Interesting P-38 pilot mystery ...
Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:21 pm
Here's one for ya ...
A while back, I painted Twin-Tailed Dragons (see below). I chose Lt. William G. "Bill" Baumeister Jr's IRISH LASSIE simply because I had a picture of the plane (also below), courtesy of my friend Jack Cook. Other than Bill's Ki-43 "Oscar" damaged claim, he had no other victories, and in my research for the painting I was able to find only sketchy details about Bill - nothing referring to his apparent disappearance and long captivity in the USSR. This was simply a portrait of an average plane in markings I've been wanting to do for some time.
Tonight I get a very interesting email, which reads, in part:
Mr. Meyers,
My great aunt is Lt William "Bill" Baumeister Jr's sister, the plane's pilot that you painted for your Twin-Tailed Dragons painting. Bill landed with manifold problems safely in Burma in 1944, he was seen alive on the ground by another P-38 in his squadron and was never seen again until a released German POW said he was captive in Russian hands, numerous cables between the US government and the Russian government who denied they had him continued on until 1993 when the US stopped inquiring about him. He was sighted at 3 different camps in Siberia over the years. So for me to find a actual picture of his plane and your paintings of his plane on your website was thrilling for her as she spent thousands of fruitless hours trying all means to get her brother returned. Any info you can provide to her would be greatly appreciated . . .
I've asked the guy for copies of any documentation he may have so that I can add the story to my site. If true, I'm guessing Bill must have possessed some kind of special technical knowledge like other "special guests" alleged to have fallen in Russian hands from Korea and Vietnam.
Anybody else ever heard of Bill's mysterious disappearance?
Wade
A while back, I painted Twin-Tailed Dragons (see below). I chose Lt. William G. "Bill" Baumeister Jr's IRISH LASSIE simply because I had a picture of the plane (also below), courtesy of my friend Jack Cook. Other than Bill's Ki-43 "Oscar" damaged claim, he had no other victories, and in my research for the painting I was able to find only sketchy details about Bill - nothing referring to his apparent disappearance and long captivity in the USSR. This was simply a portrait of an average plane in markings I've been wanting to do for some time.
Tonight I get a very interesting email, which reads, in part:
Mr. Meyers,
My great aunt is Lt William "Bill" Baumeister Jr's sister, the plane's pilot that you painted for your Twin-Tailed Dragons painting. Bill landed with manifold problems safely in Burma in 1944, he was seen alive on the ground by another P-38 in his squadron and was never seen again until a released German POW said he was captive in Russian hands, numerous cables between the US government and the Russian government who denied they had him continued on until 1993 when the US stopped inquiring about him. He was sighted at 3 different camps in Siberia over the years. So for me to find a actual picture of his plane and your paintings of his plane on your website was thrilling for her as she spent thousands of fruitless hours trying all means to get her brother returned. Any info you can provide to her would be greatly appreciated . . .
I've asked the guy for copies of any documentation he may have so that I can add the story to my site. If true, I'm guessing Bill must have possessed some kind of special technical knowledge like other "special guests" alleged to have fallen in Russian hands from Korea and Vietnam.
Anybody else ever heard of Bill's mysterious disappearance?
Wade
Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:04 pm
In the book "Soldiers of Misfortune-Washington's secret betrayel of American POWs in the Soviet Union" by James Sanders, Mark Sauter and Cort Kirkwood, there is brief mention of Baumeister.
"The sixth name on the list was William Baumeister. While the authors believe it was possible he was imprisoned in the USSR during the late 1950s, the Pentagon informed Baumeister's family that his remains had been found in Burma and that it was impossible for him to have been held in the Soviet Union."
Makes ya wonder.
I talked to an RAF pilot who was a POW and for a time at the end of the war they were being marched to Russia after being liberated by the Russians. Only quick action by the Brits turned the column around. So who knows. Lots of speculation on it anyway. It's an interesting book
Dan
"The sixth name on the list was William Baumeister. While the authors believe it was possible he was imprisoned in the USSR during the late 1950s, the Pentagon informed Baumeister's family that his remains had been found in Burma and that it was impossible for him to have been held in the Soviet Union."
Makes ya wonder.
I talked to an RAF pilot who was a POW and for a time at the end of the war they were being marched to Russia after being liberated by the Russians. Only quick action by the Brits turned the column around. So who knows. Lots of speculation on it anyway. It's an interesting book
Dan
Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:04 am
Thanks so much for that info, Dan! I'll pass it on to the family.
Where there's smoke . . .
Wade
Where there's smoke . . .
Wade
Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:26 am
It is a good reminder that Family's are still starving for information on lost love ones for that war. It really brings "history" into the present and reminds me of the human factor that is so often forgotten about or over looked. He is far more than a name or just a number.
I’m just thinking out loud and nothing more. I guess it brings back some sad and strange memories of “lost at sea” cases that never make the news.
Tim
I’m just thinking out loud and nothing more. I guess it brings back some sad and strange memories of “lost at sea” cases that never make the news.
Tim
Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:30 pm
What a strange disheartening situation to find yourself in after surviving the war...
Not to hijack, but anymore pics from the 80th?
Not to hijack, but anymore pics from the 80th?
Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:24 pm
Django wrote:What a strange disheartening situation to find yourself in after surviving the war...
Not to hijack, but anymore pics from the 80th?
It also brings to mind the movie "Dar Blue World" about Czech WW2 Pilots. Your 100% right about being Dishearting.
Tim