Ernest Thorp was captured in 1944 after his B-17 bomber was shot down in the North Sea.

The details of his captivity behind enemy lines were revealed in “My Stretch in the Service,” the diary he kept throughout his service with the Army Air Force. As a crew pilot, Thorp put to good use the skills he learned during flight training at the University of Illinois. Meeting Thorp’s family and having access to the late pilot’s artifacts was a great help to us in telling his story for Prairie Flyers of Central Illinois: A Century of Aviation in America’s Heartland.

The strength and determination of young men who left the farm to serve their country is on full display in Thorp’s diary.  Like every prisoner of war, Thorp was fortunate to survive the experience.  He never forgot that good fortune. His gratitude was evident in the years of service Thorp offered to his community.

We hope everyone will enjoy reading the stories as much as we loved compiling them! Look for the collection to be released this summer.