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The Great Escape
Of B-17 Pilot Lieutenant
Wes Coss in WW 2 Wes Coss, a 37 year resident of Palos Verdes, California, lived an adventure in occupied Europe so fantastic, it seems like a make believe Hollywood movie. Except this one is true. Words and Wes Coss Photo by John Clayton  Wes Coss stands in front of the Flying Fortress, "Aluminum Overcast," that recently came to Torrance Airport for a 4-day series of demonstration flights. "It was wonderful and yes, really magical, to fly again in this marvelous airplane called the B-17" said Wes. Author's Note: Regular readers of my travel features in Traveling Boy know they are about unique and offbeat things to see and do around the world - hence the title "Travel With A Difference." This month's article takes a somewhat different journalistic direction. May is the month in which we celebrate our Armed Forces, and their service to our country, and June is always the anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, on June 6th, 1944. I recently came across an amazing story of a B-17 pilot who was shot down on his 21st mission over occupied Europe, and because it's a wonderful testament to the courage of our military, as well as to the French Resistance, I wanted to share this incredible story with you. Yes, it's a travel related story, but one that is "travel with a (distinct) difference" - as you'll see in the following words and pictures.
As a youngster growing up in Illinois, in a town with the unlikely name of Paw Paw, Wes Coss loved flying almost before he could walk and talk. When most kids wanted bicycles or baseball bats, Wes found great joy in things like sending off an advertisement he'd cut out of the local paper, for a Piper airplane. While they did not (!) send him an airplane, they did mail out a large color photo of one of their aircraft. Some of Wes' happiest days were spent working at the local airport - and so, when WW2 came along and America was not initially involved, Wes joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. It was only when the US joined the fray in December 1941 that Wes signed on with the USAAC, where he became a Flying Fortress, or B-17 pilot, and was - after training in the USA - sent to North Africa to begin the first of his mandatory 50 missions. When he was posted to Italy it was the beginning of an incredible adventure that, unless you knew it to be true, sounded more like some make believe Hollywood movie.
The squadron's intelligence officer told the airmen they could expect heavy German fighter plane attacks over the target area, and that Wes' group of bombers would be the first over the objective, with Stardust flying in the so called 10th position - often called "Tail End Charlie." With his crew all on board, Lt. Coss started the engines, and at 0745 the first aircraft of his group began to take off. Wheeling Stardust onto the runway, he pushed the throttles forward and the four giant 1200 horse power Wright Cyclone engines pulsated with power, as Stardust roared down the runway. Seconds later she rose majestically into the air to join the rest of the squadron. At 12.23pm they were over the target, and the intelligence officer's remarks that there'd be heavy German fighter activity was, at that moment, almost an understatement as two Messerschmitt 109's came roaring in to attack Stardust at the 11.30 position. As they zoomed towards the B-17, they completed a half roll and were completely inverted as the navigator, Walter Amundsen, began firing his twin 50 caliber guns from the upper turret. "Moments after the 109s had disappeared, I saw immediately that my #2 engine (that's the one nearest to the fuselage on the left hand side of Stardust) had been hit, and I had to shut down this engine," said Wes. German fighters knew it was a "damaged bird," and did all they could to finish it off. Seconds later two more 109s, thundering in at the same 11.30 position, began their attack." "It was" says Wes, "incredibly surreal to see, right in front of me, the red hot blasts from their guns as they roared towards us." He pauses a moment, and then in a reflective mood says, "I've often wondered since then, if it was the same two 109s on the 2nd attack." This time #1 engine was hit - not only did it catch fire but it was totally uncontrollable. Stardust - because of this damage - was now falling farther and farther behind the squadron.
Despite this damage to two engines, Wes felt he could make it with the right hand ones to Corsica - but that thought was shattered when Stardust was attacked yet again. This time by a German fighter called the Focke Wulf 190 - known to its opponents as the "Butcher Bird." The 190 hit Stardust on the right hand side, at the 1 o'clock position, destroying the #3 engine. Now, with only one still working Lt. Coss had to give an order he hoped he'd never have to say. Stardust couldn't make the 220 miles to an airfield in Corsica, so he told the crew to bail out. With his parachute hitched onto his harness, Wes jumped out of the forward hatch. "Even though I was sad to leave Stardust, I felt a sense of relief in being safely out of our old bird, but I was worried about what might happen next, as we'd heard stories of German pilots shooting at our crewmen as they drifted downwards - so I delayed opening my 'chute as long as I could." Thinking back to those terrifying moments, Wes says that from the time of the first attack to leaving Stardust, just 8 minutes had passed. When he landed on French soil it was 12.29pm. Seconds before he hit the ground, Wes saw Stardust pass behind a nearby hill and explode --- and he knew the B-17 had ended her career. After getting out of his parachute (and burying it behind some rocks) he took note of his surroundings and prayed that he'd not spend the rest of the war as a POW, as he heard stories while in Italy with the 15th Air Force, that no one had been able to escape to freedom from France. When you've just been shot down over enemy territory, that's a pretty frightening thought - even more so if you are, like Wes, just celebrating your 20th birthday. He noticed a farm in the distance and decided to spend his first night in a nearby haystack. But life was already beginning to take a turn for the better - and capture by German troops seemed a distant nightmare. Wes made contact with some local French citizens who were with the Resistance. Wes was questioned by a woman who wanted to know a lot more things than just the normal rank, name and serial number. They had to be sure he was who he said he was, and not a plant by the Germans to infiltrate the Resistance. He was told the plan was to smuggle him into Spain and freedom. Space does not permit us to detail the numerous friends he made; the shopping trips they did; and even sightseeing German soldiers marching through the streets, but Wes' escape makes for a fascinating story on courage and the will to survive --- and the French Resistance' ability to outwit the Germans' - all of which is detailed in Wes' truly exciting book "Stardust Falling." However, several amazing encounters with the enemy must be mentioned.
