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THE
CITIZEN, Thursday, April 6, 1989
Differences forgotten as war pilots meet
A
retired Gloucester airman met the man who shot him down over Germany
nearly 45 years ago during a return visit to the area.
Mr. Jim Hudson (65), of Sovereign Court, Henry Street was one
of a seven-man crew of a RAF Lancaster bomber on a bombing raid
over the city of Heilbronn in December 1944.
Research carried out by local residents Herr Adolf Liebrand found
that the pilot of the night fighter which shot down Mr. Hudson's
plane was Herr Peter Spoden, now 67 years old, a senoir captain
with the German national airline, Lufthansa.
Herr Liebrand put the two men in touch, and Herr Peter Spoden
invited Mr. Hudson to visit him. " I have been to Germany
many times since the war, but had always stayed away from Heilbronn
because of the memories it hold for me," Mr. Hudson said.
Mr.
Hudson spent four days in the area, during which time he was entertained
by local dignitaries, shown a film of the area's history, and
was taken to the old record's office, which was destroyed in the
raid and has now become a memorial to what Mr. Hudson called "that
awful night".
"Out of the population of 90,000 in Heilbronn itself, 6,350
people died in just half an hour. In addition, all schools, hospitals
and churches were destroyed in the mission," he added.
The highlight of Mr. Hudson's visit was going to the actual spot,
near the village of Heutingsheim, about ten miles from Heilbronn,
were his plane came down.
"I
felt great emotion at this, but my hosts could not have been any
kinder. They allowed me time alone there to pay respects to Peter
Webb, the crew member killed in the raid."
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