POW Spokesman

By Lily Connelly

Robert, pictured left, and another former Lieutenant speaking at the Air Reserve Personnel Center’s Warrior Day. (Source: Air Reserve Personnel Center, photo credit: Ellen Edwards).

Robert “Bob” Elliott Ball

May 2, 1923 - January 8, 2015

Robert “Bob” Elliott Ball was born in Wichita, Kansas, on May 2, 1923.[1 ] He grew up on a farm with his parents, Sidney and Lucinda, and his grandparents.[2] Bob was the eldest brother; his two younger brothers, Francis “Frank” and Edward “Ed,” were born in 1925 and 1929.[3] All the brothers went to school and worked on the farm with their parents during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.[4] Bob met his childhood beau, Margaret “Peg” Konecny, in Wichita, whom he would later marry.[5] Bob joined the Air Corps as a Private on March 28, 1942, although he wasn’t active in the Air Corps until December of that year.[6] Bob’s brother Frank also enlisted to join the Army Air Corps as a navigator in August of 1943, while Ed stayed to help on the farm.[7] The family relocated to a farm in Spokane, Washington, while Bob and Frank served in the Air Corps.[8]

Bob was in the Air Corps as part of the Army Air Forces before the branches split.[9] He was a bombardier, which meant he was in charge of accurately dropping bombs on targets during bombing missions.[10] The responsibilities of a bombardier included using bombsights, which are devices that use altitude, wind, and velocity to calculate timing.[11] He was in the 8th Air Force, known as “The Mighty Eighth,” one of the most famous air units in military history due to dramatic series like Masters of the Air.[12] Bob was a part of the 91st Bomb Group, called ‘The Ragged Irregulars’, made up of the 322nd, 323rd, and 401st Bomb Squadrons, and Bob was in the 401st.[13] The highest rank he achieved was First Lieutenant.[14] Bob was stationed in Bassingbourn, England, while in the 401st Bomb Squadron and was credited with multiple bombing missions.[15] In one such mission, he served as the bombardier on one of five aircraft in a bombing mission to Heroya, Norway. This was the first raid ever carried out on Norwegian soil by American bombers.[16] On July 29, he was on one of seven aircraft on a bombing mission to Kiel, Germany.[17]

Bob’s last mission was on August 12, 1943, on a routine bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Bob was on one of six aircraft involved, on a B-17 called ‘Jolly Roger’ with nine other men.[18] As they approached the target, the formation experienced flak from enemy aircraft.[19] Bob’s plane and another in the formation were taking evasive action from the artillery and collided mid-air.[20] The Jolly Roger’s bomb bay doors were broken in the collision, so the bombs had to be dropped before they flew over the target.[21] Bob’s plane was damaged from the artillery fire and collision, and was able to continue flying over Gelsenkirchen in formation at first, but lost distance and altitude from the damage and began to go down.[22] The co-pilot, Lieutenant Rowland, announced to the men that they were going to crash, so anyone able to bail could do so if he wanted. So Bob and two other men on the crew decided to bail out of the plane, while the rest of the crew stayed in the plane as it struck the ground.[23] The pilot, Lieutenant Heller, watched the three men land safely in the village of Schmidtheim, where they were taken into custody and put in the village jail, and subsequently taken to prisoner-of-war camps.[24]

Bob, 19 at the time, would go on to spend almost two years as a prisoner of war.[25] Most of his time was spent in camp Stalag Luft III, before he was transferred to camp VII-A.[26] Stalag Luft III is one of the more well-known German POW camps because of its portrayal in movies such as The Great Escape and The Wooden Horse. It was also portrayed in an episode of Masters of the Air. Stalag Luft III was in Sagan, Poland, over 100 miles Southeast of Berlin.[27] The men there relied on Red Cross parcels for most of their food and clothing.[28] The conditions were better than in other POW camps, as the men weren’t required to work.[29] They were also allowed letters and packages from their families.[30] They had an array of sports activities and formed leagues to pass the time, they put on plays and musicals amongst themselves, they had a newsletter edited by POWs, had multiple bands, and a library in every compound.[31] The morale of the men was better compared to other camps, despite overcrowding and inadequate healthcare.[32] They passively resisted the guards, refusing to do role calls and even pulling pranks on them at times.[33]

