Publisher's Synopsis
A World War Two air battle over Southern France in July of 1944 sets the stage for several heroic stories, carefully woven into an historical narrative. Indeed, as told by both the downed American airmen as well as the maquisards who rescued them, these stories provide a keen insight into the workings of Resistance fighters who contributed ultimately to the defeat of the occupying Nazis. The eight American airmen, while escaping capture for six weeks, participated shoulder to shoulder with the British-directed Buckmaster Network in dangerous parachute drops. These and other clandestine operations are described in vivid detail and with amazing consistency by the Americans and Frenchmen who dared to challenge German authority.
But efforts were not without their hardships, from clashes with the communist faction of the Resistance and even those directly under General de Gaulle, to the irritating domination of the French Vichy and its milice. The climax of such efforts to survive came with the near-fatal raid of the Mirabeau maquis camp by the occupying Nazi forces.
Personal stories are often moving, and there are several in this book. For example, tail gunner Walter Wilson jumped rather awkwardly from the American B-24 bomber and, after sustaining life-threatening injuries, was saved by Gilbert Gay, who placed Wilson on a crudely-made stretcher and then hid him in a cave. It was during those first few minutes on the ground when the first of several encounters with British spies occurred. So it was that, ultimately, three of the War's most famous British Agents--Roger, Raymond, and Pauline (codenames), crossed paths with the Americans.
Here are a few excerpts.
As I drifted down, one of the attacking ME-109's made a sharp turn and came back within fifty feet of me. The German pilot waved; I waved back. --Paul Hooge, B-24 flight engineer, Written Narrative Account, 1944
We put Walter on a make-shift stretcher to move him to the Delevy Farm. His parachute was still under him to help make him comfortable. --Gilbert Gay, former maquisard, interview of July 1996
When I saw the Germans starting to dig a grave out next to a nearby stream, I worked up my courage, approached them, and offered to help. They handed me the shovel, but I said I would like to organize a Christian burial. They didn't answer but turned and left me alone. --Felix Reynaud--FFI Resistance leader in La Tour d'Aigues, interview of July 1996
Roger had just asked me if it would be possible to form a Resistance group and find a suitable site where airplanes could drop supplies. I said I would do it if Andre Marcel would help me. He knew the woods like no other person. --Francis Moucan, Buckmaster Network cell leader, in "Account by Francis Moucan," Pertuis (France) Archives
The book contains twenty chapters and also has an extensive bibliography of both primary and secondary sources. The chapter headings are: View from Below, Shaping the Vision, Jenny Doesn't Like Chocolate--What's This All About? Gilbert Gay--Musician and Resistance Fighter, The Broad Perspective, Flying the Wild Blue Yonder, Marcel Andre Freedom Fighter Extraordinaire, The Air Battle over La Tour d'Aigues, The Crash at La Tour d'Aigues, From Plane to Ground, Saving Walter Wilson, The Gathering of the Crew, Americans in Mirabeau, Resistance and Assistance in La Tour d'Aigues, Patriotism in the Vineyards, The People of La Tour d'Aigues, The Navigator's Tale, British Agents: Roger, Raymond, and Pauline. Epilogue, and Reflection.
