Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

Evaders


Evader chart: E0964
SGLO Date crash Aircraft
T5306 24-02-45 B-24 Liberator
MilRank First Name(s) Name
Capt. Gene Leroy Maddocks
Milregnr. Nationality Born
O-818902 American Los Angeles, California, USA, 13 Sep 1924
Returned Y/N Evader Fate Date Captured/Liberated Place Captured/Liberated Escape Line
Yes EVD 7 May 45 Blaricum -
Evader Story
						Capt. Gene Leroy Maddocks was the pilot of B-24 Liberator 42-51495. The bomber suffered from serious engine trouble during the mission to Misburg in Germany. When on the return leg the third engine stopped over the Noordoostpolder, the twelve crewmembers were forced to bail out. They all survived. Eleven crewmembers landed east of the Lemstervaart and were captured soon after. Only Maddocks, who jumped as the ultimate, came down west of the Lemstervaart, out of (direct) reach for the Germans. Probably the enemy didn't even realize there was a twelfth crew member. After he had landed Maddocks first hid himself in the high reed and on 25 February he approached the skipper of a fisher boat, the BU-33, from Spakenburg, P. Blokhuis, and his helper, W. de Jong, in the Urkervaart. Blokhuis and De Jong decided to take Maddocks to Spakenburg. Here the local schoolmaster, Duijst, took care of the American, and arranged transport to Eemnes. Another resistance worker, Wout Staal, organized the hiding of Maddocks in Blaricum. From 27 February he was hiding in the house of Family T. Kruize at Vliegweg 3b in Blaricum. Here Maddocks was liberated on 7 May 1945 by Canadian troops. On 9 May he left the area and eventually returned to England. Maddocks relisted in the USAF during the Korea War. 

Gene L. Maddocks passed away on 17 February 1973 at Los Angeles, California. He was then only 48 years old. He is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County, California, USA.						
Source(s)
* http://www.nopinoorlogstijd.nl/piloot-gene-maddocks-ontsnapt/
* National Archives, Washington, EE-3049
* NIOD, 896, Willemsen, W.J.M, inv.nr. 2, 'G.L. Maddocks'
* Jaap van der Woude, Vrijheidsmonument Eemnes (Eemnes 1987), page 108-109