The Flight of Eagles: USAAF Evasion in Occupied Europe: December 1943
Book Details
Author(s)Ray Bowden
PublisherUSAAF Nose Art Research Project
ISBN / ASINB00AKVM660
ISBN-13978B00AKVM668
Sales Rank1,953,721
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
Of the 1700 American airmen of the 8th and 9th US Army Air Forces who parachuted or crash landed into northwest Europe in December 1943 only121 evaders made it back to Allied control to continue the fight.
These are the stories of the successful evasion of capture by those American airmen. Based on their interrogation and the detailed handwritten reports submitted within days of their escape by sea or via Spain, Andorra and Switzerland. These records were classified as secret for many years after the war had ended. This account reveals the hardships, compassion and occasional humour of their journeys through Nazi-controlled Europe. Journeys aided by the organised evasion lines, MI-9 agents, the Maquis, the Dutch Underground, the Belgian Secret Army but mostly by ordinary citizens who often made the greatest sacrifices of all in their struggle to aid the Allies and resist the occupation by a ruthless regime that would stop at nothing to crush those who dared to help.
These accounts include twists and turns in the deadly game of hide and seek played against the Gestapo and the Abwehr in journeys through the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Spain. Failure could mean brutal interrogation, torture and execution for those that helped the airmen – and for the airmen themselves.
Ray Bowden is known internationally for his detailed research into USAAF aviation nose art and the histories of the aircraft, crews and artists involved. He established the USAAF Nose Art Research Project and has written four previous books: Plane Names & Fancy Noses (91st Bomb Group); Plane Names & Bloody Noses (100th Bomb Group); Tales to Noses over Berlin and Merseburg: Blood, Flak & Oil.
These are the stories of the successful evasion of capture by those American airmen. Based on their interrogation and the detailed handwritten reports submitted within days of their escape by sea or via Spain, Andorra and Switzerland. These records were classified as secret for many years after the war had ended. This account reveals the hardships, compassion and occasional humour of their journeys through Nazi-controlled Europe. Journeys aided by the organised evasion lines, MI-9 agents, the Maquis, the Dutch Underground, the Belgian Secret Army but mostly by ordinary citizens who often made the greatest sacrifices of all in their struggle to aid the Allies and resist the occupation by a ruthless regime that would stop at nothing to crush those who dared to help.
These accounts include twists and turns in the deadly game of hide and seek played against the Gestapo and the Abwehr in journeys through the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Spain. Failure could mean brutal interrogation, torture and execution for those that helped the airmen – and for the airmen themselves.
About the Author
Ray Bowden is known internationally for his detailed research into USAAF aviation nose art and the histories of the aircraft, crews and artists involved. He established the USAAF Nose Art Research Project and has written four previous books: Plane Names & Fancy Noses (91st Bomb Group); Plane Names & Bloody Noses (100th Bomb Group); Tales to Noses over Berlin and Merseburg: Blood, Flak & Oil.
