Airman (POW)

Born:

Aug 30, 1931, Huntsville, Alabama

Died:

May 8, 2004, Byron, Georgia

Buried:

Andersonville National Historical Site, Georgia

Notes:

•  Enlisted in the Air Force at age 18.
Basic training at Lackland ARF, TX
Radio School at Keesler AFB, MS
B-29 combat crew training at Randolph AFB, TX
376th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, LA
372nd Bomb Sqdn, 307th Bomb Wing, Kaderia AFB, Okinawa
Shot down in 1952 by a MIG-15 over North Korea near Sariwon.
Captured and spent 14 months in captivity
     (POW) mostly at Camp ii Annex in the Obul Valley.
Repatriated Sept. 2, 1953 (Operation Big Switch)
301st Air Refueling Sqqdn at Barksdale AFB, LA
     (boom operator on KC 97s)
Hamond AFB, 376th Air Refueling Sqdn (18 months)
9th Air Refueling Sqdn. Mountain Home, ID
KC-135 Boom Operator School at Castle AFB, CA
372nd Ari Refueling Sqdn.19th Bomb Wing at Robins AFB, GA
Retired September 1971 with rank of master sergeant after 22 years in the Air Force. - Hatch

•  "September 4, 1953 - Excerpts from the diary of Airman Edgar Gaines, Huntsville's third released POW, appeared in the Huntsville Times. It told of the torture of POWs."      "September 24, 1953 - A luncheon and parade were held for third POW, Airman Edgar Gaines. He was presented a gold watch by the VFW. The watch was bought through contributions. He met with the two other earlier released POWs at the luncheon." - Eden


Related Links:

•  Eden - Eden of the South: A Chronology of Huntsville, Alabama, 1805-2005, by Raneé G. Pruitt, Editor, 2005, page 44.

•  Hatch - P-51 Mustang by Gardner N. Hatch, 1987, pages 151 & 152.

The Following Pages Link to this Page:
•  Eden