Book description
It was December 3, 1943, and American warplanes were on assignment over
Nazi Germany. Sergeant William Rasmussen was the ball turret gunner on
the Hell's Belle, a B-17 heavy bomber. During one of its missions, the
Belle was shot down and the captured American flyers were sent to the
notorious German prison camp Stalag 17B. In Stalag the American
prisoners of war had to deal with the harsh rules imposed by the German
Commandant as well as deplorable living conditions: filth, bitter cold,
starvation and disease. Told through the eyes of one young flyer, the
book has non-stop action, emotion and humor, and captures the upbeat and
undefeatable spirit of America's finest young men who served the United
States during WWII. RANDALL L. RASMUSSEN, M. D. used his father's
memoirs, “From a B-17 to Stalag 17B,” as the basis for this book. Dr.
Rasmussen also explored William Rasmussen's notes, the verbal history
that he recorded at the local library, research material, and
recollections of the narratives he heard his father tell so many times
over the years. William Rasmussen was a popular guest speaker at press
clubs, library clubs and service organizations in Michigan's lower
peninsula near his home. His narratives were enjoyed immensely since he
had a special gift of being able to captivate audiences as they shared
his experiences flying over Nazi Germany and being a prisoner of war.
