Includes bibliographical references (pages 253-261) and index.
Contents:
Part I. Beginnings -- Reconnecting: the "search" trip -- Beginning at sixteen -- Only one jump...ever -- Part II. The crew and first days down -- A whistle signal -- Betrayed by the gendarmes -- "Are you Hebrew?" -- Cognac and eggs -- Meeting up with buddies -- Meeting in a shack -- A casket and a bicycle -- Part III. The helpers and the enemy -- Processing in Frankfurt am Main -- Living with the Videls -- "Get the hell out of here" -- Sitting around a French fireplace -- An engineer's home, a dress shop, and a root cellar -- A squeaky wheel -- Life in Stalag Luft III -- 11, Rue de Saussaies, Gestapo Headquarters, Paris -- Fresnes prison, Paris -- Dulag Luft and the forty-and eights -- Stalag Luft IV, Deeper into Germany -- Angels watching over -- Troop train and a brave man -- The Captain -- "Frisco" -- The theater and the stress of POW camp -- One more day -- Steaming clothes on a stove -- The Chief of Police and Giselle -- A train full of Germans -- Maurice Baverel, a spy for all seasons -- Dr. Charlin and the five-horsepower Peugeot -- Part IV. The final push out -- Worsening conditions -- The Black Death March -- A small miracle -- Swiss surprise -- Enough of Switzerland -- Rowboat ride at midnight -- Part V. Going home -- George Starks and the Green Hornet -- Irv Baum and Ted Badder -- Dick Morse -- Bill Wyatt with Don Edgerly and Bob Williams -- Andy Brenden with Wally Trinder -- Dale Beery and William Wallace -- Part VI. Finding old friends -- Reconnecting, 1969 -- On to Pontarlier -- The Boillots and Dr. Charlin -- Back with Mike, 1970 -- More visits with friends -- Reunion with the Crew.
Summary:
Taking off from England on March 16, 1944, young Lt. George Starks and the nine-man crew of his Flying Fortress were assigned to the "coffin corner," the most exposed position in the bomber formation headed for Germany. They never got there. Shot down over Nazi-occupied France, the airmen bailed out one by one, scattered across the countryside. Miraculously, all ten survived, but as they discarded their parachutes in the farmland of Champagne, their wartime odyssey was only beginning. The crewmen faced injury, betrayal, captivity, hunger and depression. It was nothing short of miraculous that all ten came home at the end of the war. George Starks emerged from his ordeal with two passions - to stay in touch with his crew whatever the obstacles and to return to France to find and thank the brave souls to whom he owed his life. His enduring loyalty enabled him to do both. - from Publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.