Stalag Luft III was also supposed to be escape-proof; many measures were put into place to prevent escape attempts. For example, microphones were buried in the ground to listen for tunnelling.[34] However, the prisoners were still extremely determined to escape, even forming escape committees to run logistics or tunneling enterprises more efficiently.[35] In an interview with 9News, Bob described how he spent his time in the camp working on multiple escape efforts, including as part of a tunneling crew and helping to construct a wooden horse.[36] The events involving a wooden horse happened before the tunnel escape, and were in a different compound than the mass escape. This lesser-known escape was achieved by building a hollow wooden vaulting horse for gymnastics.[37] The prisoners would carry it out onto the field with men hiding inside of it. They would vault over it and practice gymnastics like everything was normal, while the men inside the vaulting horse worked on the tunnel. Three men managed to successfully escape using this method.[38] About a year later, the mass escape happened when 76 British inmates escaped from a tunnel. Only three of them successfully escaped, and fifty of them were shot and killed by the Gestapo.[39] Stalag Luft III was evacuated in January of 1945 when the Red Army was advancing nearby. The prisoners had to march for hours in extreme cold, with minimal breaks.[40] Men were also put into dirty and crowded train cars and delivered to either Stalag Luft VII-A in Moosburg, Germany, or Stalag Luft XIII-D in Bavaria.[41] Bob ended up in Moosburg, until it was liberated in April by the 14th Armored Division.[42]

Shortly after his return home, Bob married Peg on July 18, 1945.[43] Bob and Peg moved to Iowa, and lived together while Bob studied at the University of Iowa, obtaining Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.[44] He shared his experiences during his service, including his time as a prisoner of war, to bring awareness and foster connections between different generations of the armed forces.[45] He spoke at the National POW/MIA recognition day in Germany in 2004, and shared a story about a German guard knocking out his front tooth with the butt of a rifle.[46] He recalled singing carols through the camp at Christmas and holding a Midnight Mass outside in the snow to cheer up the men in the camp.[47] He spoke of how he had to huddle together with a pilot from Wisconsin for a year to survive the cold, together on a straw mat with their feet and hands in each other's armpits and thighs. They still kept in touch after he returned home.[48] In 2008, at the 302 Airlift Wing Air Force Heritage Day, he spoke about how, during his time at camp, he tried to focus on keeping up the morale at camp, as he never gave up hope that the United States would come for them.[49] He thought that “the real enemy was not the Germans, but cold, hunger, apathy, and loneliness…” during his time as a prisoner.[50] He participated in a ceremony where the POW/MIA flag was installed at Denver City Hall in 1999 to honor and remember the soldiers who are still unaccounted for.[51] He was the commander of the Department of Colorado American Ex-POWs for a time, and in 2008, he went with a group of World War II pilots on a trip to revisit sites in England and Germany, organized by The Greatest Generation Foundation.[52]

Bob received a Purple Heart, an A1 Prisoner of War Medal, and an A2 Ex-Prisoner of War Medal for his service.[53] Bob and Peg had two sons, three grandkids, and four great-grandkids.[54] Bob passed away on January 8, 2015.[55] Peg passed away in 2021 and is buried next to him.[56]

Footnotes ↓

[1] “U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert Elliott Ball.

[2] “Kansas, U.S., State Census Collection, 1855-1925,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert Ball.

[3] “Obituary: Francis Emir Ball,” Moscow-Pullman Daily News, April 14, 2010, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.dnews.com/obituaries/obituary-francis-emir-ball-3c46af12; Scharbach’s Columbia Funeral Chapel, “Obituary for Edward Aaron Ball 1929-2009,” accessed August 25, 2025, https://memorials.scharbachs.com/Ball-Edward/359350/obituary.php.

[4] “Obituary for Edward Ball”; “Kansas State Census 1925”; “1930 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert Ball; “1940 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert Ball.

[5] Horan & McConaty, “Obituary for Margaret “Peg” Ball 1923-2021,” accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.horancares.com/obituaries/margaretpeg-ball; “1940 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Margaret Konecny.

[6] “World War II Army Enlistment Records ca.1938-1946,” The National Archives, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert E Ball, https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=13&cat=all&tf=F&sc=24994,24995,24996,24998,24997,24993,24981,24983&bc=sl,fd&txt_24995=Robert+E+Ball&op_24995=0&nfo_24995=V,24,1900&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=1404809&rlst=415065,445458,561867,895694,1283910,1404809,1478727,2275453,2411530,5125030.

[7] “Iowa, U.S., World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Francis Emir Ball; “Obituary for Edward Ball.”

[8] “Obituary for Francis Ball”; “Obituary for Edward Ball.”

[9] “Records of World War II Prisoners of War, 12/7/1941-11/19/1946,” The National Archives, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert E Ball, https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=3159&mtch=4&cat=all&tf=F&q=Ball+Robert&bc=sl,sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=3345&rlst=105230,3344,3345,3346.

[10] “US, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs), WWII, 1942-1947,” Report 260, fold3.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert Ball; “Bombardier,” Army Air Corps Museum, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/Bombardier.cfm#google_vignette.

[11] “Bombardier.”

[12] Paul Andrews and William Adams, “The Mighty Eighth Roll of Honor,” 384th Bomb Group, accessed August 25, 2025, https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/downloads/Vol%20IV%20RollofHonor1997.pdf.

