Ed Merkel Memoir
This autographed memoir, entitled "My Last Mission", describes Lieutenant Colonel Ed Merkel's time as a B-17 pilot and German POW during World War II, particularly from May 1943-July 1945.
In his memoir, Merkel describes in detail his plane crash, his being taken prisoner, and the conditions and experiences of being a prisoner of war. This memoir also includes pictures drawn by Merkel in the POW camp. These images depict his crash, the town of Barth, and the barracks of Stalag Luft 1.
Dates
- undated
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
This autographed memoir, entitled "My Last Mission", describes Lieutenant Colonel Ed Merkel's time as a B-17 pilot and German POW during World War II, particularly from May 1943-July 1945.
Biographical/Historical Note
Lieutenant Colonel Ed Merkel was raised in Shafter, California. He graduated from pilot training in the Army Air Corps in May 1943 and was assigned to a B-17 Bomber crew in Ephrata, Washington. In October 1943, Merkel was sent to Bassingbourn Air Station in England and assigned to the 91st Heavy Bomber Group of the 8th Air Force. During Merkel's sixteenth mission (flown on February 22, 1944), his plane was shot down over Germany. Merkel survived the crash and was taken prisoner by the German Army.
Merkel spent the rest of the war in captivity. He was sent to Dulag Loft, a POW interrogation center, immediately after his capture, but was kept primarily at Stalag Luft 1 (located in Barth, Germany).
Following World War II, Merkel taught at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Base and flew bombing missions over North Korea during the Korean War. His final post was near Tokyo, Japan. At the end of his service career, he had logged more than 3,000 flight hours in multi-engine planes.
Arrangement
This collection is in one folder.
Previous Citation
This collection was originally listed as MS.3220 (Ed Merkel Memoir). It was then listed as CSWS.WWII.1.0024 until receiving its current number.
Acquisition Note
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2007.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository