeded to the P. O W camp outside the city & handed over the 3 Austrian Kids. I was assured they would be well treated.
After more hassle I returned to 37 sqdn at Foggia & completed a tour of 34 trips.
My wife’s pride & joy (your golden little [indecipherable word]) is still in her possession
[page break]
[underlined] 5 [/underlined]
F.A. NORRIS
TIGNE COTTAGE
LYBSTER
CAITHNESS SCOTLAND
H.V. SCULLY.
2. CHELWOOD AVE
BROADGREEN
LIVERPOOL 16
LANCASHIRE.
[deleted] T [/deleted] J.A. McQUEEN
5378 STALAG LUTL 3
BELARIA GERMANY
T. HENDERSON
MOOIRNER
NATAL 3300
R of. S.A.
Collection
Citation
Ted Neale, “Italian war memories,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed July 23, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/16343.
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