News-Info-Alerts

Re: History Uncovered

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: August 16, 2003

"Jonesboro, IL

World War II Plane Brings History Alive
By: Tony Hensley

JONESBORO, IL -- A man from Germany is bringing peace with the past to a Heartland man.Collin Lyerla of Jonesboro not only painted the nose art on his World War II B-17 bomber. He also flew it on bombing raids over Germany. But, another crew was aboard his bomber when it was shot out of the air by a Germany fighter plane. Five of the ten crewmen aboard died.

But now, history is uncovered at a time when Collin only had pictures to reflect upon. The two men, living in different countries. Thought to have nothing in common, are brought together when one uncovers the others piece of the history.

They seem to be your typical father and son sitting at the breakfast table. But, if you listen to the conversation you soon realize something else is taking place. Matthias Schildbach asked Collin "did you ever bomb targets in Eastern Germany?" Collin answers, "they were the two worst. They were oil refineries".

Matthias Schildback is asking questions. Because, back in 1999 he helped uncover the B-17 Bomber Collin named the towering titan and flew during World World II. Collin Lyerla says, "I've seen guys just faint because it was so bad. You know". Fainted. Because, Collin and his fellow pilots were bombing Matthias's hometown of Dresden, Germany, killing more than thirty thousand civilians. Matthias Schildbach says, "in the beginning it was a part of history in my hometown. But, now it is more. I have found friends in another part of the world and the other side of the globe". The two strangers meet after Collin's son Rick answered an article written in an British Magazine called "Can Do Notes". Rick Lyerla says, "at first it was about the history and the historic things that we have here and then it became more personal".

Now, what they have is artifacts found at site decades later. Pieces of both the B-17 and the German plane that rammed it. Collin Lyerla says, "this is a piece of the towering titian and this is a piece of the motor of the 262 that ran into it and knocked it down". These two sit at the table bringing back years long past and making the world a little friendlier. Collin Lyerla says, "it show me that it's a small world and from thousands of miles away a stranger can become a friend instantly".

Matthias and his mother will continue to visit with Collin and his family until Friday and then they will travel to Saint Louis, where they will visit with two more families that lost a loved one when the "Towering Titan" was knocked down during World War II. Also, when Matthias and his mother return to Dresden, Germany, at the end of the month, he plans to continue searching for the remaining missing in action families.

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