The Forgotten 500 - Serbs Rescued 500 American Pilots in World War II

Above: In this 1991 photo the banner reads that the 500 American pilots were rescued by Serbs during WWII. This banner was carried by surviving American pilots rescued by Serbs in WWII in the military parade "Desert Storm" in New York City, celebrating the victory over Iraq. In the center of the photo is Major Feldman, American pilot rescued by Serbs during WWII. He carried the banner in the "Desert Storm" parade in New York City, 1991. Photo by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, 1991.

"Desert Storm" Military Parade in New York City in 1991 where the banner above was carried through the City of New York

Above: A New York City Parade, National Guard troops from participation in Desert Shield/Storm, 1991. Image from New York State Military Museum.

Above: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II
"An amazing but unknown World War II adventure story."
"It will take your breath away."
"Destined to become required reading for serious students of the Second World War." "Reads like a fast paced novel."
"A riveting account... superbly told."

One of the last untold stories of World War II is also one of the greatest - a story of adventure, daring, danger and heroics, followed by a web of conspiracy, lies, and coverup.

THE FORGOTTEN 500 is one of the greatest rescue and escape stories ever, but hardly anyone has heard about it. And that's by design. The U.S., British, and Yugoslav governments hid details of this story for decades, purposefully denying credit to the heroic rescuers and the foreign ally who gave his life to help allied airmen as they were hunted down by Nazis in the hills of Yugoslavia.

THE FORGOTTEN 500 tells the story of "Halyard Mission" in 1944, the largest rescue ever of downed American airmen. More than 500 U.S. airmen were rescued, along with some from other countries, all right under the noses of the Germans, and mostly in broad daylight. The mission was a complete success - the kind that should have been trumpeted in news reels and on the front page. (By comparison, the famed escape of allied prisoners from a German POW camp portrayed in the movie "The Great Escape" involved 200 men, and only 76 were successful.)

It is a little known episode that started with one edge-of-your seat rescue in August 1944, followed by a series of additional rescues in the following months. American agents from the OSS, the precursor of the CIA, worked with a Serbian guerilla, General Draza Mihailovich, to carry out the huge, ultra-secret rescue mission.

THE FORGOTTEN 500 weaves together the tales of a dozen young airmen shot down in the hills of Yugoslavia during bombing runs, and the five secret agents who conducted their amazing rescue. These are the stories of young men who were eager to join the war and fight the Germans, even finding excitement in the often deadly trips from Italy to bomb German oil fields in Romania, but who found themselves parachuting out of crippled planes and into the arms of strange, rough looking villagers in a country they knew nothing about. They soon found out that the local Serbs were willing to sacrifice their own lives to keep the downed airmen out of German hands, but they still wondered if anyone was coming for them or if they would spend the rest of the war hiding from German patrols and barely surviving on goat's milk and bread made with hay to make it more filling.

When OSS agents in Italy heard of the stranded airmen, they began planning an elaborate and previously unheard of rescue - the Americans would send in a fleet of C-47 cargo planes to land in the hills of Yugoslavia, behind enemy lines, to pluck out hundreds of airmen. It was audacious and risky beyond belief, but there was no other way to get those boys out of German territory. The list of challenges and potential problems seemed never ending: the airmen had to evade capture until the rescue could be organized, they had to build an airstrip large enough for C-47s without any tools and without the Germans finding out, and then the planes had to make it in and out without being shot down.

THE FORGOTTEN 500 takes the reader along on this suspenseful adventure, while also explaining how the Yugoslav guerilla fighter who made it all possible was betrayed by his western allies. THE FORGOTTEN 500 is the story of young men struggling to make it back home to their families, and their decades-long quest to acknowledge the secret agents and the foreign soldiers who risked all for them.

Long silenced by the governments of several nations, the full story of "Halyard Mission" and the young men who risked everything for their fellow soldiers is revealed for the first time in this book.

The photos below were taken from the book "The Forgotten 500" by Gregory A. Freeman:

In my American Legion article last month, I wrote of the 500 American airmen rescued during WWII by the anti-Nazi guerilla forces of the Serbian commander Draza Mihailovich and the U.S. troops who coordinated with him in what was arguably the greatest but never-spoken-of rescue mission of the war. I am heartened to be able to announce the release on August 28th of a book titled The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All For the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II:

Book Description
An astonishing, never-before-told story of the Second World War, based on newly declassified documents and exclusive interviews. In 1944 the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia. Classified for over half a century for political reasons, the full account of this unforgettable story of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and bravery is now being told for the first time.

