Harold Truman Speck collection

Harold Truman Speck was born August 5, 1919. He flew nine different missions, as part of the 545th bombardment squadron, 384th bombardment group. Seven out of eight of the missions he flew were targeting German factories for airplane parts or airplane storage areas, as "Operation Argument" (Big Week). His ninth and last mission was to be a military target. On this mission, Speck flew as the copilot of the B-17G, 42-32007, and the aircraft flew the low group of the 41st combat wing. Takeoff was at 8:00 AM from RAF Grafton Underwood Airfield. However, because of a dense cloud cover, the lead bomber's pilot decided they would instead strike a target of opportunity at Cologne, Germany. It was later determined that they were flying over Bonn. The bombers flew in a formation to bomb until Speck's B-17G was hit with flak at 11:57 a.m. Speck recounts that the pilot was the last one to bail out. The B-17G eventually crashed three kilometers (1.9 miles) north of Ransart, Belgium.

Speck, along with six others, were taken as prisoners of war, while two evaded capture and one was killed in action. He was sent to Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Germany and spent a year there until he left post-war for home, settling in Arkansas and marrying Anita S. Speck. During his captivity, Speck kept a detailed journal which included Red Cross package contents, weight and types of German food rations, POW recipes, menus, information about barrack design, bedding, poems, and names/addresses of fellow POWs. He was awarded the Air Medal. Speck passed away on August 27, 1987, and is buried in Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL with his wife Anita, who passed away on December 28, 2003.

Note written by Alicia Kasper