University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Mark B. Calnon, Sr. collection
Calnon, Mark Brooks, 1918-2015
MG 541
5 linear feet
1941-2015
good
WWII POW Experience memorabilia including books, photos, framed collages/prints, medals and other items.
English
.
1
2
3
Oversize
Mark Brooks Calnon, Sr. was born in Meridian, Idaho on August 21, 1918 to Clarence and Jessie Calnon. After graduating from Meridian High School he moved to Moscow to study agriculture at the University of Idaho. Calnon lived on campus at Willis Sweet Hall.
Calnon graduated from the university in 1940. Instead of waiting to be drafted into World War II, he volunteer for the Army Air Corps. After serving as a weather observer, Calnon found himself training to become a B-17 pilot. When he was sent overseas to England, he flew in the Eight Air Force.
On October 9, 1943, Calnon's B-17 was shot down. From his crew, three were killed and four were found wounded. Calnon himself survived the bailout, only to be taken prisoner by the Germans. Interned at Stalag Luft III, Calnon was witness to "The Great Escape" of 1944. This mass escape was led by Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Roger Bushell. Of the 76 escapees, 73 were captured and half were killed. As the war progressed, the airmen officers held in Stalag Luft III were transferred to Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany. Here conditions worsened. American forces finally liberated Stalag VII-A on April 29, 1945.
After his military service, Calnon married Helen Ann Sutton. They had two children, Kathleen and Mark, Jr. Calnon worked as an agriculture extension agent for U of I in Ada county, managing 4-H programs until his retirement in 1973. He resided at the family farm in Meridian, Idaho until his death on May 11, 2015.
Collection is open for research.
The first donation of materials (MA 2015-45) came from Denise Bennett, of U of I Journalism and Mass Media. The second donation of items (MA 2020-29) came from Terry Calnon, the nephew of Mark B. Calnon, Sr.
Author, Description or "Title" of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
Photographer, "Title," date. Collection name, object ID. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
Mark B. Calnon, Sr., was a University of Idaho alum and a United States World War II Veteran. Calnon was shot down and captured by German soldiers. He spent time as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III and Stalag VII-A. He was witness to many terrible things as a POW, but never regretted serving his country. He was diligent about sharing his experiences with anyone who would listen. The materials in this collection and interviews with Calnon were used as part of a Seed Grant, and a documentary film called "Some Lived: An Idaho POW's Story" was made. It aired as part of Idaho's Public Television's series, Idaho Experience. Calnon also interviewed for the Library of Congress' American Folklife Chapter project, Veterans History Project.
Some of the materials in this collection were digitized and made into the digital Mark Brooks Calnon Collection.
World War, 1939-1945
Prisoners of war
Medals
Artifacts
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Idaho
Series I: Papers
1943-1945
Letters to Helen-Ann Sulton
1943-1945
From Mark B. Calnon while he was a POW in Germany.
1
1
Letters to Jessie Calnon
1943-1945
Jessie Calnon was Mark's mother. She received correspondence from Mark as well as other mothers of his crew.
1
2
Letters to Mark B. Calnon from students
2000-2001
1
3
Some Lived Some Died, It Was Understood
cira. 1990s
By Mark B. Calnon.
1
4
The Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum poster
undated
1
5
Pilots' Information File
1943
1
6
Newspaper Clippings
undated
1
7
Collected Poetry
undated
1
8
Mark B. Calnon MIA Notification
20 October 1943
1
9
"Windows Across the Seas" pamphlet
8 September 1989
1
10
Map of Tours
1992
1
11
History of the POW-Camp Stalag VII-A
1
12
Calnon Family Genealogy
undated
1
13
Mark B. Calnon Letter to Crew Members
5 August 1992
1
14
Those Magnificent Men and Their flying Machine comic
undated
1
15
Miscellaneous
1
16
Series II: Photographs
Pistol Training
1943
Photograph of Calnon receiving officer pistol training.
