Aircraft Down!: Evading Capture in WWII Europe - Hardcover

Caine, Philip D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1574880861 ISBN 13: 9781574880861

Publisher: University of Nebraska Press, 1997

Synopsis

Presents six actual World War II evasion stories, providing maps and photographs which enable the reader to follow the downed airmen's paths to safety

About this title

About the Author

Brig. Gen. Philip D. Caine, USAF (Ret.), has more than 4,500 hours of flight time, taught military history at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and is the author of American Pilots in the RAF (Brassey’s, Inc., 1993) and Aircraft Down! Evading Capture in WWII Europe (Brassey’s, Inc., 1997). He lives in Monument, Colorado.

Review

"AIRCRAFT DOWN! covers a neglected area of WWII aviation history and covers it well. Although there have been other books on evaders, none have gone into so much detail, enabling the reader virtually to share the courage, fear, ingenuity, and luck of the downed airmen. Despite this detail, it is very readable and spiced with humor. Additionally, the willingness of the underground and the general population of the occupied areas to help the evaders at the risk of their own lives is inspiring. This is an excellent book, and I recommend it highly." Donald S. Lopez, deputy director, National Air and Space Museum "Thrilling . . . These suspenseful, personal accounts of heroism, resourcefulness and sacrifice will appeal to everyone with a taste for true stories of courage in the face of grave danger." THE STARS AND STRIPES "General Caine knows his subject well. No evader will be able to read AIRCRAFT DOWN! without vividly reliving his own harrowing experience-the loneliness, the fear, the physical hardships, the boredom, the hunger, and the concern for his rescuers, the brave men and women of the resistance. Non-evaders will come away with an understanding of the resourcefulness and courage of the resistance members and of the patience and fortitude of these Allied airmen, who performed above and beyond the call of duty. I am pleased that he would choose to shed light on this little-known aspect of the air war in Europe." Ralph K. Patton, chairman, Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 1574880861
• ISBN 13: 9781574880861
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 285