About the Author
Gregory A. Freeman is an award-winning writer with over 25 years in journalism. He is the author of Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It.

Last month I published two letters from a gentleman who was part of the rescue mission and is featured prominently in the book, Arthur Jibilian. He had written me after reading the Legion article:

Thank you for your article on THE BALKAN BLOWBACK in the July issue of the AMERICAN LEGION! I parachuted into Mihailovich (Serb) territory in August,1944, to evacuate shot down American airmen.

We “saved” over 500 American airmen…..made possible with the help of Gen. Draja Mihailovich and the Serbian people, many who lost their lives protecting and hiding our boys. I have been trying to clear Mihailovich’s name for over 60 year, but no one is willing to listen.

Again, my heartfelt gratitude,
Arthur Jibilian

Second Letter:

Richard Felman was in the first contingent of 250 Americans evacuated on Aug. 9 and 10, 1944, I believe. I spent almost six months with General Mihailovich, during which time he “funneled” over 500 American airmen to us so that we were able to evacuate them back to Italy.

I was a member of the small contingent that had the honor of presenting the Legion of Merit to Mihailovich’s daughter in May, 2005. VERY little publicity attended this event……it was almost like another one of our OSS secret missions!!!!! In addition, I had the pleasure of presenting her with an album of the "Halyard Mission" that I had made copies of for this express purpose.

I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that, had Mihailovich been a collaborator, 500 American airmen, four members of the "Halyard Mission", and three members of the RANGER MISSION, together with a three member medical team, would have been turned over to the Germans……

As the last survivor of the "Halyard Mission", and on behalf of those who are no longer able to, I say “thank you, and God bless”.

Arthur “Jibby” Jibilian

Jibilian in 1945, and in 1999

Jibilian kneeling in front, middle; Mihailovich directly behind him (the shorter one).

How the men of the Halyard and Ranger missions slept

Mihailovich’s daughter, Gordana Mihailovich, accepting her father’s Legion of Merit.

In 1979, California Governor Ronald Reagan wrote the following letter:

Mr. Michael Radenkovich
Vice President
California Citizens’ Committee to
Commemorate General Mihailovich

Dear Mr. Radenkovich:

Please convey to the California Citizen’s Committee to Commemorate General Draja Mihailovich my sincere appreciation for their kind invitation to attend tonight’s dinner to commemorate General Mihailovich. Unfortunately, prior committments prevent me from being with you.

I believe that the spirit in which you have gathered here to honor the memory of General Mihailovich, the faithful allied commander and the first anti-Nazi leader in Europe, is shared by the great majority of Americans.

The ultimate tragedy of Draza Mihailovich cannot erase the memory of his heroic and often lonely struggle against the twin tyrannies that afflicted his people, Nazism and Communism. He knew that totalitarianism, whatever name it might take, is the death of freedom. He thus became a symbol of resistance to all those across the world who have had to fight a similar heroic and lonely struggle against totalitarianism. Mihailovich belonged to Yugoslavia; his spirit now belongs to all those who are willing to fight for freedom.
…
Thus, the fate of General Mihailovich is not simply of historic significance — it teaches us something today, as well. No western nation, including the United States, can hope to win its own battle for freedom and survival by sacrificing brave comrades to the politics of international expediency.

Your dinner therefore commemorates something more than the legacy of patriotism and heroism that Mihailovich left us. You commemorate the principles for which he fought and died. And you remind our nation that abandonment of allies can never buy security or freedom. In the mountains of Yugoslavia, in the jungles of Vietnam, wherever men and women have fought totalitarian brutality, it has been demonstrated beyond doubt that both freedom and honor suffer when firm commitments become sacrificed to false hopes of appeasing aggressors by abandoning friends.

Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan

Tesla Memorial Society of New York is grateful to Mrs. Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & TV of New York for her contributions of information for the book "The Forgotten 500".

Meeting with Minister of Diaspora, Srdjan Sreckovic, and Secretary of State , Miodrag Jaksic, at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008:

Above (from left to right): Miodrag Jaksic - Secretary of State of Serbia, Srdjan Sreckovic - Minister of Diaspora, Dr. Ljubo Vujovic - Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, Dusica Protic - lawyer, and Nenad Milinkovic - President of the Board of the Serbian Orthodox Church in New York at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008. Photo by Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & Television, New York.

Above (from left to right): Ms. Zarubica - new Serbian Consul in New York, Miodrag Jaksic - Secretary of State of Serbia, Srdjan Sreckovic - Minister of Diaspora and Dr. Ljubo Vujovic - Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008. Photo by Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & Television, New York.

