'Jumping' Joe Beyrle (The only American serviceman to fight for both the US & Soviet army in WW2)

Brian Fernley


Organisation:
South West Airfields Heritage Trust
Region:
South West
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
Charity
Fee:
Paid: £75 for local talks, travel expenses will be added over 15miles
Category:
History
Updated:
9th December 2022
Tagged:

Growing up during the great depression Joe Beyrle (pronounced buy early) might have been a renown international athlete had the war not have intervened. He joined the famous 101st Airborne and flew from Exeter to France on D-Day. He'd been there before on a secret mission, making him the first US paratrooper to set foot in occupied Europe. Unfortunately, his campaign didn't last long before he was captured by the Germans.

That's when the story really starts, with escapes from prison camps, interrogation by the Gestapo and eventually fighting with a Russian tank group. Joe's story is uplifting and shows what a human being is capable of with the will and determination to survive.

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About Brian Fernley

I spent most of my working life in the telecommunications industry, starting as an apprentice, then moving into design. From there I joined the training department eventually becoming the UK Technical Training Manager for Siemens Communications. Throughout my career I enjoyed giving presentations and it was something he wanted to continue into retirement.

I've always been interested in aviation history and have had several opportunities to develop my knowledge; which including writing an interactive guide for Newark Air Museum and involvement with aviation archaeology.

After moving from Nottingham to Devon I became aware of the South West Airfields Heritage Trust, an educational charity whose purpose is to inform the public of the south-west’s aviation heritage. This is done in a number of ways, most visibly they have heritage centres at Dunkeswell and Smeatharpe, which are open to the public from Easter until the end of October. They also give talks, visit schools, hold events and look after a number of local memorials.

I have become an enthusiastic volunteer, contributing to both heritages centres and now regularly deliver talks on their behalf.


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