80 Years since the Repatriation of British and American Prisoners from Romania

Abstract

As Romania joined the Allied Powers (23 August 1944), the fate of American and British prisoners became uncertain, as they were in danger of either being captured by German troops or falling into the hands of the Red Army. As the archive documents show, at that time, there were 1,262 prisoners (1,123 American and 39 British) in Romania, interned in camp no. 13 Bucharest (Pedagogical School on “Sfânta Ecaterina” Street and “Regina Elisabeta” Military Hospital) and camp no. 14 Timișu de Jos1. In the rescue operation, with the support of the Romanian authorities, Lieutenant Colonel James Gunn was transported by a plane, piloted by Captain Constantin Bâzu Cantacuzino, in Bari, Italy, where the 15th Air Force Command was located. All American and British prisoners in Romania were transported to Italy during Operation Reunion, organised by the 15th Air Force, on 31 August, 1 September, and 3 September 1944.