Above (from left to right): Miodrag Jaksic - Secretary of State of Serbia, Srdjan Sreckovic - Minister of Diaspora, Dr. Ljubo Vujovic - Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York and Dusica Protic - lawyer, at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008. Dr. Ljubo Vujovic presented to the Minister of Diaspora, Srdjan Sreckovic, the book "The Forgotten 500" and a photo of Major Feldman, an American pilot rescued by Serbs during WWII holding a banner with the text "We're some of the 500 American WW II MIAs rescued by Yugoslavian Serbs". Photo by Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & Television, New York.

Above: Milan Lucic - Serbian Radio and Television, New York. Took photos of the event.

Above: Father Djokan Majstorovic (in the center) was also present in the event. Dara Lucic (woman to the far left with camera in hand) - Serbian Radio and Television, also took photos of the event.

Promotion of the book -"The Forgotten 500" - in St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Manhattan, New York City, September 7, 2008.

Above: Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City.

Above: Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City.

Above: Church Hall by the Serbian Orthodox St. Sava Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City.

Above: Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City.

Above: Promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan. From left to right: Djordje Brozak - member of the Church Board, Mr. Brozak is the initiator for the promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500". Next, George Vujnovich - who during World War II was the coordinator for the rescue of American pilots in Serbia,. Mr. Vujnovich is a Serb, born in the United States, was at that time a Major in the US army. Mr. Vujnovich is a Serbian-American hero from WWII. The third from the left is Milos Prica - Ambassador of Bosnia and Hercegovina by the United Nations, New York. Lastly, on the far right is V Rev. Toma Popovic.

Above: Mrs. Knezevic, Board Member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church speaking at the promotion ceremony of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City, September 7, 2008.

Above: Dr. Milos Prica, Ambassador of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Dr. Prica spoke at the promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan.

Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York also spoke at the promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan. Dr. Vujovic took the photo of Major Feldman, American pilot rescued by Serbs during WWII carrying the banner in the "Desert Storm" (first photo of this section) parade in New York City, 1991.

The Belgrade Book Fair, one of the biggest in Europe, took place on October 20, 2008. The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the book "The Forgotten 500" and the photo of the banner "Serbs Rescue 500 American Pilots". Also displayed, the book "Tribute to Nikola Tesla" by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York.

Above: "The Forgotten 500" and the banner "Serbs Rescue 500 American Pilots". Photo by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, 1991.

Above: The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the book "The Forgotten 500".

Above: The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the photo of the banner "Serbs Rescue 500 American Pilots". Photo by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, 1991.

Above: Sign for the Diaspera book stand.
Serbian translated to english - "Government of Serbia - Ministry of Diaspera".

Above: The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the book "The Forgotten 500" and "Tribute to Nikola Tesla" by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York.

"Just finished a great book called "The Forgotten 500" by Gregory Freeman.

It recounts a risky rescue mission launched during WWII to save over 500 American and Allied flyers who had bailed out over Yugoslavia. The airmen were saved by the local Serbia people. The Serbs saved them from the Nazis at great personal risk. And fed from their meager rations. Many Serbs died for harboring US airmen. The leader of the Serbs was an anti Nazi guerilla; Draza Mihailovich.

With the help of Mihailovich's fighters a high mountain plateau is turned into a small landing field. The OSS in spite of British opposition mounts a rescue mission that involves landing C-47s on the short runway. The runway was prepared by the local peasants and downed airmen using rudimentary farm tools. The airstrip was only 12 miles from Nazi encampments. It is an exciting and tense drama.

The book also recounts how the US and it's allies turned their back on Mihailovich. Primarily because of the disinformation provided by communists and their sympathizers in both US and British ranks. He points out "Far more numerous than the Communists, and infinitely more numerous that the committed agents, were the muddleheaded liberals who shares a nebulous feeling that they too were serving the cause of progress.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in WWII missions or how the US lost the Eastern block to Stalin." -- by Roger B. Jestel "Highland"

"President Ronald Reagan's quote in the book states it best: "...the fate of General Mihailovich is not simply of historic significance-it teaches us something today as well. No Western nation, including the United States, can hope to win its own battle for freedom and survival by sacrificing brave comrades to the politics of international expediency."
Another great title to this book could have been: Allie Betrayed! I still can't believe Americas betrayal. Mihailovich was "Time" Magazines man of the year in 1942, won the highest U.S. award given to a foriegn national called "The Legion of Merit" under recommendation of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, had the #1 war movie made about him starring Phillip Dorn in 1943 called "The Fighting Chetniks", (which some how can't be found any more), and abandoned him at a mock trial when HUNDREDS of these rescued airmen begged to tell their story! All this, as President Reagan stated: "for political expediency". WOW, I can't wait for the movie. This was an excellant reading, easy and exciting. I just could not put it down!!! ENJOY" -- by Sam Subotich

