The Forgotten 500 audiobook cover - The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II

The Forgotten 500

The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II

Gregory A. Freeman

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History

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The Forgotten 500
Historical Context+
The Chetniks' Heroism+
Operation Halyard+
The Great Escape+
Aftermath & Legacy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What was the primary objective of the Allied bombing sorties that led to airmen being stranded in Yugoslavia?
  • A. To destroy Nazi munitions factories in Belgrade
  • B. To target Romania's oil fields
  • C. To supply the communist Partisans with weapons
  • D. To disrupt German supply lines across the Adriatic Sea
Question 2 of 7
Why were Allied airmen initially warned to avoid the Chetniks if they parachuted into Yugoslavia?
  • A. The Chetniks were known to execute foreign soldiers on sight without trial.
  • B. The Chetniks were an elite branch of the German military.
  • C. The Chetniks were suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.
  • D. The Chetniks were fiercely communist and allied with the Soviet Union.
Question 3 of 7
What was Draža Mihailović's primary political motivation for sheltering and rescuing the downed Allied airmen?
  • A. He hoped to receive Allied support in forming a post-war government.
  • B. He wanted to secure a massive financial ransom from the US government.
  • C. He planned to recruit the Americans into his guerrilla army to fight the Partisans.
  • D. He was secretly a communist hoping to align with the Soviet Union.
Question 4 of 7
How did OSS official George Vujnovich first learn about the plight of the stranded airmen in Yugoslavia?
  • A. Through a decrypted German radio transmission intercepted in Italy.
  • B. From an urgent letter sent by his wife after she heard firsthand accounts at a party.
  • C. Via a direct radio broadcast from Draža Mihailović to Allied headquarters.
  • D. From a British intelligence spy operating deep within the Partisan ranks.
Question 5 of 7
What was a major operational challenge in constructing the improvised runway for Operation Halyard?
  • A. The constant bombardment of the area by American planes.
  • B. The refusal of the local villagers to help the Chetniks.
  • C. The work had to be done by hand at night to avoid detection by German spy planes.
  • D. The terrain was entirely swampy and could not support the weight of the planes.
Question 6 of 7
What ultimately happened to Chetnik leader Draža Mihailović after World War II ended?
  • A. He was elected as the first democratic president of Yugoslavia.
  • B. He was arrested by the communist Partisans, tried for treason, and executed.
  • C. He was secretly extracted to the United States and given a new identity.
  • D. He became a high-ranking general in Marshal Tito's new army.
Question 7 of 7
Why was the Legion of Merit, awarded posthumously to Mihailović by President Truman in 1948, kept a secret until 1967?
  • A. To protect the identities of the rescued airmen from Soviet spies.
  • B. To avoid damaging diplomatic relations with the new communist state of Yugoslavia.
  • C. Because the OSS had not fully declassified the existence of Operation Halyard.
  • D. Because the US government later discovered Mihailović actually had collaborated with the Nazis.

The Forgotten 500 — Full Chapter Overview

The Forgotten 500 Summary & Overview

The Forgotten 500 (2007) tells the story of Allied airmen who were trapped behind enemy lines in World War II and the courageous citizens of Yugoslavia who risked everything to help them get home. For political reasons, the story remained classified for decades until the 1980s. But now, the events leading to the largest rescue operation of the war are available to us all.

Who Should Listen to The Forgotten 500?

  • Any and all who are interested in the Balkans or World War II history
  • Serbians and Americans looking to learn more about their nations’ past
  • Everyone who enjoys a riveting story about people overcoming overwhelming odds

About the Author: Gregory A. Freeman

Gregory A. Freeman is a best-selling American author. He’s a leading writer in the field of narrative nonfiction. His other titles include The Gathering Wind, Sailors to the End, and The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys.

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