The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission

The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II", by Gregory A. Freeman, is an engaging story of which I was not familiar prior to reading this book. It is the story of the hundreds of airman who were shot down on missions over the oil refineries in Romania which the Germans were tremendously dependent upon during the war. Many of these airmen ended up in Yugoslavia, some were captured by the Germans, a few ended up with Tito's forces, but many more ended up with the Serbian Guerilla forces under the leadership of General Draza Mihailovich. Those lucky enough to be with Mihailovich found themselves engaged in one of the greatest allied force rescues behind enemy lines throughout the entire war. This was OPERATION HALYARD, and that is the primary story told in the book. However, many other stories are told as well: the escape from Nazi occupied Serbia, the employment into the newly established OSS, the story of Allied Airmen and their aircraft. One of the tragedies at the end of the story is the Allied support of Tito over Mihailovich due to the many Soviet sympathizers s in the OSS and among the British forces. Mihailovich ended up being executed by Tito after the war. All and all, this is a very good read. If you think you know all the major stories of WWII, try this read. It may surprise you.