The Abbeville Boys

Chapter 22: D-Day

      On June sixth, 1944, the Allies invaded Normandy and established a beach head. They moved inland quickly. There were only two understaffed 109 squadrons in the area. Talk spread quickly of moving towards the invasion area, but the high command was worried about the bombers. It was decided JG 26 would move to Stuttgart so they could attack the bombers on their way to Berlin, defense was critical. Stuttgart had a large airport and would be a good staging point for cutting off the Allied bombers and troops if they got close to Germany.

      The squadron packed up and flew to Stuttgart. The airport was large for the time. The Luftwaffe took over and the squad settled in. JG 26’s job was intercepting the bombers who were now regularly flying into Germany.

      The next morning the Boys were alerted to a large formation of bombers and fighters heading towards Frankfurt to bomb railroad yards. Kurt’s squadron took off and headed north. They approached Frankfurt and saw the planes. There were hundreds of them. With Mueller behind him, Kurt attacked. The P-51’s scattered. Kurt was attempting to go after the bombers, but four Mustangs got on their tail. Kurt came around and saw another one coming at him. Kurt lined him up quickly and fired. The bullets hit all over the cockpit and engine. The pilot had to be dead. The plane went straight down.

      Kurt looked around and Mueller was gone. He dove and was right in front of a B-17. He pulled the trigger and hit the plane right between the in board engine and the fuselage. The fuel tanks were in that area. It damaged the plane severely and started smoking. Kurt pulled around to look for more targets. As he did, a Mustang was off his left side and close. Kurt quickly maneuvered but it was too late. Bullets peppered his aircraft and smoke was everywhere. Kurt let the plane float as if he was out of control. When he got to around ninety meters (300 feet) and saw no one was behind him he leveled off and headed northeast.

      The plane was in bad shape. Kurt knew he wasn’t going to make it back. He kept heading northeast towards Leipzig. The plane suddenly dove down and was going to crash. Kurt didn’t have much time. He was breathing hard, and adrenaline was coursing through his veins. He pushed open the canopy and squirmed out of the cockpit. As soon as he was out, he jumped. Kurt was close to the ground and desperately pulled the rip cord on his parachute. The chute opened just in time and slowed his momentum before he hit the ground. The plane crashed and exploded. He was lucky he drifted away from the explosion.

      Kurt was now a downed pilot. Nobody knew what had happened to him. The plane was obliterated, and everyone would surely assume he was dead. He had to hide his parachute. At the edge of the woods where he crashed there was a small boggy lake. It was mostly mud. He dug up some of the mud and buried it under that. He then found a large stone to put on top of it for good measure. He went further into the woods and sat for a while trying to figure out what to do. He finally decided to hike to Leipzig.  When he was shot, he headed that way. He must’ve gotten close when he bailed out. He began his trek. After a while he ran into a farmer with fruit on a donkey cart. The farmer gave him a ride and fruit. The farmer said Leipzig wasn’t too far. After several hours they came to the city. Kurt gave the farmer some money to take him to the outskirts of town towards his estate. About a mile from home, Kurt got off the cart and thanked the farmer. He walked the mile to his estate and was exhausted.  Kurt walked in and his mother and father jumped on him. They were hugging and kissing him. It was a grand reunion. After the initial shock of Kurt walking through the door he related the experience of being shot down. His mom was upset that her son was in danger like that. She eventually put her hands up, stopping everything. She said, “Kurt, we need to tell you something. Just a minute.”

      His dad left as his mom stood there smiling and staring at him. His dad came into the room with Gretchen. They stood there for a second and ran towards each other embracing. They hugged tightly and kissed each other’s face all over. Finally, Kurt grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back staring into her eyes, “What happened where have you been.”

      Gretchen put her head down was about ready to cry, “The SS took me off the streets downtown. They took me to this house where I was supposed have sex with SS officers. The first day I was there I walked outside for a minute, and no one was watching me. I kept walking and made my way back here. I had some money and took the train back to Leipzig. I went to my parent’s house, and they said I wouldn’t be safe there, so I came over here. Your parents have been great. They took me in so the SS couldn’t find me.”

      Kurt grabbed her and began kissing her. Kurt again pushed her back and looked at his mother and father. Kurt said, “We must leave. Germany is going to lose the war. The Americans have over whelming might and they’re coming this way. We need to go to Switzerland. First, I want to get Joseph. I heard rumors in the last few weeks Jews from this area were taken to Dachau.”

      Gretchen, his mother and father stared at him. Gretchen said, “Do you think it’s a good idea? I mean what if they know you’re still alive?”

      Kurt was adamant, “No, they don’t know and besides if he’s there I’m going to get him out.”

      He was now giving orders, “Gretchen, you stay here. When I come back, we’ll head for Switzerland. I’ll leave in the morning and should be back by evening. Now, let’s have a celebration.”

      The Reichard’s and soon to be Reichard, Gretchen, had wine into the late hours of the evening. Everything felt good. It was time to go to bed for the night. Since Kurt’s parents were traditional, Gretchen slept in one room and Kurt slept in another. After Kurt’s parents fell asleep Kurt sneaked into Gretchen’s room and spent the night with her.