About Joe Moser
This is the story of Joseph F. Moser, a World War II fighter pilot with an amazing story to tell. Joe very narrowly survived bailing out of his P-38 with an engine on fire. He was quickly caught by the Germans and sent on the very last train out of Paris–just before the Allies entered. On the train were 167 other Allied flyers–all except him held by the French Underground until betrayed and turned over to the Gestapo by a Nazi agent. They were sent to Buchenwald on orders from Berlin to be executed as “terrorfliegers.” Four days before their scheduled extermination, they were rescued by Luftwaffe officers and shipped instead to the most famous POW camp in Germany–Stalag Luft III. Joe was placed in the very barracks where just one month before, Allied flyers had tunneled out and temporarily escaped. The famous movie “The Great Escape” tells that story. But, as the Allies approached, Joe and the others were sent on a death march to another camp which he barely survived.
Joe, as of early 2008, is a spry, quiet, humble 86 year old gentleman living with his wife Jean in Ferndale, Washington, his home town.
This blog will have the chapters of the autobiography I am ghost writing for Joe.
If you come across this, let me know and tell me what you think. All messages will be past to Joe and his wife Jean and they would love to hear from you.
Mrs Pat MacGregor said,
December 29, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I have read Joe’s story with great interest. This and a book entitled “Destination Buchenwald” by Colin Burgess, published by Kangaroo Press in Australia have been very informative.
I am interested in the Buchenwald airmen because two members of the crew with whom my Dad flew were amongst the 168.
They were in RAF, Bomber Command and flew with 158 Squadron that was based at Lissett in East Yorkshire. They took off on the night of 12/13th June 1944 to attack the marshalling yards at Amiens, Northern France and after dropping their bombs were attacked by a Junkers 88. Their Halifax lll crashed after all the crew had successfully parachuted over Northern France.
The two who were eventually captured were:
1084999 Sgt or F/Sgt John Joseph Fernandez, known as Ferdie, Air Bomber and
137476 F/O Cyril Worosley Nuttall, Navigator.
Both boys lived in Liverpool. Ferdie married Rose Cooper in May 1944 and he had been a Railway Clerk before joining up. Cyril had been a Shipping Clerk.
If Joe remembers these boys or knows of anyone who has contact details I would very much like to hear. Did they ever join the KLB Club?
Pat MacGregor
gbaron said,
January 1, 2008 at 1:02 am
An additional comment to my post about this–I will ask Joe next time I see him if he remembers either of these guys. Is your father still living and sharing his memories with you?
Mary Larson said,
January 23, 2008 at 12:43 am
Hi – I am married to Col. Merle Larson’s son. We are fascinated to find this story of someone who was side-by-side with Merle during his Buchenwald days. Sadly, Merle died 10 years ago, but we still have many artifacts of his days in the military. He retired in 1972 as a Colonel in the USAF. I haven’t read every chapter as I found it when I was googling Merle’s name and started with Chapter 7. I will continue to read.
gbaron said,
January 25, 2008 at 1:31 am
Hello Mrs. Larson, I am so pleased to hear from you. Joe will be very excited to hear from someone in Captain Larson’s family. Joe looked up to him tremendously–there were two officers who earned Joe’s strongest admiration–Captain Larson and Col. Lamason. If you have any photos or any of the memorabilia that might be appropriate for helping tell this story I’d be interested in knowing about them. I encourage you to read the rest of the chapters and comment on any issues relevant to Captain (Colonel) Larson, Thanks again for commenting.
Pierre MADRY said,
May 21, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Very interesting. I made an enquiry about the plane where took place Phil Hemmens and where he crashed with his crew in Normandy on June 1944 (escape with French Underground, meeting with British Airmen, betrayal, Fresnes prison, Buchenwald etc…)
Do you know if it’s possible to have a contact with Joe Moser?
LeeAnn Lehni said,
October 30, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Joe comes to my elementary classroom almost every year to share his experiences. My children are always amazed and enthralled with his testimony. I am so thankful for his courage to retell his past.
I have known Joe for years, but he has only been able to retell his story in recent years. His memory and heart have reopened. I think that this retelling has been his healing. He inspires so many of us, especially my young children in my classroom.
My 24 year old daughter adores Joe. He is walking and living history to her…. She now teaches history and English in Seattle. But her love of history has been amplified by Joe.
