It was dark now! Time to go! Again, Mami used our sled to pull us. We were on the ice. There were people, shadows, everywhere. Flares lit up the sky! Russian planes were strafing, dropping bombs on us. We saw farmers with their horses and wagons. The wagons were loaded to the top. They made good targets for the Russian planes. All around us we felt fear, horror and panic. We heard the cracking of the ice. We heard the screams of the dying, the screams of the drowning, the screams of injured horses -- a nightmare! Was this really happening??

According to Chief Marshal of the Air Force Alexander Novikov (1900-1976), Russia used Po-2 light night bombers in East Prussia, especially where manpower or smaller objects were concerned. These were actually training planes adapted to fly over targets in close formation. They flew only at night because they were defenseless against the German fighter planes. A Po-2 carried only 440 lbs. of bombs; two bombs of 220 lbs. each or four bombs of 110 lbs. each. These lightweight planes, constructed from wood and cotton percale, harassed the German people night after night through frequent and unexpected raids. I believe the Po-2's were responsible for bombing the refugees trying to escape across the ice.

Mami opened her coat and spread it around Hubert and me -- like an angel spreading its wings -- like a mother hen protecting her chicks. The three of us huddled, waited and prayed. We held onto the small cross Mami had brought along in her coat pocket.

"Lord, help us! Lord, protect us! Lord, have mercy on us sinners!" We prayed and prayed.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name!" Over and over we recited the Lord's Prayer.

After a while, German planes chased away the Russians. We could continue our flight across the ice. And then, there were the flares again! There were the Russian planes again, and there were the bombs again. Terror! Sheer terror!