Operation: Bomber escort to Achmer airdrome (Mission # 901), Germany

Date: 21st March 1945 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 351st Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, 8th Air Force

Type: P-51D Mustang

Serial: 44-11698

Code: YJ:?

Base: Raydon (Station #157), Suffolk, England

Location: 12½ km (7¾ mls) ENE of the Dreierwalde/Hopsten airdrome

Pilot: 1st Lt. Thomas Charles Brock O-2000298 AAF Age 21. Murdered

Above: 1st Lt. Thomas Charles Brock (Courtesy of the American Air Museum)

REASON FOR LOSS:

P-51D Mustang 44-11698 took-off from Raydon (Station #157) in Suffolk to escort B-24s on an operation to bomb Achmer airdrome in Germany followed by strafing of opportunity targets.

The following statements describe the circumstances of the loss of Mustang 44-11698 and 1st Lt. Brock:

Capt. Gordon B. Compton O-685385:

“At 10:50 hours ‘Lawyer Blue 4’, Lt. Brock, called me on the R/T saying that he was over the field and in trouble and asked me for advice. I told him to take the canal that ran alongside the airdrome and fly west and that I'd pick him up. I also told him to try end gain some altitude. At one time he said he was at 2000 feet, but couldn’t hold it. He asked whether to bail out or belly in and I told him to use his own judgement. I was never able to pick him up but Lt. Petticrew saw him and flew with him until he bellied it in”.

2nd Lt. Stanley S. Petticrew Jr. O-2000299:

“After making an East to West pass on the target (Achmer A/D) I pulled up to 5000 feet and made ready for another pass. While circling I observed one of our ships cross the target and he was in trouble. His ship was smoking coolant. I dropped down to join him as he headed west following the canal. The time was about 10:50 hours.

After I picked him up I heard him on the R/T asking the Squadron Leader, Capt. Compton for advice. We flew along about 2 or 3 minutes at 1000 feet, after which time he lost altitude, made a low turn and bellied into a nearby field.

Upon hitting, the plane slid Sidways the tail breaking off from the rest of the fuselage. The plane did not burn, just smoked slightly. He jettisoned the canopy just before hitting the ground, but I did not see the pilot at any time. He was either thrown out when he hit, or else made hasty exit while I was turning to position myself for a better view.

I did not see the letters on the ship because of the coolant smoking, nor did I talk to the pilot, but I did identify it as one of our ships, and the time, circumstances and conversation between this pilot and the Squadron Leader all indicate that the pilot must have been Lt. Brock”.

The time of the crash-landing was recorded as 10:45 hrs and the location as Lat/Long 52 23N, 07 43E, which is some 12½ km (7¾ mls) ENE of the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome.

The fate of 1st Lt. Brock, albeit he was not named, was determined by a British Military Court which was convened at Wuppertal on the 18th February 1946.

Seven (7) German nationals were charged on three (3) counts that they at the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome on or about the 22nd March, 24th March and the 25th March 1945 in violation of the laws and usages of war were concerned in the killing of four (4) named Allied airmen and eight (8) unnamed Allied airmen, all PoWs.

Note: Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27) “Afrika”, a fighter wing, was also based at Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome but it was stressed that the officers and staff from this unit had nothing whatsoever to do with the command of Maj. Rauer and nothing to do with this case.

The seven accused were:

Major (Maj) Karl Rauer who was the former Commandant of Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome;

Hauptmann (Hptm) Wilhelm Scharschmidt who was the former Adjutant to Maj. Rauer;

Major (Maj) Otto Bopf who was the former Commanding Officer (CO) of the Horst (Aerodrome) Company, a German Army unit at the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome;

Hauptmann (Hptm) Bruno Böttcher who was the former CO of the Flight Control unit at the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome;

Oberfeldwebel (Ofw) Hermann Lommes was a former NCO of the Horst Company;

Feldwebel (Fw) Lunwig Lang was a former NCO in the Horst Company;

Unteroffizier (Uffz) Emil Günther was a former NCO in the Horst Company.

