06.04.2010, 21:54
One of the most daring OSS missions in history resulted in the rescue of more than 450 American airmen who had been shot down following air raids on oil installations and communications in Romania. Three waves of C-47's lifted the men to safety from a makeshift airfield only 90 miles from nazi occupied Belgrade, Yugoslavia. In subsequent missions, the total of rescued airmen reached 800.
During the first part of 1944, hundreds of Allied sorties were flown from Italian bases against the Ploesti oil complex in Romania, Hitler's most important source of oil during World War II. The losses were heavy. Since the route home led across Yugoslavia, and because the Serbian area was under the control of General Draja Mihailovich, Royal Yugoslav resistance leader, hundreds of American airmen who had to bailout over Yugoslavia were picked up by Mihailovich's fighters. The rescued airmen were thus saved from capture and imprisonment by German troops who occupied Yugoslavia.
Under cover of darkness, C-47's flew the men from the airfield. Within a radius of 20 to 30 miles from there were half a dozen German garrisons ranging in size from several hundred to several thousand men. A Luftwaffe unit was stationed at an airfield just 30 miles away.
It is believed the rescue--code named `Operation Halyard'--was one of the largest and most daring operation of its kind conducted anywhere in Axis-occupied Europe during World War II.
I think this should be made into a mission.
During the first part of 1944, hundreds of Allied sorties were flown from Italian bases against the Ploesti oil complex in Romania, Hitler's most important source of oil during World War II. The losses were heavy. Since the route home led across Yugoslavia, and because the Serbian area was under the control of General Draja Mihailovich, Royal Yugoslav resistance leader, hundreds of American airmen who had to bailout over Yugoslavia were picked up by Mihailovich's fighters. The rescued airmen were thus saved from capture and imprisonment by German troops who occupied Yugoslavia.
Under cover of darkness, C-47's flew the men from the airfield. Within a radius of 20 to 30 miles from there were half a dozen German garrisons ranging in size from several hundred to several thousand men. A Luftwaffe unit was stationed at an airfield just 30 miles away.
It is believed the rescue--code named `Operation Halyard'--was one of the largest and most daring operation of its kind conducted anywhere in Axis-occupied Europe during World War II.
I think this should be made into a mission.