[13] “91st Bomb Group,” American Air Museum in Britain, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/unit/91st-bomb-group.

[14] “Robert E Ball Army Enlistment Records”; “News from the Boys in the Service,” The Winfield Records, October 21, 1943, accessed August 25, 2025, https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/488527541/?match=1&terms=Robert%20Ball&pqsid=BRKskO96yUuRf-ZFW09S8w%3A26026%3A1308662062; David Morton, “WWII veterans share war stories, heritage,” 302nd Airlift Wing, October 21, 2008, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.302aw.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/190900/wwii-veterans-share-war-stories-heritage/.

[15] “91st Bomb Group”; Shawn Patrick, “Colorado POW’s return to site of World War II,” 9News, May 23, 2008, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/colorado-pows-return-to-site-of-world-war-ii/73-343101309.

[16] Merle L. Choffel, “Dailies of the 401st Squadron 1943,” 91st Bomb Group, accessed August 25, 2025, http://www.91stbombgroup.com/Dailies/401st1943.html.

[17] Ibid.

[18] “Missing Air Crew Report 260”; “Aircraft Serial Number 29587 Search Results,” Aircraft Serial Number Search, accessed August 25, 2025, http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=42-29587&content=; “Robert Clarence Heller,” American Air Museum in Britain, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/person/robert-clarence-heller.

[19] “Missing Air Crew Report 260”; “Dailies of the 401st.”

[20] Ibid.; “Aircraft 29587 Search.”

[21] “Missing Air Crew Report 260.”

[22] Ibid.; “Dailies of the 401st.”

[23] “Missing Air Crew Report 260.”

[24] Ibid.

[25] “WWII Veterans share war stories.”

[26] “Robert E Ball Prisoners of War Record”; “Colorado POW’s return to site.”

[27] “Stalag Luft 3,” Military Intelligence Service, War Department, July 15, 1944, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.axpow.org/medsearch/ETO-STALAG%20LUFT%203.pdf.

[28] Ibid.

[29] Ibid.

[30] Ibid.

[31] Ibid.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Ibid.; Marilyn Walton, ‘“Masters of the Air’ Fact and Fiction: An Expert’s Review of the POW Experience at Stalag Luft III,” Veterans Breakfast Club, accessed August 25, 2025, https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/masters-of-the-air-fact-and-fiction-an-experts-review-of-the-pow-experience-at-stalag-luft-iii/.

[34] Scheong, “Vaulting to Victory: The Story of the Wooden Horse,” Throughout History, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.throughouthistory.com/?p=1246; Christopher Klein, “‘The Great Escape:’ The Audacious Real Story of the WWII Prison Break,” history.com, November 23, 2021, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/great-escape-wwii-nazi-stalag-luft-iii.

[35] “The Great Escape,” Stalag Luft III, accessed August 25, 2025, https://stalagluft3.com/the-great-escape/.

[36] “Colorado POW’s return to site.”

[37] “Vaulting to Victory.”

[38] Ibid.

[39] “‘Masters of the Air’ Fact or Fiction”; “Stalag Luft 3.”

[40] “The Long March,” Stalag Luft III, accessed August 25, 2025, https://stalagluft3.com/long-march/.

[41] Ibid.; “Stalag Luft 3.”

[42] “Robert E Ball Prisoners of War Record”; Jim Lankford, “The 14th Armored Division and the Liberation of Stalag VIIA,” The Army Historical Foundation, accessed August 25, 2025, https://armyhistory.org/the-14th-armored-division-and-the-liberation-of-stalag-viia/.

[43] “Obituary for Margaret Ball.”

[44] “U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert E Ball; “1950 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, accessed August 25, 2025, entry for Robert E Ball.

[45] “WWII Veterans share war stories.”

[46] Jessica Inigo, “World War II POW recalls hardships, will to survive,” Stars and Stripes, September 15, 2004, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.stripes.com/news/2004-09-15/world-war-ii-pow-recalls-hardships-will-to-survive-1960179.html1.

[47] Ibid.

[48] Ibid.

[49] “WWII Veterans share war stories.”

[50] Ibid.

[51] Fidel Montoya, “POW/MIAs honored with flag at City Building,” La Voz, June 2, 1999, accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=LVZ19990602-01.2.25&srpos=6&e=--1925---2016--en-20--1-byDA-img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-%22Robert+E+Ball%22-------2------.

[52] Ibid; “Colorado POW’s return to site.”

[53] “Robert E Ball Select Military Registers.”

[54] “Obituary for Margaret Ball.”

[55] Horan & McConaty, “Obituary for Robert E. “Bob” Ball 1923-2015,” accessed August 25, 2025, https://www.horancares.com/obituaries/robert-ball.

[56] “Obituary for Margaret Ball.”