1
17
Pilot Portrait
1943
1
17
B17 Exterior Photo 1
1980
1
17
B17 Exterior Photo 2
1980
1
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B17 Exterior Photo 3
1980
1
17
B17 Exterior Photo 4
1980
1
17
B17 Exterior Photo 5
1980
1
17
Nine-O-Nine B17
1980
1
17
Memphis Belle B17
1980
1
17
Memphis Belle B17
1980
1
17
B17 Pilot Controls
1980
1
17
B17 Pilot Controls
1980
1
17
B17 Pilot Controls
1980
1
17
B17 Gun Seat
1980
1
17
B17 Interior
1980
1
17
B17 Gun
1980
1
17
Mark Calnon, Jr. Ext. B17
1980
1
17
B17 Radio Room
1980
1
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B17 Waist
1980
1
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B17 Bomb Bay
1980
1
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B17 Cockpit
1980
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17
Plane Portrait
1943
1
17
B17 Crew Portrait (photocopy)
1980
Original image located in Mark B. Calnon's scrapbook.
1
17
Military Portrait
1943
1
17
B-17 in flight
undated
Sent to Mark B. Calnon by his friend Dan B.
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17
Reunions
1993-1995
Only one reunion photograph (from 1990) was scanned, which can be viewed here: Calnon 384th Reunion.
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18
Photo Album
1
Series III: War Memorabilia
Cloth Map of Germany (2)
undated
1
19
384th Bomb Group hat
9 October 1943
1
Dog tag and POW tag
1943
1
Caterpillar Club Card
1943
1
Air Medal
1945
1
POW Coin
1993
1
Pilot Wings Pin
1943
1
Air Force Bomber Pilot insignia clothing patch
1943
1
Stalag Luft III Memorial (Desk Weight)
1993
1
Scrapbook
1
Stalag Luft III map (rolled)
1
Series IV: Publications
1946-2012
Books
1946-2001
50th Anniversary: Boeing B-17, Flying Fortress 1935-1985
1985
By Peter M. Bowers. A Museum of Flight publication.
2
A Wartime Log: Covering Stalag Luft III and Stalag VII-A
1985
By Joel H. Tutt. Wilks Publishing Company, Inc.
2
Air War Europa: America's Air War Against Germany in Europa and North Africa 1942-1945: Chronology
1994
By Eric Hammel. Pacifica Press.
2
As Briefed...
1946
By Walter B. Owens. Passed for publication by Etousa.
2
B-17: Fortress at War
1977
By Roger A. Freeman. Published by Ian Allan, Ltd.
2
Clipped Wings
1948
Published by R. W. Kimball. Narrated by O. M. Chiesl.
2
Flying Fortress: The Illustrated Biography of the B17s and the Men Who Fled Them
1965
By Edward Jablonski. Published by Doubleday & Company, Inc.
2
Fortresses of the Big Triangle First
1986
By Cliff T. Bishop. Published by East Anglia Books. Signed by author and includes letter addressed to Mark B. Calnon.
2
In the Presence of Mine Enemies: An American Chaplain in World War II German Prison Camps
1985
By Chaplain (Major) Eugene L. Daniel, Jr. (Aust-Retired). Printed by by Colonial Lithograph, Inc. Signed by author, a POW of Stalag Luft III and VII-A.
2
Maybe I'm Dead
1955
By Joe Klaas. Published by the Macmillan Company.
2
Memories of the 384th Bombardment Group (H)
2001
By Ken Decker. Removed from original blue 3-ring binder for preservation.
2
POW Odyssey: Recollections of Center Compound, Stalag Luft III and the Secret German Peace Mission in World War II
1984
By Major General Delmar T. Spivey USAF. Printed by Colonial Lithograph, Inc.
2
Raiders of the Reich: Air Battle Western Europe: 1942-1945
1996
By Martin W. Bowman and Theo Boiten. Published by Motorbooks Interntaionl Publishers and Wholesalers.
2
Raiding the Reich: The Allied Strategic Bombing Offensive in Europe
1997
By Roger A. Freeman. Published by Arms and Armour Press.
