Mayhew Foster
Encyclopedia
Mayhew Y. "Bo" Foster was an American soldier who flew captured Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring
from Austria to Germany for interrogation by the 7th Army. For his actions in World War II
, Foster was awarded both the Silver Star
and the Légion d'Honneur.
At the end of the war, Göring surrendered to the Allied Powers in the Bavarian Alps. On May 9, 1945, Foster transported Göring back to Germany on a 55-minute flight in an unescorted, unarmed L-5, a larger plane than the L4
he normally piloted, because Göring weighed more than 300 pounds (136.1 kg). According to China Daily
, in a letter to his wife, Virginia, written at the time, Foster describes his first impression of Göring as "effeminate [and] gave me the creeps . . . Several times I had the impulse to turn the plane over and see if I could shake him out, but he was wedged in like a champagne cork."
Foster said that Göring, who spoke some English, avoided any talk of Adolf Hitler
, with whom Göring - as the commander of the Luftwaffe
- had fallen out of favor as the total German defeat neared. "He acted as though he was going on a sightseeing tour, or really as though I was going on a sightseeing tour, and he was showing me where he grew up. I had a .45
in a shoulder holster, but he couldn't reach that. But neither could I, because I had two hands controlling the plane."
Foster further recalled Göring as having been sharp, friendly, and witty, having joked when Foster asked him when Germany began manufacturing jets
. "Too late," Göring was said to have answered. Foster continued: "I could see that he was like one of our officers if he'd been picked up. I wouldn't say it changed my view of the war, but it showed me that there are [He did not finish the statement.] . . . Well, I questioned all that we knew about these vicious people."
Göring was convicted of war crimes and committed suicide in October 1946 by taking a cyanide
capsule before he could be hanged by the Nuremberg authorities.
By October 1945, Foster was back in the United States, having flown seventy reconnaissance
combat missions during his wartime service. He returned to his adopted home state of Montana
, where he was appointed lieutenant colonel in the Montana Army National Guard
. He was thereafter promoted to brigadier general, a rank that he held from 1963 until 1971.
A native of Richmond
, Virginia, Foster graduated in 1937 with a degree in English from Yale University
in New Haven
, Connecticut
. He and his wife, Virginia Lou Foster (February 15, 1916–May 7, 1993) were married in 1940. The couple had one daughter, Susan Carol Foster Korkalo (1944–2007).
Foster received the Silver Star for his wartime service in southern France in 1944. It was not until 2009 that he received the French Legion of Honor, when Pierre Vimont
, the French Ambassador to the United States, released a letter hailing Foster for his "personal, precious contribution to the United States' decisive role in the liberation of our country during World War II."
Foster died at the age of ninety-nine in a nursing home in Missoula
, Montana. His last city of residence was Livingston
in Park County
, Montana. Survivors included son-in-law Roy E. Korkalo of Livingston, grandson Chris Korkalo, and a sister, Priscilla F. Howell.
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
from Austria to Germany for interrogation by the 7th Army. For his actions in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Foster was awarded both the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and the Légion d'Honneur.
At the end of the war, Göring surrendered to the Allied Powers in the Bavarian Alps. On May 9, 1945, Foster transported Göring back to Germany on a 55-minute flight in an unescorted, unarmed L-5, a larger plane than the L4
Piper J-3
The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time...
he normally piloted, because Göring weighed more than 300 pounds (136.1 kg). According to China Daily
China Daily
The China Daily is an English language daily newspaper published in the People's Republic of China.- Overview :China Daily was established in June 1981 and has the widest print circulation of any English-language newspaper in the country...
, in a letter to his wife, Virginia, written at the time, Foster describes his first impression of Göring as "effeminate [and] gave me the creeps . . . Several times I had the impulse to turn the plane over and see if I could shake him out, but he was wedged in like a champagne cork."
Foster said that Göring, who spoke some English, avoided any talk of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, with whom Göring - as the commander of the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
- had fallen out of favor as the total German defeat neared. "He acted as though he was going on a sightseeing tour, or really as though I was going on a sightseeing tour, and he was showing me where he grew up. I had a .45
.45 Colt
The .45 Colt cartridge is a handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It began as a black powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but is offered as a magnum level handgun hunting round in modern usage. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as the...
in a shoulder holster, but he couldn't reach that. But neither could I, because I had two hands controlling the plane."
Foster further recalled Göring as having been sharp, friendly, and witty, having joked when Foster asked him when Germany began manufacturing jets
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
. "Too late," Göring was said to have answered. Foster continued: "I could see that he was like one of our officers if he'd been picked up. I wouldn't say it changed my view of the war, but it showed me that there are [He did not finish the statement.] . . . Well, I questioned all that we knew about these vicious people."
Göring was convicted of war crimes and committed suicide in October 1946 by taking a cyanide
Cyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
capsule before he could be hanged by the Nuremberg authorities.
By October 1945, Foster was back in the United States, having flown seventy reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
combat missions during his wartime service. He returned to his adopted home state of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, where he was appointed lieutenant colonel in the Montana Army National Guard
Montana Army National Guard
The Montana Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
. He was thereafter promoted to brigadier general, a rank that he held from 1963 until 1971.
A native of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia, Foster graduated in 1937 with a degree in English from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He and his wife, Virginia Lou Foster (February 15, 1916–May 7, 1993) were married in 1940. The couple had one daughter, Susan Carol Foster Korkalo (1944–2007).
Foster received the Silver Star for his wartime service in southern France in 1944. It was not until 2009 that he received the French Legion of Honor, when Pierre Vimont
Pierre Vimont
Pierre Vimont is the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service .-Biography:Vimont holds a licence in law. He is a graduate of the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris and the École nationale d'administration...
, the French Ambassador to the United States, released a letter hailing Foster for his "personal, precious contribution to the United States' decisive role in the liberation of our country during World War II."
Foster died at the age of ninety-nine in a nursing home in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
, Montana. His last city of residence was Livingston
Livingston, Montana
-Geography:Livingston is located at , at an altitude of 4.501 feet .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.38% is waters.-Climate:-Demographics:...
in Park County
Park County, Montana
Park Counties in Montana and Wyoming are among the very few pairs of counties in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines.-National protected areas:* Custer National Forest * Gallatin National Forest...
, Montana. Survivors included son-in-law Roy E. Korkalo of Livingston, grandson Chris Korkalo, and a sister, Priscilla F. Howell.