LeeAnn Lehni said,
November 20, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Joe came again today, to my newest 5th grade classroom. Thank you so much, Joe! You are a treasure!
Eric Johnson said,
January 28, 2009 at 3:02 pm
This is a simple Thank You, Joe, for what you and your fellow soldiers, sailors, air men and Marines did for me so many years ago.
All of you set the world back upright.
Eric Johnson
US Navy, 1972-1978, A-7 pilot
CMST Cary Hatzinger said,
January 30, 2009 at 6:23 am
It was a proud honor to have you as our distinguished guest on McChord AFB and to be a part of your special moment as your received your award. You are a true American Hero and you touched my wife and I deeply. Thank you for your service and congratulations!
Mary Larson said,
January 31, 2009 at 4:12 am
I was very excited to see the Joe has received well-earned medal at long last. My father-in-law, Col. Merle Larson, had received 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses shortly after his experience during WWII. It is a shame that it took this long to honor Joe properly, but Congratulations at long last!
Jim R C Baker said,
May 28, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hello,
My dad – Horace Sumner Corbett Jr (Jim) – flew the P-38 as a USAAF photographer. He shipped out of Orlando in the late summer of 1943 just before I was born. In early 1944, he was killed retuning from a raid of a German Messeschmidt airplane factory in Germany. The sky as filled with clouds when he was hit and parachuted. The Resistance found him. His commanding officer notified my mother in March of 1943. My own family visited the beautiful Allied Cemetery in Netuno, Italy in the 1970’s, where we found his grave and laid flowers.
I recognized the distinctive P-38 in The Seattle Times Sunday front page photo from the 12″ silver-platted model he received as an award while in training.
Thank you so very much for your wartime service and beyond.
My warm regards,
Jim
Jim R C Baker said,
May 28, 2009 at 5:52 pm
This is to correct my mailto: jrcbaker@comcast.net
Thanks,
Jim
John Fernandez said,
June 6, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Have only found this website today (forwarded by my daughter,Emma and prompted by the US President ’s visit yesterday).
My father, John Fernandez, is referred to by several people and, of course, we did know he had been held in Buchenwald. He didn’t speak much of his experiences to his family though he had begun to write some memories of the war and talked a lot to my eldest son, David who has a lot of his memorabilia (including some terrible pictures of Buchenwald). We do have a letter which was written to my mother by members of the French resistance who had sheltered him. These refer to a betrayal and the fact that the traitor had been ‘dealt with’. It would be wonderful if we could ever meet up with the families of these brave people who saved my father’s life. He was shot down shortly after his marriage and, as I understand it, was reported as ‘missing presumed dead’ so the letter from France was a great relief to my mother – it was particularly poignant that his older brother, Marcial, was killed at Nijmegen in September 1944.
Dad died in December 1992 so, sadly, was not able to re-establish contact with those he had known in such difficult circumstances. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who either knew my father or knew of him.
John M Fernandez
Laurent Viton said,
October 23, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Hello John ,
I’m interested about F/S J.J. Fernandes and his crew as they went down in my area during WW2. Pilot was P/O W.Reed , they were flying Halifax LV790 NP-L of 158 Sq. The plane crashed at Menerval , between Gournay-en-Bray and Forges-les-Eaux .Do you have a crew picture , or at least your father’s POW card ? I’m currently writing a book to honour all RAF and USAAF crews downed here , any documentation and account are most welcome.
Thanks , Laurent
Dave Fernandez said,
June 6, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I am John (Juan) Fernandez oldest Grandson – my Dad is his oldest child. My Grandad died in 1993 and did not really talk about the war – he was writing an account of his war for us when he died – the last line is him being shot down. I now have a lot of his Memorabilia – including photos from Buchenwald. I want to digitise all this stuff so once it’s online I’ll let you know. Dave
gbaron said,
June 10, 2009 at 12:33 am
I confirmed last night that the list of Buchenwald detainees does include your grandfather Juan Fernandez. There is no first hand account of his experience and I looked for some time for other references in the “168 Jumped” book for anything else about him. I will keep looking.
Dave Fernandez said,
June 6, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Got my Grandad’s death year wrong – it was 1990
Dave Fernandez said,
June 9, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Sorry again – 1992!!
Melanie said,
June 8, 2009 at 1:24 am
I am looking for anyone who has any information on Lt. Col. John A. Halford, USAF. Flight Comdr. “B” Please email me. Thank you.
gbaron said,
June 8, 2009 at 11:22 pm
To the Fernandez family.
