Italy 1943-45

Dick Snyder was a copilot in a B-29 and flew ten missions over Japanese oil refineries and other targets. Bombing Akita was the last mission. Dick is now a great-grandfather, a close neighbor and dear friend.

This flag was made of fine silk material and was kept in the survival kit of the crew's flight suits. It was carried by all personnel flying in the Pacific theater of operations and clearly stated, in all pertinent languages, that the bearer is an American who comes under auspices of the Geneva Convention and should be properly treated as a military prisoner...

After the war, it became obvious that American prisoners held by the Japanese were fortunate just to remain alive.

The German aircraft that were shot down by American anti-aircraft batteries never had any personal markings on their fuselages other than their group number and the Swastika. Similarly, the British and French vehicles bore only military markings. Perhaps there was a relationship to their ancient legends of heraldry that the field soldier should bear only the markings of their leader on their shields.