Note: The procedure when any captured Allied aircrew was brought to the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome was that they were normally either taken to the Adjutant or Commandant, interrogated and searched and their details recorded. The Adjutant was responsible for the arrangements of the PoW disposal from the airdrome, including detailing escorts, and any interim arrangements such as guardroom custody, rationing etc.

On the 1st count of the charge Maj. Rauer and Hptm. Scharschmidt were charged in the killing of Plt Off. Greenwood, Fg Off. Paradise, both of the RAAF, Flt Sgt. Armstrong and Sgt. Gunn both of the RAF and all Allied PoWs.

On the 2nd count of the charge all seven (7) of the accused were charged in the killing of seven (7) unknown Allied aircrew, all PoWs.

On the 3rd count of the charge six (6) of the accused except for Uffz. Günther were charged in the killing of one (1) unknown Allied aircrew PoW.

1st Count of the Charge

The court heard that on the night of the 21st March 1945 there was a severe raid on the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome. On this day a captured Australian airman, Fg Off. Paradise, was brought to the airdrome. He was initially interrogated and then locked up in a cell at the guardroom.

Later the same day a further four (4) Allied aircrew PoWs were brought in from the local village. Two (2) were Australian, Fg Off. Berick and Plt Off. Greenwood. The other two (2) were both NCOs from the RAF, Flt Sgt. Armstrong and Flt Sgt. Gunn. There were interrogated by Scharschmidt in the presence of Rauer and his wife in the Commandant’s office. They were then taken away and locked up in the same guardroom as Fg Off. Paradise.

Meanwhile Scharschmidt instructed his Chief Clerk, Oberfeldwebel Werner Lauter, to provide an escort for the PoWs to take them to Dulag Luft, Oberursel. An Oberfeldwebel by the name of Amberger volunteered for the task and said he would bring two comrades with him.

The five (5) airmen were from 51 Sqn Halifax III MZ248 which was struck by bombs dropped from above on a daytime operation to bomb Rheine in Germany on the 21st March 1945.

The above report details the loss and subsequent shooting of the five (5) airmen. In summary, four (4) of the airmen were shot and killed whilst Fg Off. Berick evaded the subsequent search, escaped the area was arrested some time later and became a PoW for the rest of the war.

2nd Count of the Charge

This relates to the events on the evening of the 24th March 1945. That day there was another serious raid on the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome which severely damaged the runways which left them pock-marked with large craters.

That evening eight (8) captured airmen arrived at the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome, one (1) of whom had an injured foot and could not walk, and held in the guardroom.

Rauer gave orders to Scharschmidt that due to the shortage of personnel and because of the gravity of the situation PoWs were to take part in the work filling in the craters. Scharschmidt was to relay the orders to Maj. Bopf. However, it appears that Scharschmidt detailed Ofw. Lommes to gather some other NCOs, get the PoWs, get tools, go to the runway and get busy filling in the craters.

Lommes either under orders or on his own initiative gathered Fw. Lang and Uffz. Günther, and a fourth NCO from the Horst Company, a Fw. Zakowsky who was not before the court. The four (4) went to the Armoury and drew machine-pistols. However, they did not draw any tools at that time and arrived at the guardroom to collect the PoWs. Lommes made the decision to take them in two (2) groups and selected four (4) in the first group. The party, four (4) PoWs and the four (4) German NCOs set out from the guardroom and made their way over to the runways.

Evidence presented showed that the PoWs walked with their hands on their heads and were followed by the German NCOs. By this time it was midnight and it was a clear moonlight night. Without any warning the escorting Germans opened fire of the PoWs killing three (3) instantly and mortally wounding the fourth.

Shortly afterwards Hptm. Böttcher arrived with his driver at the scene on a motor-cycle and sidecar. There were no Germans at the scene but found the bodies of the PoWs in a heap. Upon looking around and shouting out he found the four (4) German NCOs were found hiding behind a stationary truck. The emerged and confronted Böttcher in an agitated and nervous state.