There is a very good source of information about the Allied Flyers who were sent to Buchenwald, called “168 Jumped into Hell,” by Art Kinnis and Stan Booker. I will look in my copy to see information about your Grandfather. There is considerable information about the families who helped these men and also information about Jacque Desobry, (sp) the traitor who turned these men over to the Gestapo. He was executed by the French in 1949 I believe. That information is in the same book.
I also have a very good contact in France who lives in that area and knows the family who helped these men. If you have not bought Joe’s book yet I would suggest you start there as it has the names of all these references and also contact information. I would be happy to help as much as I can.
Emma Fernandez said,
July 25, 2009 at 10:12 am
Many thanks for your reply. Do you know where I can purchase a copy of “168 Jumped to Hell” as I’ve not been able to find one. I’ve ordered a copy of Joe’s book also.
I have letters written to my Grandma during the war from a Mme Samain and one written to grandad after the war from a G.Brandon both from Gisors who I believe helped him (though the latter one is in French and I haven’t fully translated it) – are you aware of either of these people?
Many thanks
Emma
Lori datlow said,
June 18, 2009 at 1:13 pm
my dad, Nathan Datlow, was a navigator held at Stalag III from about June 1943 until liberation . He is now 92 and currently in the hospital with a stroke. He was given the “Death March” chapter yesterday to read- we’re not sure yet if he can read, and his speech is a problem now. but after therapy, we’ll hopefully be able to discuss this with him more.
just this week I looked up Floyd H. Greene on the internet… an artist who created 3 prints while in Stalag III. my Dad has 2 of them, from 1946. no one seems to know much about Mr Greene, except that he took “orders” in the camp and sent the prints out later.they are amazing prints! I’d love to hear form anyone who might ahve known him.
someone related to one of his flight crew has done extension research on the entire crew and his been in contact with my parents the past few years. he has obtained a photo of the plane wreakage from German archives, in addition to reports and letters from after Dad came home.
gbaron said,
June 23, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Hello Lori, very nice to hear from you. Do you know which camp in SLIII your father was in? There were four: North, South, East and West. The activities of the South Camp were most recorded in a book and website called The Longest Mission. You might want to check that out.
Emma Hills said,
October 14, 2009 at 6:11 am
Hi there, I have just purchased Joe’s book. I feel it important to learn what these brave men went through. Please pass on to Joe and his family – God bless. Joe, you are an amazing and brave individual.
gbaron said,
October 19, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Thanks, will certainly do. If you get a chance, writing a review on Amazon will certainly help spread the word. Thanks, Gerald
Laurent Viton said,
October 23, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Hello ,
I’ve just purchased Joe’s book on Amazon , it will takes few days before receiving it in Normandy where I live. Needless to say how eager I am to read it ! However could someone help ? I’m looking for a picture of Lt Jack F. Greve of 429th FS also , who was killed flying P-38 # 44-23613 in the same area on 20 August 1944 . Maybe is there a group picture with both Joe and Lt Jack Greve , either in the book or in Joe’s stuff ? I’ll be so grateful !
Thanks , Laurent.
gbaron said,
November 12, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Hello Laurent–It so happens I was going back through Joe’s squadron history book last night–because I’m reading Antony Beevor’s new book on D-Day–it is excellent! I once again saw the reference to Jack Greve’s death and his posthumous DFC award which was included in the same Air Corp orders as Joe’s. I went through all the photos in the squadron history book but don’t recall off hand any of Jack Greve. I will look again and let you know if I find any. I don’t think Joe has any as he gave me almost everything he had and I don’t recall seeing any.
Possibility of working on a documentary film about Joe and his story. Since you are in Normandy, I may want to stay in touch and see if you could help us with some of this if it evolves.
Dion Valdez said,
November 11, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Thank you Joe and Gerald for putting together this book…another testament of the incredible sacrifice and determination of those who did no less than save the world through WWII. I’ve only just started reading the book (today, Veteran’s Day as it happens) and am so impressed by your courage, Joe, in enduring all you did, and in then being willing to revisit it all in order to document it for others. Thank you, Joe, for your service, and for telling the story so that we will remember the cost paid by some so that many could have peace and freedom.
