This map is roughly 6 miles wide and 4 miles high.

Books Crew Johnson Crew Raschke Crew Anderson Crew Croft Crew

For the last 15 years, I have worked towards these days. The reason for my search was about to come to an end. The request that my Grandmother and Grandfather asked 52 years before was about to be answered, " Tell me about my boy."

The town of Hardt is the crash site of Lt. Dallas O. Books and crew. The German report (KU1256) listed the following information: Subject - Crash of 1 Liberator on 18 March 1944 at 1500 hours, 1500 meters northwest of the town of Hardt, Community of Schramberg, County of Rottweil; kind of capture - by fighter; type of aircraft - Liberator; markings - GC; Number on aircraft - 128742; remarks - 6 men dead, 3 unknown - burned - no identification tags, 1 man is prisoner in Rottweil. Burial on 21 March 1944 in the Cemetery of Locherhof.

City Hall - L. to R. Kohlmann, Jones, Burgermeister Herbert Halder, his assistant and Marsteller

Kreuz Inn - The place where Sgt. Strickler was taken for interrogation

The day was planned well in advance by Carsten Kohlmann. In the morning we met with Herbert Halder, the Burgermeister of Hardt; then we traveled to the home of Georg Laufer (the first man at the tail section of the Books plane) for a visit of several hours. Joining with the mayor again at the Kreuz (Cross) Inn, we met with Roland Haberstroh, the Inn owner, whose father had owned the Inn where the captured airman, Chester Strickler was brought for interrogation 52 years ago. For lunch we were the guests of the mayor at a local restaurant; then with the mayor as a guide, we picked up Hildegard Kattinger for a short drive to the Tischneck, impact area of the cockpit and the spot where Uncle Jim met his death. After having cake and tea at the home of Ms. Kattinger, we went home to the Kohlmann's for a great German meal and a special birthday gift for me.

Herbert Halder, the Burgermeister (mayor) of Hardt ,was once again a big help with my search. As he stated in his own words, “It was natural for me to want to help you.” The Burgermeister then led us to the place which 52 years before was the talk of the town, the Kreuz (Cross) Inn. This was the place where prisoner of war and only survivor of the Books plane crash, Sgt. Chester Strickler, was taken to be interrogated and later was offered a beer by his captors. Sitting down with the inn owner Roland Haberstroh, we were also offered a beer as Strickler had been offered 52 years ago. Carsten Kohlmann suggested that I make a toast to Sgt. Strickler as he was the last American until my visit who was known to have been in the Inn . We all tapped our glasses together, and I made the toast, “To Chester Strickler, may he have a long and healthy life.”

Kreuz Inn - Looking over photographs with Roland Haberstroh
Carsten Kohlmann translates, Mayor Halder on left.

After the toast Mr. Haberstroh described his memories about that day, March 18, 1944. Carsten Kohlmann translated, “ Sgt. Chester Strickler, the only surviving member of the crew, was taken prisoner by Georg Haberstroh soon after he landed. Georg, who at that time had just returned home on leave, brought the captive Strickler to the Inn. The American was naturally an unusual event in the Inn, and he received a glass of beer from Innkeeper Alois Haberstroh, Roland’s father. This humane gesture was not understood by everyone. A few people from Hardt showed a great hatred towards Strickler, and one man became especially furious and threatened the innkeeper with a stick."

We discussed the war and Mr. Haberstroh's memories as a young man in 1944. He told us that the Inn was not the original because it had burned down years before. I had brought several research books full of photographs and documents that were of great interest to him, and he also showed us a photograph album with photographs we had not seen before of the Books plane and photographs of a B-17 that crashed in Monchweiler on December 9, 1944. Carsten had told me that Roland had a piece of wreckage from the Books plane, a blue paddle with the inscription, Army Air Forces, that was packed in a rubber floating raft. These rubber boats were used for flotation if the plane crashed in water. Unfortunately Mr. Haberstroh told us he had misplaced the paddle in his attic but had a photograph of the rubber boat with the same paddle attached.

Life raft from the Book plane wreckage
laying in field between cockpit and tail section

As we talked with the witnesses at the table, Ben Jones took still photographs and Kipp McCleary ran the video; some of the other customers wandered who we were and began to listen in on the conversation. It seemed that everyone in the place knew of the air battle, and many had seen it taking place. The mayor invited several customers to the table to tell us about their memories of March 18, 1944. After the last witness left, we said our goodbys to Mr. Haberstroh and thanked him for all his help and good will towards us. He asked me to tell Chester Strickler "Hello" and wish him all the best. The mayor promised to make copies of the photographs in Mr. Haberstroh’s album and send them to us in the States. We left with the understanding that we would meet the mayor in several hours at the home of Hildegard Kattinger, another eyewitness and visit the Tischneck, site of the cockpit wreckage. We then headed for a visit with Georg Laufer, the first man at the downed tail section.