Following My Grandfather’s Flight Path: The 80th Anniversary of the Kassel Mission

In September 2024, I, Kiera Lynne Miner, granddaughter of WWII B24 pilot Reginald R. Miner had the honor and pleasure of attending my first Kassel Mission Historical Society Memorial - it was the 80th Anniversary of this tragic mission.  I was able to attend the memorial service with several of my family members.  Packed into a bus full of family and friends of the crews from the 445th Bomber Group - we followed the path of our fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins and friends.   This was my family's first time on this adventure from start to finish - and we had no expectations - other than to “see”.    

My grandfather spoke of his time in the war in a way that was probably unique for most men who jumped from a plane that was on fire and destined to crash into the ground.   With autopilot gone, he waited until every man was out before he made his exit - maintaining control of the B24 that wanted to climb straight up.    He had two main thoughts: the life of his men and where the plane was going to land when it crashed…because it was going to crash.   Though he was too high to see the ground, he understood that there were innocent people below and he “aimed for the green”…brown is town…gray is water…green is field.   Knowing he was alone on the plane - he let go of the yoke and felt the plane begin to climb.   The bomber doors were broken and he was forced to climb out of the nose cone - I imagine it was very loud, windy, and cold - as he tumbled from the plane.  In a state of shock, it occurs to him that he should probably pull his chute…which he did…seconds from the ground…landing like a feather…as if he had fallen out of a low bed onto a soft carpet.  Not a scratch on him.   He would later learn that he lost two of his crew (something he never got over) and would spend the next 8 months in Stalag Luft 1, as a prisoner of war.   He lived the rest of his life believing in God - knowing that it was only with Divine intervention that his experience turned out the way it did.  Yet, this is not something he shared with his family.  He was a very stoic man, modest, but proud of his accomplishments.  He could be persnickety but his good soul always carried the day.  He died at age 92 - surrounded by love and his family - a grace that we should all be so lucky to experience.

There is so much about that 2024 trip that I would want to share, including the inspiration on this trip that got us to September 27, 2025, but I will save it for another time.  For now, I will share the experience of the Special Memorial that was just dedicated to my grandfather and his crew on September 27, 2025.  The key to the whole memorial - Andreas Heid.  A man who continues to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and gratitude that keeps hitting him like a truck; who is now a member of my family.  He changed all our lives.

Something I didn’t understand in 2024: Why were all these people we don’t know - crying when they met us (families of the crew)?  It was like we were celebrities.  Yet we are not special - it was our fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins and friends…who did something special…we are just celebrating them…  What we didn’t understand…the people who were showing up - were celebrating - our LIVES.   The steps that many of the people we were meeting took to save the lives of our fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers, cousins and friends - were as simple as reporting the matter to the police (so they could intervene before an angry farmer killed the American service man) or they took actual physical steps that had them stopping someone from physically beating our men to death when they were discovered.  Eleven men who landed safely on the ground - did not survive that beating.    But my grandfather did.  And many many others.  Thanks to the intervention of the German people; despite their minds being filled with propaganda - they chose the path of humanity.   And because they did that - many of us were born!  I know I wouldn’t be here if my grandfather hadn’t survived - and it was at this moment I truly understood the love that the German people were pouring onto us.   We were THEIR FAMILY.   They had wondered about us for years.  How things turned out for these brave men and their families..  

Enter scene - Andreas Heid.  He heard about my grandfather from someone who had witnessed the crash - and that was the only spark necessary for Andreas to make it his mission to learn everything he could.  And he did!!   What he didn’t expect was that he was going to get to meet me and my family in September 2024.  My grandfather's legacies.   We found ourselves standing in front of him with love and gratitude in our eyes - and the emotion overcame him - he began to weep in our presence.   I still don’t know how to share the impact of this “strangers” love for myself and my family - but we are all changed forever.

Andreas decides in these moments that he wants to get a Memorial for my grandfather and his crew set up in the town where the crash happened - Grebenau (which is where Andreas lives with his wife and border collie) - but first he has to 1) convince the property owner; 2) convince the mayor; 3) the list goes on and on….  He had a vision…he envisioned the color guard, a band, and attendance of maybe 100 people …  When he finally pulled this off - there were almost 500 people there!    Andreas spent from this time in 2024, until this time in 2025 (every day), applying himself to making this happen.   And ohhh the logistics!  Can’t put the memorial in the field - because you can’t have people in the field - who is going to let you put a memorial in their front yard - forever?  Apparently, Thomas Mueller!!   Though I believe he got a nice paved area in front of his house in anticipation of the event - this was a loving sacrifice of property by Mr. Mueller.  

My family and I stayed in a house down the street and were able to meet several local people; it felt like we were HOME the moment we got into town.  Speeches were given…I attempted my speech of gratitude in both English and German (I don’t speak German) - and it was so bad - yet the number of compliments I got on my “ability to speak German” was heartwarming.    I think you had to understand my speech in English first, to be able to understand my speech in German ;-).   But my son was proud of me - and that was enough for me to know I did a “good job”.   This whole experience was beyond humbling - and the joy I feel/felt is something I want to experience again - and I want to share it with other family members and friends.   And any of you who join the KMHS Anniversary tour in the future - should have the pleasure of visiting this site for yourselves as part of the tour.   I have a tendency to “over share” when I write so I am going to force myself to stop here.   It has been such a pleasure getting to participate in the KMHS events and connect with the family and friends of the men my grandfather did his best to help preserve their lives - so we could all be here now!  I feel so much love for you all and look forward to many more moments to remember and express our connection to each other at future events.    As Jim Bertram discovered recently at the Airforce Historical Society event,  as far as “stories” go, the events that led to the Kassel Mission tragedy - and ultimate heroism - is one of the “best” to come out of the War.  And should not be forgotten.    Nor should the role the German people played in preserving our future be forgotten - and may they always be appreciated.  I look forward to remembering both sides of this tragedy - from a place of friendship, love and joy.   From darkness - light will always find a way to shine through.

Kiera L. Miner