Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Ernest Nelson Thorp Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 452nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force
- Location of Service: San Antonio, Texas; Chickasaw, Enid, Altus, Oklahoma; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sioux City, Iowa; Deopham Green, United Kingdom; Germany; European Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/990
Even in summer, the North Sea is a cold place for a pilot to ditch his plane, but that's what Captain Ernest Thorp did on August 4, 1944, when his bomber suffered irreparable flak damage during a run over Germany. Fortunately for Thorp, a fishing boat was in the area, and he was "rescued" and handed over to German authorities. He spent most of his time as a POW in two camps, with a six-week forced march as a kind of intermission. Food was never far from his mind; liberation day by Allied troops found Thorp in the camp kitchen, whipping up a batch of pudding. The detailed diaries he kept in captivity allowed him to write a memoir, which includes lists of books he read and the contents of every food parcel he received while imprisoned.
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Ernest Nelson Thorp Collection
Names
- Thorp, Ernest Nelson
Home State
- Illinois
Headings
- - Thorp, Ernest Nelson
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
- - Prisoner of War -- United States
Form
- Diaries and journals
Extent
- 1 item
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: 452nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force
- Location of Service: San Antonio, Texas; Chickasaw, Enid, Altus, Oklahoma; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sioux City, Iowa; Deopham Green, United Kingdom; Germany; European Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1942-1945
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran also lived in a German prisoner of war (POW) camp.
Materials
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- (collected 1943-1945)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/990
Cite as
- Ernest Nelson Thorp Collection (AFC/2001/001/990), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Chickasaw, Enid, Altus, Oklahoma
- Deopham Green, United Kingdom
- European Theater
- Germany
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- San Antonio, Texas
- Sioux City, Iowa