The Forgotten 500 Audiobook By Gregory A. Freeman cover art

The Forgotten 500

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The Forgotten 500

By: Gregory A. Freeman
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
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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. Military Wars & Conflicts World World War II Historical Nonfiction
Untold History • Fascinating Rescue • Excellent Narration • Historical Significance • Educational Content

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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.

A lot of military background -

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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!

What a history story!

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

they need to make this a movie. really amazing

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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.

Very Interesting

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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.

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