This letter was from the father of an American airman Dad had helped after his bomber crashed in April of 1944.
Dad had helped Sgt Zercher’s crew hide in a small town (Ruurlo, or Harfsen) near the German border, and sent them on their way to their next hiding place in Appeldoorn NL, about 20 km to the west of Gorssel NL. News got back to Dad that the hiding place had been compromised in early October 1944, and that only “two boys had escaped”. The Nazi’s had shot Sgt Zercher, probably some of his men, along with 20 Dutch civilians. Dad didn’t know whether Sgt. Zercher survived until he got the letter back from Zercher’s father
Follow the story of the airman in this blog from York PA. (There are several parts to the story, linked below)
Nazis murdered downed WWII airman from York County, Pa. – Part I
And a Slideshow with some different pictures.