And just like that, Pete and Johnny were gone.

In October 1942, Pete completed turret training at his aerial gunnery school at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. He attained the rank of staff sergeant in the 32nd Bomb Squadron.

Eventually his decorations and citations would include:
Air Medal GO #37 HQ XII BC with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters;
European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal;
Purple Heart GO #16 HQ 301st Bomb GP, with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters;
Good Conduct Medal with 3 Battle Stars.


In September 1943, Helen received a “Missing in Action” telegram from the War Department.

On November 1, 1943, she received a letter from C. E. O’Conner, an executive with the Peru Oil Company in Jackson, Mississippi.

Helen had Mary read the letter aloud.

Dear Mrs. Skripka:
On September 22 we received a wire from the War Department advising that our son, Second Lieutenant Wilbur E. O’Conner, a pilot of a Flying Fortress, had been missing in action. On October 27 we received another wire advising that our son was all right. We soon received a letter our son had written in Italy. His letter states as follows:
12 German fighters attacked me. They shot away most of my controls and three engines, forcing me to land at sea. After being in the sea for 20 hours I was picked up by an Italian Flying Boat and flown to an Italian seaplane base. We were prisoners at this base until we heard of the Armistice on September 08.
On September 10 the Germans came to the Italian Commander and demanded he give up the base. The Commander refused, and on September 11 the two had a fight for the base. I had foreseen the outcome so I had the Italians get us the most unnoticeable clothing they might find. We put these on and when the Germans came over, most of us escaped. Those that escaped split up. For the first four days I hid out with Italian soldiers. They were afraid to be with us, so they put me out on my own. One of the boys took me to a family close by, and I convinced them that I should stay there for a few days. I actually stayed there until the Americans came. It could be possible that some of the Airmen are still with the free Italians or it is possible that the Germans may have taken some prisoner. I hope you can find some encouragement and hope as to the welfare of your son.

A second letter from Mr. O’Conner followed on November 22, 1943. It read:

Dear Mrs. Skripka:
For your information, my son, Lieutenant O’Conner, is now at home with us. The last time our son saw Pete, he was all right. He had been sent to an Italian hospital for a rest after the ordeal in the life raft. It is my son’s belief, from information obtained from other escaped crewmembers, that Pete was taken from the hospital by the Germans. From other sources, it is known that five of the nine crewmembers have returned to the American lines. The Germans took three prisoners. This could include Pete. Another crewmember was killed in the air battle. One of the three prisoners escaped and related the following: “We knew Pete had no clothing of his own after his rescue at sea. The Italians gave him one of their uniforms. Then he was taken from the Italian hospital for shipment to Germany. He was herded in with the Italian soldiers.
“When it was discovered he was an American, the Germans were prepared to have him shot as a spy. After several weeks in solitary confinement, he managed to convince the Germans that his wearing an Italian uniform was purely an accident. He was then transferred to the famous vermin-ridden Stalag 17B.”

In December 1943, Helen finally received a postcard from Pete. It read:

Kriegsgefangenenpost/Postkarte
An Mrs. Skripka
Gebuehrenfreil
Absender: S/Sgt Peter Skripka
Gefangenennummer: 96579

Dear Mom:
I am all right but sure wish I could be with all of you for Christmas dinner. Mom, buy something nice for Mary from me for Christmas. I hope everything is going along all right. Please write and let me know. Please send me cigarettes and candy. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love, your son PETE

Treatment in Stalag 17B was never considered good—at times it was even brutal. Men were shot for standing in an out-of-bounds area within the compound. Some guards were known to strike out with their gun butts. This usually occurred after a bombardment on the nearby town of Krems.

Separate wire fences charged with electricity surrounded the area. …