2
Recollections of a World War II B-17 Bomber Pilot
1996
By Johnny Butler.
Sitting It Out: A World War II POW Memoir
1992
By David Westheimer. Published by Rice University Press.
2
Stalag Luft III: The Secret Story
1988
By Arthur A. Durand. Published by Louisiana State University Press.
2
The 8th Air Force Album: The Story of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in WW II
1978
By Lt. Col. John H. Woolnough. Printed by Newsfoto Yearbooks.
3
The Fall of Fortresses
1980
By Elmer Bendiner. Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons.
3
The Interrogator: The Story of Hans-Joachim Scharff, Master Interrogator of the Luftwaffee
1997
By Raymond F. Toliver. Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
3
The Mighty Eighth: A History of Units, Men and Machines of the US 8th Air Force
1970
By Roger A. Freeman. Published by Orion Books.
3
The Shoe Leather Express - Book II: Luftgangsters Marching Across Germany
1986
By Joseph P. O'Donnell. Printed by Triangle Reprocenter-Hamilton.
3
Through the Eye of the Needle: 68 First-Person Accounts of Combat, Evasion and Capture by World War II Airmen
1992
Edited by Joe Consolmagno. Published by Stalag Lugt III Prisoners of War by Gateway Press, Inc.
3
War Pilot of Orange
1987
By Bram Vanderstok. Published by Pictorial Histories Publishing Co.
Magazines
1990-2012
Imperial War Museum, Duxford
1992
Published by the Imperial War Museum.
3
1
Serenade to the Big Bird: The Saga of the B-17 Flying Fortress (vol. 1)
1990
3
1
Shanghai - National Geographic
March 1994
Article "U. S. Eighth Air Force, the Wings of War" located on page 90.
3
1
The American Legion Magazine (vol. 93, no. 5)
November 1972
Article "The Flying Fortress of WW2" located on page 20.
3
1
Warbird Tech Series: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (vol. 7)
2001
By Frederick A. Johnsen.
3
1
Memories Newsletter (vol. 1-2, 5)
2000
3
2
Ex-POW Bulletin (vol. 48, no. 9)
September 1991
3
3
The AF News (vol. 94, no. 2)
May 1994
3
4
The AF News (vol. 7, no. 4)
December 2007
3
4
The AF News (vol. 8, no. 4)
December 2008
3
4
The AF News (vol. 9, no. 1)
March 2009
3
4
The AF News (vol. 10, no. 1)
March 2010
3
4
The AF News (vol. 10, no. 4)
December 2010
3
4
The AF News (vol. 11, no. 1)
March 2011
3
4
The AF News (vol. 12, no. 2)
June 2012
3
4
Series V: Videocassettes
The Village That Met Them
undated
3
100th Bombg.
undated
3
Clipped Wings
undated
3
Canadian Gardener (WWII)
undated
30 minutes.
3
Ball Turret Gunner
undated
3
Those Fine Young Men
undated
3
Stalag Luft III - Former POWS Appell Reunion
27 April 1990
Omni Hotel, Norfolk, VA.
3
The Memphis Belle
undated
Directed by William Wyler.
3
Target for Today
undated
Black-and-white, approx. 92 min.
3
Series VI: Oversize Materials
Stalag Luft III memorial poster
1943
Framed. Produced by Coors Brewing Company.
Oversize
1
Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress
1989
Framed. By Joe Milich of Lakewood, CO.
Oversize
2
Fortress Engaged
1986
The poster states:
21,000 feet over Germany, 6 March 1944, B-17's of the 100th Bomb Group intercepted head-on by Messerschmidt 109G's. In commemoration the Golden Anniversary of the B-17, "Flying Fortress," July 1935-July 1985.
Oversize
3
Moosburg collage
Framed. Various photos depicting scenes of the internment camp and libreration in Moosburg, Germany.
Oversize
4
Internment camp collage
Framed. Various photographs depicting scenes from an internment camp.
Oversize
5