World War II - The POW Experience

Sally (Hatcher) Ewald’s undergraduate degree was in History and Political Science. She spent her “gap year” exploring Mexico then attended Stanford University where she earned her MA in Latin American History and subsequently a CA teaching credential at San Jose State. While getting these degrees she started working for Western Airlines rising to “City Manager” for WA – retiring 14 years later after completing her MBA to start a management consulting business. Her passion to learn more about WWII in Europe stems from a desire to know more about her father who was killed in a military plane crash in New Mexico in January 1947 just a few days after her 6th birthday. In WWII he commanded the 351st Bomb Group, one of the early B17 Bomb Groups stationed near Peterborough, England. The Group’s first mission was May 13, 1943. Col Hatcher flew 12 missions and was shot down not far from Bordeaux, France on Dec 31, 1943. His parachute dropped him just outside the German command compound - he was captured immediately and remained a POW until May 1945 when Germany surrendered.