European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                One last Mission search for missing ending after 47 years Larry Eidsmore with a photo of Crew mates who survived the 1944 crash. By Randy Pruitt staff writer Arry Eidsmore can t forget his buddies. They Are with him in creased Black and White photos snapshots of smiling clean Cut gis having a Good time together despite world War ii. He sees their names in sex prisoner of War articles and government documents he has collected Over the years. Eidsmore s own son. Valdon named after a special Friend is a constant reminder. Nearly 47 years have passed since the plane Eidsmore and 10 other americans were flying was shot Down Over Czechoslovakia. Four were killed when their plane Quot flying Finger Quot crashed into a Hillside on dec. 17, 1944. The others including Eidsmore. Parachuted out and were taken prisoner by the germans. Now Eidsmore 71, is on a return trek to Czechoslovakia for one last Mission. He wants to find out if anyone near the czech town of Jilin remembers details Abou amp the crash or the men. Eidsmore says he is making the trip on behalf of fellow crewmen still living and the families of Squadron members who were killed. Quot everyone of us wants to know what happened said the retired architect from Oak Harbor Wash. Quot i Hope i can bring something Back from the czech people they want to  he also plans to visit a Monument erected june 9, 1946, by the Community of Palacol to Honor the four americans who died in his downed plane and another Monument at Trouby for six men in his Squadron killed when their plane exploded in mid air Eidsmore who was with the 15lh air Force 461st bomb group 765th so out of Cen Nola Italy recalls the Day that More than 50 German me-109s and fw-190s attacked 26 american b-24s with rockets and 20mm Cannon. It was to be their 10th Mission and his last flight. The dogfight would last Only minutes. Quot our Mission was to bomb a synthetic Oil refinery at Oertal Germany Quot he said. Quot to conserve fuel the gunners had been briefed to not lower the Ball turrets until we were near  Eidsmore a nose gunner said they were virtually defenceless when the germans surprised them flying wingtip to wingtip the enemy Lay Down a barrage of fire hitting their b-26. A 20mm Shell exploded wounding Bombardier Hugh Hanley in the leg. Hanley would later describe the plane As vibrating Quot like jello Quot while the bail out alarm sounded. Quot the flight deck looked like the scene of an a murder Quot he later wrote in an article for an sex pow Magazine. First it. Jack Cody the top Turret gunner had taken a hit in the face tearing out his Eye. Quot they Crew members were slapping his face to make sure he was conscious so he could open his Chute Quot Eidsmore said. Drifting to the ground Eidsmore said he saw the Flash of flame As the plane hit the ground. He landed in a Snow covered Field with Trees planted like Row of Corn nearby. He dashed into them. Quot suddenly a Bullet ricocheted Oft the Trees. I zigzagged through the Woods but i did t get far Quot he recalled. Two germans marched the 24-year-old staff sergeant to the czech police station. While being turned Over to czech authorities villagers gathered around. Eidsmore recalled seeing a Small frightened czech girl clinging to her Grandfather s hand. Quot i smiled at her. Her Grandfather Bent Down and said something to her and the most Beautiful smile i have Ever seen lit up her face. I knew then everything would be Well Quot inside he found Earl Kreps the co Pilot William Mclain the navigator Leonard Grier the top Turret gunner and Cody. Quot we could have escaped but we had a couple of wounded Quot Eidsmore said. There was another reason none of the airmen tried to leave Quot the czech police also showed us a yellow piece of paper with a list of czech villagers. He said they All would be executed if any of us escaped before the germans returned a Quot i kept thinking of that Little  Eidsmore said he left Czechoslovakia about two weeks later. The men were separated. He was at stalag ill a at Lucke Walde Germany when the Camp was liberated by the russians in april 1945. It was Only recently in his search that he Learned that Valden Bronson his Best Friend and a radio operator and Waist gunner had died in the crash and not in Captivity. Eidsmore and his wife named their firstborn son Valdon. His wife did not know that the name was spelled with an  she spelled it with an Quot of Quot on the birth certificate Valdon is presently assigned to the 270th signal co at Pir Masens Germany. Their youngest son Alan works for the army corps of engineers in Frankfurt. Eidsmore was in Germany visiting his sons prior to his trip to Czechoslovakia. The world War ii vet who served with the 511th engr in in both Darmstadt and Kaiserslautern Germany during the korean War said it is important that he and the surviving crewmen do everything they can together to compile an accurate account of their ordeal. He has been in touch with Many who served with him or their relatives. He is trying to locate others. Quot we Are the historians Quot he said. Quot we need to know what happened to the  readers action line deciding who is paid with tax papers Money i m wilting in regards to a recent article on the morale welfare and recreation reorganization plan. The last statement said that Congress has decided that people working in recreation centers libraries and childcare centers should receive taxpayer funds. I would like to know when this will take place in Usa eur. I m a Naf employee working in a child care Center at present. I asked our local civilian personnel office the lady i talked to was not sure just what taxpayer funds were but she thinks the article Only applied to people who transferred Between the systems Jennifer Kavanaugh Derheim Germany Audace Previti civilian personnel division office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel he Usa eur replies thank you for the Opportunity to explain some of the rules that apply in the conversions of employees from non appropriated funds Naf to appropriated funds apr and vice versa the writer indicates she was unable to receive a definition of Quot taxpayer funds Quot and asks about the availability of such funds in Usa eur to support the morale welfare and recreation mar reorganization plan taxpayer funds Are the dollars paid into the . Treasury by individuals or enterprises that pay taxes to the . Government. When the Congress passes legislation that requires expenditure of tax dollars it Quot appropriates Quot the Money from the Treasury to pay for whatever the legislation provides hence the term Quot appropriated funds Quot apr. Non appropriated funds Nason the other hand is Money generated through the sales of services or supplies such As income from Bowling alleys clubs Post exchanges Etc. In examining the department of defense Dod mar programs the Congress noted that tax dollars or apr were being expended in support of certain activities hat generated sufficient Naf income to be self supporting. It directed Dod therefore to re categorize mar programs to discontinue apr support to those programs which were self sustaining and to pay assigned employees from Naf conversely those mar activities which generated Little or no income such As libraries recreation centers and some child care centers require apr support some employees assigned to these activities who were being paid from Naf could properly be converted from Naf to jobs paid from apr it the Community had sufficient apr available in its budget and manpower authorizations in which to establish apr jobs. In Many child care centers administrative personnel have generally been converted from Naf to apr while the majority of entry level child care givers continue to be paid from Naf to write us readers action line is the readers a court of last resort Quot staving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Apo 09211-4211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 a the stars and stripes wednesday september 4, 1991