Captured by Italians and Germans, but listed as MIA

Remi DeLouche, a B-25 co-pilot, was shot down over Italy in 1943 and managed to be captured by the Italians, freed and then captured by the Germans without his family ever getting word that he was anything other than missing in action. He ended up at Stalag Luft III shortly after the Great Escape.


http://ww2thebigone.com/2016/04/05/missing-in-action/

 

Nice story indeed. The Mia is not surprising. The general rule was one year after one went missing before declaring him dead. The Red Cross did not have the opportunity to get info from the Italinians because of the swithch of power and the escape . Then the Germans captured the group again and probably figured the Italians had sent the initial info already. What I don't understand is the fact that Sagan soldiers were allowed to write letters and parcels , so how come he did not send the info himself?