On July 7, 1944 Lt. Ted L. Weaver flew the B-24 Liberator Bomber named "Full House" into a fierce air battle over Bernberg, Germany to bomb an aircraft factory. Full house was shot down and Ted was the only member of his crew not captured or killed. He made contact with the Dutch resistance who helped him evade capture until Holland was liberated nine months later. Tribute: The Twenty-third Mission honors those Dutch Patriots and asks each of us to consider two questions: Have you ever needed the compassion of a total stranger? Have you ever given a stranger an unexpected kindness? A time will come in your life when your character will be put to the test. How will you respond? Will you be a force for good or will you be a force for self?
Visitors to Circlet of Silver
Lt. Ted L. Weaver & Sylvia Moray
October 1943 - Ted & Sylvia became engaged but decided to wait until Ted returned from his tour of duty in Europe to be married.
42-99966 W: B-24J Liberator Bomber of the 8th Army Air Corps, 44th Bomb Group.
Full House was not one of Ted's favorite ships. She had taken a direct hit from 20mm Flak in the starboard main wing spar and Ted just didn't like the way she handled. Despite that and a few other equipment problems, Ted and his crew took off from Shipdham, England with the 68th Squadron to attack an aircraft factory in Bernberg, Germany.
"We were told to expect heavy flak and determined fighter resistance."
"With only one engine left pulling, Full House could not stay in the sky. Right on cue those two starboard engines caught fire."
Berend Shoemaker
Ted landed in Berend's wheat field and he hid Ted's parachute and flight gear helping Ted evade capture by the German Army.
Jan & Rien Roorda - Dutch resistance members.
Ted hid in the Roorda family home for the first two weeks of his nine months in Holland. Jan was arrested many times by the Gestapo before finally being sentenced to execution. He was saved from the firing squad by the Canadian Army.
Adrian, Koos, Annie, Henny & Ted.
The Von Egmonds hid Ted in their attic for three months. The typical Nazi response to finding an allied soldier hiding in a Dutch home was to execute the entire family on the front lawn and burn the house down.
Jan Roorda gave this admonition to Shaun in 1974 when he was 14 years old. It is to fulfill this charge that Mr. Weaver gives TRIBUTE. It is his sincere desire that we not forget the sacrifices that were made to purchase and preserve the freedoms we too often take for granted. Come have your hope and faith in the goodness of people renewed; come hear TRIBUTE.
