Carl Fessel collection

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2000 Box 20 (00.0573-00.0591), Folder: 00.0589-Folder 1

Identifier: 00.0589

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of photographs, personal papers and personal memorabilia belonging to Carl Fessel, a member of the United States Army Air Force who served in the 570th Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force in Europe from February of 1944 to April of 1945. Papers include a certificate of honorable discharge issued by the U.S. Army, while photographs include a picture of Fessel in uniform for a bombing mission and a contemporary map of Europe highlighting the prison camp at which Fessel was held as a prisoner of war. Personal memorabilia include membership cards titled "Life Membership: American Ex-Prisoners of War."

Dates

Created: 1944-2002
Other: Majority of material found in 1944-1945
Other: Date acquired: 06/15/2000

Creator

Fessel, Carl (Family)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Carl Fessel was a member of the 570th Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Force from February of 1944 to April of 1945. As a radio operator machine gunner (R.O.M.G.), Fessel would man machine guns when attacked by the enemy, in addition to transmitting messages and commanding pilots based upon information about bombs that had been dropped or the location of enemy planes.

On April 13, 1944, Fessel was shot down during a bombing raid of Augsburg, Germany by German Messerschmitts, where he was surrounded by German soldiers, civilians and Hitler Youth. He was interned as a prisoner of war at Stalag XVIIB in Krems, Austria, the largest prisoner of war camp in Austria. After being interned for over 13 months, in early April of 1945, Fessel was forced to participate in an 18-day march from Krems, Austria to Braunau, Austria along with other American, British and French prisoners of war, where they were reunited with American forces.

Fessel received a Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster, an Air Medal, and an ETO Medal. He sustained wounds due to a flak burst, and his left leg, ankle, and foot were permanently disabled after the parachute landing he made when he was shot down over Augsburg, Germany.

Extent

1.00 folders

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Chronological

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Source of Acquisition

Carl Fessel

Method of Acquisition

Donated

Processing Information

September 22, 2017

Subjects

Austria Subject Source: Lcnaf
B-17 bomber Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Prisoners of war Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Prisoners of war--Austria--History--20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Purple Heart Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Stalag XVII B Krems-Gneixendorf
United States. Army Air Forces. Air Force, 8th
United States. Army Air Forces. Bomb Group (H), 390th
World War, 1939-1945 Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings