CAPTURED -- S. Sgt. Delbert D. Laudner, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Laudner of Rockford, reported missing in action over Yugoslavia Jul 3, is a prisoner of the nazis, according to information received form the war department Monday. He is a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress. His wife, formerly of Mason City, is now a meteorologist for government weather bureau at Salt lake City.
Source: The Mason City Globe-Gazette, October 3, 1944 (photo included)
Prisoner of War Record
Name: |
Delbert D Laudner |
Race: |
White |
Residence Place: |
Iowa, USA |
Report Date: |
2 Jul 1944 |
Latest Report Date: |
23 May 1945 |
Grade: |
Staff Sergeant |
Grade Notes: |
Major or Asst. superintendent of nurses or Director of nurses or Director of dietitians or Director of physical therapy aides or Staff Sergeant or Technician 3d Grade or Lt. Commander or Petty Officer, 2nd Class |
Service Branch: |
Army |
Arm or Service: |
Air Corps |
Arm or Service Code: |
Air Corps |
Organization Type: |
Heavy Bomber |
Parent Unit Type: |
Group/Regiment/Commands/System |
Area Served: |
Middle East Theatre: Yugoslavia |
Detaining Country: |
Germany |
Camp: |
Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16 |
Status: |
Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated |
Report Source: |
Individual has been reported through sources considered official. |
Delbert Dale “Scratch” Laudner was born Mar. 6, 1924 to Jonathan Daniel and Ruby Buckingham Laudner. He died Jan. 23, 2013 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, IA.
Sgt. Laudner served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps and flew 36 combat missions as a tail gunner over the Balkans and Germany. After being shot down in a B-17, he spent 10 months as a POW in Poland and Germany. His commendations include four Bronze Stars, Air Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Source: ancestry.com