After a short conversation Böttcher left and was driven to the Kommandanture and reported the incident to Scharschmidt. The four German NCOs decided that they hand better return and draw the required tools and fetch the remaining four (4) PoWs from the guardroom. However, as one (1) of the four (4) could not walk because of his injuries only three (3) were taken. The PoWs had their hands on their heads and set off in roughly the course to wear their comrades were lying. The three (3) PoWs were killed outright in the same manner as the previous four (4) PoWs. The German NCOs then loaded the bodies and took them to the Mortuary and Lang, whose job was to undertake the same task, removed their clothing and prepared them for burial.

Lang was a male nurse in civilian life and that is why he was detailed to undertake the burial and interment of those that were killed at the aerodrome.

No officer or NCO arrived at the scene of the shooting after Böttcher left and had reported the 1st incident to Scharschmidt. The next morning the four (4) German NCOs reported to the Kommandanture where they made out a written report to Scharschmidt about the shooting of the seven (7) PoWs. That was all that was done about the incident.

3rd Count of the Charge

This relates to the events on the afternoon of the 25th March. Lommes had a conversation Böttcher and asked for leave to borrow his motorcycle and sidecar to take the injured PoW to the local hospital at Odenburg. Böttcher agreed and Lommes collect Lang arrived at the guardroom and lifted the injured PoW into the sidecar. Lommes and Lang, riding pillion, the drove out of the aerodrome ostensibly to drive to the hospital. However, the made a detour and as Lommes slowed the motorcycle Lang fire two (2) shots from his sidearm into the wounded airman’s neck killing him.

They then took the body to the Dreierwalde cemetery and later that afternoon the body was buried with the other seven (7) victims who had arrived at the cemetery. Lommes then reported the incident to Böttcher. Again no further action was taken.

Pathologist Affidavit

The court then heard from the prosecutor that on the 20th, 24th and the 25th September 1945 Maj. William M. Davidson, a pathologist of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) of the Rhine Army exhumed a grave in the cemetery at Dreierwalde.

The grave was about 4 ft in depth in sandy soil and covered with Pine branches. This grave contained four (4) bodies, all without coffins. Maj. Davidson identified then remains as those of Fg Off. Paradise, Sgt. Gunn, Flt Sgt. Armstrong and Plt Off. Greenwood. He came to the conclusion from the examination and reconstruction that all four (4) had been killed by being shot through the head and that some of the bullets could not could not have fired whilst they were standing.

A fifth grave laying immediately adjacent to the grave described above contained a body whose remains were identified from his Identity Discs as 2nd Lt. June B. Stallings O-829773. His P-51D 44-15123 from the 38th Fighter Sqn, 55 Fighter Group had been shot down over the Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome on the 21st March 1945 and had nothing to do with this case.

Additionally, he exhumed a further eight (8) bodies from a third grave which from his examination he concluded that they also had all died as a result of small calibre shots fired from close range. He determined that they were young males all dressed in clothing of American origin except in the case of one (1) whose flying overalls were American but his gloves were British.

The initial burial of the eight (8) unnamed airmen was in the civilian cemetery at Dreierwalde and marked by a cross bearing the statement in German “One English and seven American Airmen had died 23rd March 1945, but names unknown”. They were disinterred and reburied in the Dreierwalde cemetery by the British Military Authorities in separate coffins.

An American Graves Registration Company (AGRC) unit disinterred the coffins and reburied them at the American Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz in Belgium as “Unknown” X-1769 to X-1776 inclusive.