John Fernandez said,
November 12, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Laurent
It’s really good to hear from someone in France who is interested in this part of History. I’ve recently read Joe’s book which I found to be very moving and filled in some details on my father’s life. As you may be aware, he died in 1992 and had not really talked much about his wartime experiences though we were aware that he had been in Buchenwald after being shot down over France. He was shot down shortly after getting married so you can imagine the terrible effect this had on my mother. We do have the letter (written in French) from the people who initially sheltered him which let her know that he was safe but had been betrayed – I think this letter came from Gisors. We also have a later letter from France and we are only sorry that none of the family has ever been aware of the brave French people who sheltered him and have not had the opportunity to meet and thank their families.
Before he died, my father had begun to write some of his own war memories (though did not get as far as 1944) and he also spoke fairly extensively to my son David (his oldest grandson). When my mother died in 1999, she asked that all of my father’s war ‘mementos’ should go to David so he now has some of the documents and photos which you might be interested in.
I’ve forwarded your e-mail to him (and copied him into this reply) so that, between us, we’ll try to give you as much help as we can.If you can let us know your e-mail address we can correspond directly Best wishes John Fernandez
Laurent Viton said,
November 13, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Hello ,
I’ve just forgotten my email : laurent.viton@neuf.fr !
Many of the Buchenwald ” guests ” went down in my area , I’ve been fortunate to trace some of them ( Freeman , James ) , what a nightmare it was .
Yes John ! I’ll appreciate very much documentation you have regarding your father and his crew . 158 Sq lost many crews here , a memorial was recently unveiled in UK honouring those from that squadron who did not return .
James Allan Smith said,
November 23, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Hi Joe, A fine book with great detail. Was with you during during this ordeal.I was in the box car with the loose floor boards and my skipper Joel Stevenson was the one who escaped.Probably rubbed shoulders with you many times.I am one of 6 remaining canadian KLB types and live in Trenton Ontario.Best wishes to you and yours.James Allan Smith.
gbaron said,
December 2, 2009 at 12:00 am
Mr. Smith, thank you so much for writing. I would very much like to talk with you and get your email address as well as all the other KLBers you mention in Trenton, Ontario. Is Ed Carter Edwards in that group? The reason I am asking is a professional documentary filmmaker is right now working on a project about the KLBers, focusing on his grandfather, Lt. Freeman who is living in North Carolina. The filmmaker would like to interview several of the KLBers and it sounds like a trip to Trenton is necessary. Please contact me at gbaron@piersystems.com if you get this message.
Pat MacGregor said,
November 24, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Until today I had not visited this site since 2008 and ‘am very pleased I did. This message is for John Fernandez [son of John Joseph Fernandez] and Laurent Viton in France:
First of all, please read my brief note posted on this site 29th December 2007.
John, I have been trying to find a member of your family for several years and would like very much to make contact with you. My Dad, Leslie Maxwell Byrne [known to the crew as Max] was the flight engineer with Bill Reed’s crew and flew with your Dad. He and some other members of the crew attended your parents wedding in May 1944 whilst on two weeks leave. This would have been the last time your Dad saw your Mum until after the war.
I have been researching Dad’s time in the RAF during WW2 for several years and have some information to pass on to you about their time at 1658 Conversion Unit, Riccall where Dad met up with the crew and also a lot abour their time with 158 Squadron at Lissett. I also have the Operations Record Book pages for RAF Lissett and 158 Squadron covering the time they were stationed there and these detail all the operations they flew on. I have been to Lissett recently and seen the new Memorial erected and unveiled in May this year to commemorate the 851 airmen from the Squadron who lost their lives during the war.
I have a copy of the Liberation report for Cyril Nuttall who was the navigator and from this I know that he and your dad were together from bailing out of their Halifax on the night they were shot down. In fact, they landed in adjacent fields. This report lists where they went and who their Helpers in France were before they were betrayed and sent to Frenes Prison and then to the hell hole Buchenwald and on to Stalag Luft lll and then the long march from there at the end of January 1945 when the Germans were clearing their POW camps in advance of the Russians.
I have information on where all the other members of the crew were in hiding in France that may be of interest to you and also to Laurent Viton. This includes two who were in hiding together [Dave Arundel and Harold Squires [Darkie] who also had a brief stay in Fresnes Prison.
I would like to make direct contact with you both and request that my email address be given to you so you can contact me in the first instance.
Pat MacGregor