On a beautiful Saturday, Wes was asked if he knew how to ride a bicycle, and he said of course. His French "Guide" told him it was important to follow him and always keep him in sight." After a brief ride they came to a steep hill, but when Wes got the top, the sight that met his eyes caused his heart to miss several beats, and an inner fear rise to the surface - for there, at the bottom of the hill, and completely blocking his onward passage, was a throng of German soldiers! It was probably the "courage of youth," and the feeling that anything was possible, that kept Wes pedaling away and heading straight towards the Germans. He was almost on top of them when, quite suddenly, they parted and let him through with the comment, in French "you crazy Frenchman!" His guide thought it was "very funny," but to Wes, it was one of the scariest moments so far, in his entire escape attempt. While it was much like that scene from the movie "The Great Escape," where two British escapees board a bus, and the Gestapo agent standing by the door says as they board, "Have a nice trip" in English, and they say - without thinking - "Thank you," a moment which was the start of their eventual capture, Wes says that almost the same thing happened to him - but with much better results. "We had to take a train to Perpignan, and as we passed through the gate barrier to our train, the attendant said, in English, 'Thank you," when we showed him our tickets -- he then returned to speaking French to the next passenger. It made us worry that our cover had been blown." But, again incredibly, the luck that was following Wes held, and they boarded their train. German soldiers entered their compartment and asked Wes for a light for their cigarettes - but he pretended to be asleep! Wes' French escort had told him they must get off the train before it reached the Perpignan station. They did, but fellow crew members further up the train did not and, when they got off, were arrested by the Gestapo! Yet again the amazing circle of luck that surrounded Wes, was still holding. Finally they reached the mountainous Pyrenees on their way into Spain, but Wes began to wonder if he and crew member, Joe Kinnane (his left waist gunner) would be able to endure the cold and treacherous mountain paths, as they began their trek to freedom. Wes says at times they both wanted to give up, but they found comfort and encouragement by helping each other.
After numerous encounters with "officialdom," and meetings with people connected to bringing them back to England by way of Madrid and the British outpost of Gibraltar, both men arrived in Britain on March 19th, 1944. Seven weeks had passed since they'd been shot down, and soon after they reached London, Wes was asked by the USAAF to speak about his experiences to crewmen at US airbases around Britain - even though he was forbidden from talking about specific information. He did highlight one point again and again - "if you can survive the first 48 hours without being captured," he told his audiences, "chances are you'll get back home again." Wes eventually made it back to the USA where, after the war ended, he joined Continental Airlines for a 37 year career as a pilot. Asked if he thought there was any benefit at-all (apart from the obvious ones!) of not being a POW, Wes smiles and says, "Yes, as a matter of fact there is. Not being cooped up in a prison camp for the rest of WW2, gave me the extra flight hours that enabled me to begin my career as a commercial pilot ten days after my 23rd birthday, than otherwise would have been possible." My meetings with Wes, and talking about his series of amazing adventures during his escape, confirmed one thing --- never one talk about his many amazing moments of near capture in France, and his ensuing adventures --- Captain Coss, whether as a Continental Airlines Captain, or the Lieutenant in command a great B-17 bomber called Stardust, I knew this to be a gentleman of the finest order - and a true American hero. Captain Coss, I salute you!!! To order Captain Coss' 376 page book about his escape,
please send $24.95 plus $5.99 S/H to: Stardust Falling, 584 Cielo
Lane, Rio Rico, AZ 85648 --- Or phone (520) 377-2258 --- Justnok@msn.com
or Wescoss2@verizon.net ---
VISA and MasterCard accepted |
t's early morning and there's a slight edge to the air as Lieutenant
Wes Coss and his 9 crew members walk towards Stardust, their
B-17 bomber. During WW2 so many British and American bombers were shot
down before they'd even flown a few missions, meant that Stardust
was a real veteran with an incredible 84 missions over enemy territory
to her credit. Flying out of their Italian base at Foggia, Lieutenant
Coss was about to set off on his 21st mission. He and his crew were
part of the USAAC (United States Army Air Corps) 99th Bomb Group - and
they had another 29 missions to complete before rotation back to the
USA. It was the 27th of January, 1944 and the target was a German airfield
at Salon de Provence, France that was being used by the Germans as a
base to reinforce their troops at the Allied beachhead in Anzio, Italy.
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