The Kassel Mission-- Part 4: Held By German Air Force

Ira Weinstein was taken to Stalag Luft I, manned by members of the German air force who were too old for battle field duty.  They felt a kinship with American airmen and conditions were far better than at most POW camps

After being liberated by the Soviet Army at the end of the war, Weinstein returned home and traveled the country visiting the crew members of his B-24 who didn't survive.Linda Dewey said that the war experiences never left him, "He had terrible survivor's guilt and would often break into tears when he spoke...."

Mr. Weinstein received honors, including a Purple Heart and the distinguished French Croix de Guerre for his wartime service.

After the war, he went to work for Schram Advertising and then bought the company in 1945.  It was considered a pioneer in the direct mail and business-to-business fields.

He designed the logo for the Kassel Mission Historical Society and sat on its board for twenty years.  Some veterans of the mission, including Dewey's father, the late William R. Dewey, returned to Germany and organized projects with their former enemies.

--GreGen