Operation: Low Altitude Photographic Reconnaissance, Germany

Date: 21st September 1944 (Thursday)

Unit No: 23rd Photographic Reconnaissance Sqn, 3rd Reconnaissance Group, 90th Photographic ReconnaissanceWing, 12th Air Force

Type: F-5A Lightning

Serial: 42-13297

Code:?

Base: ALG Y-23 Valence, France

Location: Kehl-Auenheim, Germany

Pilot: 1st Lt. Elmer Marvin 'Bud’ Olson SSM, DFC, O-753717 AAF Age 23. PoW *

* Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, today situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Note: The F-5A Lightning was a variant of the P-38G and were unarmed and carried five (5) cameras.

Above: An example of the F-5A Lightning of the 7th Photo Group, 8th Air Force based at Mount Farm (Station # 234): The national insignia was bordered in red with overall finish in synthetic haze (Public Domain)

On the 21st September 1944 at 11:55 hrs 1st Lt. Olson took-off from ALG Y-23 Valence in France tasked with a low altitude mission of the Rhine River from Basle northwards until his film was used, reaching a point approximately on line with Colmar.

At 16:00 hrs, 1½ hours after his ETA, a telegram was sent to the Office of the Operations Officer, 90th PhotographicReconnaissance Wing and the commanding Officer, 3rd Reconnaissance Group.

At 17:00 hrs, six (6) aircraft were dispatched on a search mission. During this mission, Sector Controls and local fields were contacted. A telegram was sent to the Advanced Unit of the organization summarizing the situation.

At 20:00 hrs, a second telegram was dispatched to the above mentioned offices. No information was available as to the whereabouts of 1st Lt. Olson. Therefore, the pilot was regarded as missing.

A German record reported that a Lightning crashed at 13:30 hrs near Auenheim in France. 1st Lt. Olson baled out and was captured near Auenheim that day.

Later information recorded that his Lightning was hit by heavy Flak south of Auenheim with the aircraft crashing near Kehl-Auenheim in Germany. It was also reported that personnel from the Flak unit captured him and apparently protected him from hostile farmers.

After the statutory interrogation at Dulag Luft, Oberursel he was transferred to Stalag Luft 1 at Barth-Vogelsang, Germany.

On the 30th April 1945, the prisoners were ordered to evacuate the camp in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer (SAO), Col. Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Col) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the PoWs behind. The next day, the first Soviet troops arrived.

The Western Allied prisoners took over the camp into self-administration on the 1st May 1945. After protracted negotiations between the Western Allies and the Soviet leadership, the evacuation of the 8,498 inmates of Stalag Luft 1 finally took place between the 12th and 14th May 1945. The former PoWs had repaired a runway at the Barth Air Base and aircraft of the 8th Air Force undertook a massive airlift called "Operation Revival". Hundreds of PoWs had meanwhile made their own way west.

RAF PoWs were flown back to England and the American PoWs were flown to Camp Lucky Strike in Le Havre, France, where they were processed and waited for a liberty ship to return to the United States.

2nd Lt. Olson was awarded the Air Medal (AM) along with his 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC) on the 22nd August 1944. He was awarded his 3rd to 5th OLC on the 14th October 1944.

1st Lt. Olson was awarded the Silver Star Medal (SSM) on the 28th November 1944:

Citation: “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Elmer M. Olson (ASN: O-753717), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the TWELFTH Air Force, in aerial operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, on or about 21 September 1944. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Olson, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces”.

1st Lt. Olson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFC) on the 17th December 1944.

Above: The life and times of Elmer Marvin 'Bud’ Olson (courtesy of the Rapid City Journal, dated 4th August 2003)

Burial details:

None

Researched by Ralph Snape from Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to this pilot and his family. Thanks to Ullrich Oswald for additional information for the loss of the aircraft. (Jul 2025).

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