Historic letter..?

peter · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:36 pm

My buddy found a letter in his collection. It was written on onion skin a letter from Hub Zemkie Colonel USAAF to Major General Karlk Spaatz Commander General usaaf in England Barth Germany. Does anyone know what it would be worth as it explains his attempt get 9000 USAAF and RAF flyers out of Germany and letter is written from Stalag Luft 1

sdennison · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:43 pm

Peter, can you or your friend scan the letter and post it? Content would be necessary to assess it's value, I'd think. Not much risk as you/he has the original, any copies would not be valuable.

I have scanned all my Dad's letters home from the war adn the only issue with thin paper is that sometimes the script from the backside bleeds through and the scan is hard to read.

Try that, I'd say. Love to read it. Otherwise, transcribe it then no possible damage can come from handling the note. If it is very fragile or you think very valuable, wear cotton gloves wehn handling it as your skin oils will lead to eventual damage to the paper. :wink:

I did a fair amount of restoration work on old 19th century buildings and spent a lot of time in the historical society museum looking at documents and I learned from them.

peter · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:48 pm

Wow that was a quick reply. He is going to scan and send it to me I think It is fascinating reading all about trying to get 9000 airmen out of a german airfield..

peter · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:48 pm

Quote:

HEADQUARTERS,PROVISIONAL WING X,
United States Army Air Force,
Stalag Luft 1,Barth Germany

May 5,1945.

TELEGRAM

SUBJECT: AIR TRANSPORT

TO: MAJOR-GENERAL CARL SPAATZ,
COMMANDING GENERAL USAAF,
LONDON ENGLAND

1. I AM COMMANDING OVER 9000 AMERICAN AND BRITISH FLYERS AT BARTH GERMANY. wE HAVE CLEARED THE BARTH AERODROME OF ALL MINES AND BOMBS FOR OUR TRANSPORT OF OUR MEN TO ENGLAND. THE AIRDROME IS VERY LARGE AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.(5000 FEET OF RUNWAY). FLYING CONTROL IS SET UP IN OPRERATION.THERE IS NO GSOLINE HERE.

2. WE HAVE NO NEED FOR A THING.THE RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE FURNISHING US WITH EVERYTHING. THERE IS PERFECT LIASON BETWEEN ALL RUSSIAN AMERICAN AND BRITISH FORCES. WE AREDEEPLY INDEBTED TO THE RUSSIANS NOT ONLY FOR FREEING US, BUT FIR THE ASSISTANCE THEY ARE AFFORDING US.
3. REPLY IS DESIRED ON ANY PLAN OF EVACUATION.

RESPECTFULLY,
HUBERT ZEMKE,
COLONEL USAAF,
COMMANDING

Zachary · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:09 pm

Priceless in my estimate...

Zack

peter · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:56 am

Thanks very much!

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 11:51 am

Historical and importatn for sure independently of the estimated $ worth.

k5083 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:08 pm

How did your friend come by it? What's the chain of custody from Spaatz to your friend?

August

peter · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:28 pm

It was in a box of misc paperwork all aviation related that he acquired a few years ago. He would like an idea on value for insurance reasons...

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:40 pm

A great bit of history there.
One of the things that I like about this kind of article is that it brings to the fore what a huge undertaking everything was in this conflict. I never really though about how these guys got home, how long it took, and the logistics involved.

I looked up the camp online and was surprised how close to the Baltic it was...in fact is was right on a waterway. There is nothing left of the camp but a small memorial.

A bit of the evacuation story...
http://www.merkki.com/rescue.htm

Very interesting letter. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thanks for opening another door of history for me to investigate.
(I need another one of those like a hole in the head..)

k5083 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:23 pm

peter wrote:

It was in a box of misc paperwork all aviation related that he acquired a few years ago. He would like an idea on value for insurance reasons...

The reason I asked about chain of custody is that its value will be greatly affected by whether it can be authenticated. Otherwise, it's just a piece of paper that may or may not be legit, and no reputable dealer is likely to touch it. Your friend can still get whatever someone who is willing to close his eyes and believe will pay for it, which could be quite a bit, but it's hard to set or defend that value without actually selling it.

August

peter · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:38 pm

I will ask about chain of custody as somethign tells me it was handed down through the family of Hubert Zemke I think...

peter · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:51 pm

well the old fellahe acquired it from, did know everyone and was huge collector, my friend still sorting through his paperwork and has also found stuff from Billy Bishop, Orville Wright, Buzz Buerling, Cole Palin, Doolittle,Marion Orr, Dowding and many RCAF veterans

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