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F.O. Walter P. van der Kamp
722nd Squadron
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Pyote, Texas
June 7, 1943
My Dearest Jean,
When I left you and boarded that bus on Wednesday evening last I wondered what was in store for us now. As I was carried away mile by mile I the more fully realized we were being parted by that same inexorant force that brought us together – War. We have been happy together because of it and in spite of it. We must do all we can to continue to be happy in spite of it and remember that each day we are apart only means a day sooner we will be together again.
Some day, and I pray, soon, we will find peace and happiness.
Until then, Jeannie, chip up.
All my love, my darling
Walter
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Mercersburg, Pa.
4 October 45
Dear Mrs. Van der Kamp,
Your letter to mother came today so I shall tell you all I know about the events of Feb. 22 and if you have any other questions I shall be glad to answer them if I can.
You of course know that our target was the Me 109 aircraft factory at Regensburg. We had just dropped our bombs and were coming away from the target area when we were attack by enemy fighters in large numbers. It was later reported that approximately 500 enemy planes were up that day. How many of those attack our formation I do not know. The last time I counted I saw 32 around our plane. One of our engines was hit on the first pass and we were unable to keep up with the formation. From there on we were hammered until the ship was out of control. Despite anything Van could have done we were too severely shot up to keep in the air. The fuel was running out of the wing and we were on fire in several places, the bomb bays, the wing and engine closest the plane on the right side and near the tail. Sgt. Shatzer was the flames in the bomb bay and was preparing to leave the ship when he was killed by a 20 MM shell. He was standing right beside me when he was hit. Sgt. Springer guns jammed, due to no fault of his and he was killed in his turret. I tried to get word to the cockpit by the interphone to tell the boys there we were on fires but all the lines must have been burned or shot as I was unable to do so. Sgt. Wood left the ship and I was preparing to put my chute on and jump when I was knocked to the floor. Most of the rear part of the plane was now afire ad I was burned on the hands and face before I left the ship. I saw no other chutes in the sky as I came down and so I thought until I got home that only Sgt. Wood and I had survived. Then I learned that Lt. Kraus, had been repatriated. Upon reaching the ground I saw a crater in the snow and upon examining closer found it to be a man. Yes it was Van, I don't know exactly what happened but I rather think that he was either blown from the ship and did not recover in time to pull the rip cord or his chute did not open. I examined him thoroughly to see if there was any possibility of life but there was none. I would have liked to have kept his R.C. A. F. identification bracelet to send to you but the Germans took it. The people who captured me were civilians, rather nice for Germans as they did all they could for me. I feel sure that they gave Van a decent, although perhaps not a military funeral. He is probably buried near a small town called Straubing in Bavaria. We were just unlucky and only shot down due to the odds against us. I know we had one of the best crews in the 450th Group and Van was well liked both by us and all the other guys in Italy. I'll answer any questions you might have.
All the best to you and Martin
Paul
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Oct 12
As long ago
Dear Jean,
A friend of our Bill's named Lt. Walter Kendall (maybe you knew him) went over to see Sgt Drury for us – and he seemed pretty sure that there was no hope for the remaining members of the crew. So we have just made up our minds that we must accept the fact that they will not return.
In as much as you & I have both lost our loved ones and must go on, please don't think me unfeeling when I say, we must go on living as before, happy and seeking to make our lives mean something. Remember the boys all thru their tough missions thought of us doing all the small & pleasurable things and pictured us free and happy – We must stay that way.
I know that no one can take their places in our hearts but we can be big enough to love others. I sincerely hope that you young wives can find new peace & happiness as I know the boys would want it that way.
We have loved and prayed and hoped so in our little way have done all we could.
My husband gave up his job and is rehabilitating disabled soldiers, placing them in jobs or college, and it just helps him to think it is a little tribute to the boys. It's very interesting work the government even supplies “readers” for blind boys for college work, and goes to no end of trouble to get jobs suitable to their talents mechanical or musical. It is nice to know that these kids are helped & not forgotten now that the war is over.
Write to us sometime soon and let us know what you and the baby are doing.
Most Sincerely
Violet P Brohm
1124 Gesham Rd Plainfield NJ.
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Information courtesy of Martin van der Kamp, son of Walter van der Kamp
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