The Forgotten 500

By: Gregory A. Freeman

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

The astonishing, never-before-told story of the greatest rescue mission of World War II: when the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped behind enemy lines.

During a bombing campaign, hundreds of American airmen were shot down in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia. Local Serbian villagers risked their own lives to give refuge to the soldiers, and for months the airmen lived in hiding, waiting for rescue.

In 1944, Operation Halyard was born. The risks were incredible. The starving Americans in Yugoslavia had to construct a landing strip: without tools, without alerting the Germans, and without endangering the villagers. And the rescue planes had to make it through enemy airspace and back: without getting shot down themselves.

Classified for over half a century for political reasons, the full account of this unforgettable story of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and bravery is now being told for the first time. The Forgotten 500 is the breathtaking, behind-the-scenes look at the greatest escape of World War II.

©2007 Gregory A. Freeman (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Listen to This Book

This was recommended by Mom. She's 90 years old and she reads A LOT. She let's us know what's worth reading. We call it Mom's Book Club. This book comes highly recommended by Mom and I strongly encourage you to read it. You won't be disappointed that you did. I'll just leave it at that.

Patriots left to the enemy with no Allied support until the end

This is an excellent history of a large operation in a theater that goes largely unnoticed by most historians and civilians alike only because of an early mistake (printed by an enemy mole in the SOE) by FDR and later admitted and lamented by Churchill.

Saving the lives of over 600 Allied airmen was a tremendous feat and wonderfully chronicled here by Freeman. His insights into the strategic and political blindspot the west has for the balkans has repurchasing to modernity.

The tragic confusion of allegiance in the Foreign Office and the State Department ultimately led to the murder of a good and innocent man, whose saved hundreds of allied lives and fought against both Nazi and Communist tyranny in his country. Posthumously recognized as the leader of his nation with the legion of merit by Truman and Eisenhower and the men he saved.

Extremely well written and well narrated

This was my first in-depth read about this period in history, and it explained things very well. Obviously I’ll want to read more so as to get a broad perspective, but this was a great starter!

Great historical narrative!

So much great history that has been hidden and forgotten for so many years! Well read and captivating deep dives into the lives of those key individuals who made project Hallyard possible.

How many others out there?

What an incredible story! I can only hope it will continue to be spread. Maybe Tom Hanks will see to it becoming a feature film.

A lot of military background -

I liked the portion of the book really focused on the rescue itself and then the prologue on the aftermath. But it took a long time to get that section. The majority of the book spends a lot of time on the background and information of the "politics" at the time. When I read the overview of the book, I assumed it would primarily be on the rescue itself - but there are a lot of chapters that are interesting if your heavily into WWII - but didn't see totally relavant to the heart of the story.

What a history story!

Even if you are not into WWII, you will love this. It has action, history, joy, sorrow, ups and downs. What a tale! The best thing about it is that it is true. I'm so glad to have listened to this and learned more about the Greatest Generation from the US and now from Yugoslavia!

they need to make this a movie. really amazing

Amazing book they need to make this a movie , Truly amazing story and very well-done audio book

Very Interesting

Very good story of something many people may not know about. Also some information about Tito and how he usurpped control of Yugoslavia and some of things about the problems the US faced during the cold war. However most is about great civilians and the soldiers they helped to rescue. Touching story of those special moments that soldiers retain forever and how governments get in the way and create future problems.

Get it..

I didn't want this book to end. Incredible story with acts of valor throughout. It made me want to travel to Yugoslavia, find the families of those who helped the airmen and bless them with whatever they need.