Letters POW During the Train Attack

My brother-in-law was in the 101st Airborne and fought during the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken prisoner on Christmas Day 1944 and held at Stalag 12-A. In early March, the Germans began evacuating the camp, transporting the Allied prisoners by train further into Germany. The train my brother-in-law was on did not have the letters POW written on top and the train drew the attention of Allied aircraft who began to attack unaware that the train was full of American prisoners. The engineer of the train was able to drive the train into a tunnel where it remained for three days- with the prisoners locked inside of the boxcars the entire time.

After three days had passed the train attempted to continue its journey but was once again spotted by American aircraft and attacked, this time blowing up at least one of the boxcars. During the attack, the American prisoners began to break out of the boxcars and some of them stripped off their shirts and formed the letters "POW" with their bodies. The pilots of the American aircraft then realized that this was a POW train and ceased their attack.


My brother-in-law told me this story countless times over the years and I believe that this must be the same incident that is portrayed in this film.

Also, my sister-in-law insists that there was a photo taken from one of the planes of the prisoners forming the letters "POW" with their bodies.

I am wondering if anyone has ever seen a photo such as I have described? My brother-in-law passed away five years ago and I would love to be able to obtain a copy of this photo for my sister-in-law.

Thank you.