The eight (8) unnamed airmen were later identified as:

1st Lt. Thomas C. Brock (X-1773);

2nd Lt. Charles A. Schwab (X-1776), 2nd Lt. Billy G. Martin (X-1775), S/Sgt. Jerome S. Silverman (X-1774), S/Sgt. Raymond L. Berry (X-1771) and S/Sgt. Kenneth T. Herr (X-1769) from 527th Bombardment Sqn (H), 379th Bombardment Group, B-17G 43-38685;

Sgt. Mark R. Reynolds Jr. (X-1772) and Sgt. Milton S. Kenan (X-1769) from 524th Bombardment Sqn (H), 379th Bombardment Group, B-17G 43-38818.

Judge Advocate:

In his summing-up specifically on the 1st count of the charge, the Judge Advocate stated that there was no direct evidence that Maj. Rauer or Hptm. Scharschmidt gave orders to Oberfeldwebel Amberger and his companions to shoot the five (5) airmen. Furthermore, the Chief Clerk to Scharschmidt had advised him that Amberger was not the right man to be the escort of the PoWs and that he also attempted to have Amberger removed from the duty. However, the airmen did proceed under the care of Amberger and were shot.

The court heard testimony from a Dr. Richter about the previous conduct of Rauer and Scharschmidt. Scharschmidt frequently denied PoWs transit rations for the trip from Hopsten to Oberursel which usually took about three (3) days. He described the following two cases of ill-treatment of PoWs.

The first concerned a Plt Off. Gordon G. Harrison J36991 RCAF whose 411 Sqn, RCAF Spitfire IX PL433 was shot down in engagement with a Bf109 near Münster. He was captured on the 23rd January 1945 near Rheine and had sustained a bullet wound near his heart. He was initially treated by Dr. Richter at the dressing station at Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome. Whilst there Scharschmidt made Plt Off. Harrison remove his own boots which entailed bending forward at great risk. Dr. Richter gave Scharschmidt a definite warning against such an action. Plt Off. became a PoW and survived.

The second concerned the following five (5) PoWs:

Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Harry D. Kinder O-781333; Eng: Sgt. Andrew J. Haechrel 37568278; Ball Turret Gnr: Sgt. George P. Weiner 33799179; Waist Gnr: Sgt. Joseph L. Marsico 33597804 and Tail Gnr: Sgt. John E. Ingram 36688530.

They were from the B-17G 43-38633 of the 527th Bombardment Sqn (H), 379th Bombardment Group (H) which was hit by Flak on a mission to Cologne (Köln) on the 28th January 1945. The pilot managed to land the aircraft at RAF Woodbridge, the rest of the crew had bailed out. (1 KiA, 7 PoW, 1 Rtd).

After being captured they were held in the guardroom at Hopsten/Dreierwalde airdrome which had no heating. The temperature was sub-zero at around minus 22 deg c. and the PoWs were scantily dressed. Fw. Lang, one of the accused, suggested to light a fire which was rejected by Scharschmidt. The five (5) became PoWs and survived.

Rauer and Scharschmidt were found not guilty on the 1st count of the charge because it was considered that they could not be held accountable for the actions of Amberger. They were found guilty on the 2nd and 3rd counts of the charge. Günther was found guilty on the 2nd count of the charge. Bopf, Böttcher, Lommes, and Langwere found guilty on the 2nd and 3rd counts of the charge.

Rauer was sentenced to death by hanging. The guilty finding was confirmed by the Commander in Chief (CinC) of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) on the 27th May 1946 but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Scharschmidt, Bopf, Böttcher, Lommes, Lang and Günther were sentenced to death by hanging which was confirmed by the CinC of the BAOR on the 27th April 1946. The executions were carried out on the 26th May1946 between15:20 hrs and 16:56 hrs.

Burial Details

1st Lt. Thomas Charles Brock. Reinterred in the American Ardennes Cemetery, Plot P, Row 5, Grave 108. Repatriated and finally laid to rest in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois. Born on the 29th August 1923 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Son of Melville Llewellyn (deceased in March 1937) and Josephine (née Burns) Brock of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA. Josephine sadly died the following year in January 1946 aged 47.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this Pilot (Dec 2026).

Other sources listed below:

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt