News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: POW Boxcar Goes To Museum

Date: July 22, 2001

"Air Force Museum Receives World War II Boxcar
by 1st Lt. Carie A. Seydel
Air Force Print News

07/26/01 - ISTRES, France -- The Air Force airlifted a World War II-era rail car, historically used as a prisoner-of-war troop train, to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, on July 25.

The boxcar, donated by the French National Railroad Company and the American Prisoner of War Association, will be used to complete a POW display at the museum.

"When the American POW Association offered the donation, it took us about two seconds to say 'yes,'" said retired Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf. "What better artifact could there be to recreate the POW experience than an original rail car?"

The Air Force Museum director expects it will help complete the prisoner-of-war display. Using train tracks, theatrical lighting and actual memorabilia, the museum will incorporate the vehicle as a walk-through exhibit.

The museum plans to celebrate the arrival of the car in conjunction with POW/MIA Day on Sept. 21, Metcalf said.

Downed American pilots were sent to Germany and Poland on this type of car during World War II, said Gen. François Beck, the French air force's air mobility commander. Beck was part of a small legion of officials on hand to witness the car being loaded onto the C-5 Galaxy aircraft from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.

Since cars like these, built between 1941 and 1944, transported prisoners of war, it is believed to be a part of military history.

Although records cannot be found to trace the background of this box car, it bears the inscription "Hommes 40 -- Cheveaux 8," which translates to 40 men and eight horses because it was capable of transporting that many people or animals.

The project started more than 18 months ago when the car was found in Dijon, France, for the POW Association. It was in poor condition and needed to be rebuilt.

During the restoration, which began in December, many of the rusty original pieces were salvaged. All of the planks of the wood structure had to be replaced, and vintage supplies were used to maintain its antiquity.

For Beck, who became involved in the project six months ago, it is more than part of the job. He has a personal connection.

"My father was a prisoner of war during this time and was rescued by American soldiers," he said. "This is my chance to help give back to Americans."


The dedication plate on a 1941-circa boxcar, the type used to transport American prisoners of war during World War II, was unveiled in May in Dijon, France. The car was donated by the French National Railroad Company and the American POW Association to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Photo by Master Sgt. Keith Reed)

A 1941-circa boxcar, the type used to transport American prisoners of war during World War II, is loaded July 25 onto a C-5 Galaxy at Air Base 125, Istres, France. The C-5 from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., transported the car to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The car was donated to the museum by the French National Railroad Company and the American POW Association. (Photo by Master Sgt. Keith Reed) ."