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.

Gripping unknown story

Great tale of politics, espionage, strategy, history, and personal risk. Hidden by the government. Daring characters trying to do the right thing in the face of global geopolitics.

Exciting, Daring, Moving

Loved this story. It starts slow but ramps up and by the end I found myself so engaged I laughed and cried with the men who lived this.

Don't pass this up!

If you enjoy non-fiction but want it to be interesting this is a great choice. The format of the book and the author's style read more like a novel. The narration is top quality if not over-acted in some spots but overall a great listen end to end. Anyone with at least a passing interest in WWII history or untold stories should get a kick out of this.

Good history lesson

The first half of the book is basically the historical backstory, including the political angles, setting up the stage for the story of the actual rescue, which, despite being the theme of the book, is presented as almost an afterthought - in the last hour of the story.

It's not as riveting as some military history books I've read, but still, it's a good listen, and learning about the intelligence issues and the hospitality of the Yugoslavian people was worth waiting for the ending.

Fantastic

More than met my expectations. Great story true. The reader cannot anticipate the end even knowing the outcome. Easy to listen to and a thoroughly great read.

Interesting

I was very impressed with this book. It was an era of WW II not thought of and it supplied a lot of information on what occurred after the war that I experienced when growing up, which I didn't pay much attention to at that time (to young). Very enjoyable and enlightening.

Forgotten 500

Informational and very interesting, good read and get out the word about the Yugosavians. P

fascinating story well told!

listen to this story so that the brave men and women who helped the USA are remembered for what they did.

Amazing and convicting story

The greatest rescue story never told. A story of national shame on the part of western powers who turned their backs on a friend for political expediency.

my favorite so far

new to audible, I've only read about 5 or 6 books. mostly old mob stuff. a friend recommended this and I thought of give it a listen. loved it!