It was World War II when
Eldon Dahl, a school mate of my husband’s and a pilot in the United States Air
Force was shot down over Italy. He was returning from a bombing raid near
Foggia, Italy on August 25, 1943.
Parachuting from his flaming B-17 bomber, which was riddled with bullets
from German fighter planes, he landed near a small Italian village.
Eldon Dahl, a school mate of my husband’s and a pilot in the United States Air
Force was shot down over Italy. He was returning from a bombing raid near
Foggia, Italy on August 25, 1943.
Parachuting from his flaming B-17 bomber, which was riddled with bullets
from German fighter planes, he landed near a small Italian village.
His parachute had landed him safely in aforest only to be captured by the Italians.
After being in two prison camps, Eldon managed to escape into the
mountains north of Rome, with a group of other Allied prisoners.
Eldon became separated fromthe others and wandered alone on foot through mountains and villages. Scavenging around the woods one
afternoon, his empty stomach detected the wonderful aroma of food cooking on an
open fire. Following the scent, he
discovered two women outside, preparing food near a farmstead.
Hoping they would be
friendly and willing to feed him, Eldon made his way toward the women. All of a sudden, a little blonde-haired girl
around 10-years old, wearing a bright white dress, appeared by his side. She
motioned with a finger over her lips, to remain quiet. Then, taking him by the
hand the little girl led him in the opposite direction
to stand behind a thicket of bushes. It was at that point that two German
soldiers appeared and began talking with the women. Eldon realized then that he had just narrowly
avoided recapture. When he looked around the little girl had vanished. She was
nowhere to be seen. Eldon was convinced the little girl in white was his
guardian angel. Knowing that his guardian angel was with him, gave him faith
that he would somehow get back home.
friendly and willing to feed him, Eldon made his way toward the women. All of a sudden, a little blonde-haired girl
around 10-years old, wearing a bright white dress, appeared by his side. She
motioned with a finger over her lips, to remain quiet. Then, taking him by the
hand the little girl led him in the opposite direction
to stand behind a thicket of bushes. It was at that point that two German
soldiers appeared and began talking with the women. Eldon realized then that he had just narrowly
avoided recapture. When he looked around the little girl had vanished. She was
nowhere to be seen. Eldon was convinced the little girl in white was his
guardian angel. Knowing that his guardian angel was with him, gave him faith
that he would somehow get back home.
For two months Eldon
traveled alone for more than two hundred miles on foot before his final
breakthrough of the turbulent front lines to return to the American zone near
Cassino on November 13, 1943. Two weeks later he returned to the United
States.
traveled alone for more than two hundred miles on foot before his final
breakthrough of the turbulent front lines to return to the American zone near
Cassino on November 13, 1943. Two weeks later he returned to the United
States.
Eldon always credited The
Little Girl in White, an angel of God, with saving him and guiding him safely
home.
Little Girl in White, an angel of God, with saving him and guiding him safely
home.
Editor’s note: This story, told to me by Doris Fischer of Rhame, ND, is part of the collection in the Amazing
Grace for the Catholic Heart.
Grace for the Catholic Heart.
