World War II Honoree

Allen J. Chaplin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Toledo, Ohio

Honored By

Arnold A. Wright

Relationship

Friend

SERVED AS PILOT OF B-17 BOMBER ON MISSION TO SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY ON AUGUST 14, 1943. THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE WAS DESTROYED GOING TO THE TARGET AND WHEN RETURNING, AIRCRAFT WAS ATTACKED BY GERMAN FIGHTERS. AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN AND PILOT WAS CAPTURED 10 DAYS LATER IN PARIS, FRANCE WHILE WEARING CIVILIAN CLOTHING AND WITH NO DOG TAGS. GESTAPO THREATENED TO SHOOT AS SPY, HOWEVER, HE WAS CONFINED TO STALAG LUFT III ON OCTOBER 1, 1943 AS A PRISONER OF WAR.