Speech (in Serbian) by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, over Radio Belgrade on September 12, 2008 about the Forgotten 500



Welcome to the Tesla Memorial Society of New York Website
Serbs Rescued 500 American Pilots in World War II http://teslasociety.com/500.htm Above: In this 1991 photo the banner reads that the 500 American pilots were rescued by Serbs during WWII. This banner was carried by surviving American pilots rescued by Serbs in WWII in the military parade "Desert Storm" in New York City, celebrating the victory over Iraq. In the center of the photo is Major Feldman, American pilot rescued by Serbs during WWII. He carried the banner in the "Desert Storm" parade in New York City, 1991. Photo by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, 1991. "Desert Storm" Military Parade in New York City in 1991 where the banner above was carried through the City of New York Above: A New York City Parade, National Guard troops from participation in Desert Shield/Storm, 1991. Image from New York State Military Museum. Above: Desert Storm Parade. Image from Cindy Roesinger. Above: The Forgotten 500 The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II "An amazing but unknown World War II adventure story." "It will take your breath away." "Destined to become required reading for serious students of the Second World War." "Reads like a fast paced novel." "A riveting account... superbly told." The following text was taken from http://www.gregoryafreeman.com/500.html : One of the last untold stories of World War II is also one of the greatest - a story of adventure, daring, danger and heroics, followed by a web of conspiracy, lies, and coverup. THE FORGOTTEN 500 is one of the greatest rescue and escape stories ever, but hardly anyone has heard about it. And that's by design. The U.S., British, and Yugoslav governments hid details of this story for decades, purposefully denying credit to the heroic rescuers and the foreign ally who gave his life to help allied airmen as they were hunted down by Nazis in the hills of Yugoslavia. THE FORGOTTEN 500 tells the story of "Halyard Mission" in 1944, the largest rescue ever of downed American airmen. More than 500 U.S. airmen were rescued, along with some from other countries, all right under the noses of the Germans, and mostly in broad daylight. The mission was a complete success - the kind that should have been trumpeted in news reels and on the front page. (By comparison, the famed escape of allied prisoners from a German POW camp portrayed in the movie "The Great Escape" involved 200 men, and only 76 were successful.) It is a little known episode that started with one edge-of-your seat rescue in August 1944, followed by a series of additional rescues in the following months. American agents from the OSS, the precursor of the CIA, worked with a Serbian guerilla, General Draza Mihailovich, to carry out the huge, ultra-secret rescue mission. THE FORGOTTEN 500 weaves together the tales of a dozen young airmen shot down in the hills of Yugoslavia during bombing runs, and the five secret agents who conducted their amazing rescue. These are the stories of young men who were eager to join the war and fight the Germans, even finding excitement in the often deadly trips from Italy to bomb German oil fields in Romania, but who found themselves parachuting out of crippled planes and into the arms of strange, rough looking villagers in a country they knew nothing about. They soon found out that the local Serbs were willing to sacrifice their own lives to keep the downed airmen out of German hands, but they still wondered if anyone was coming for them or if they would spend the rest of the war hiding from German patrols and barely surviving on goat's milk and bread made with hay to make it more filling. When OSS agents in Italy heard of the stranded airmen, they began planning an elaborate and previously unheard of rescue - the Americans would send in a fleet of C-47 cargo planes to land in the hills of Yugoslavia, behind enemy lines, to pluck out hundreds of airmen. It was audacious and risky beyond belief, but there was no other way to get those boys out of German territory. The list of challenges and potential problems seemed never ending: the airmen had to evade capture until the rescue could be organized, they had to build an airstrip large enough for C-47s without any tools and without the Germans finding out, and then the planes had to make it in and out without being shot down. Could it really be done? No one knew, but they were going to try. THE FORGOTTEN 500 takes the reader along on this suspenseful adventure, while also explaining how the Yugoslav guerilla fighter who made it all possible was betrayed by his western allies. THE FORGOTTEN 500 is the story of young men struggling to make it back home to their families, and their decades-long quest to acknowledge the secret agents and the foreign soldiers who risked all for them. Long silenced by the governments of several nations, the full story of "Halyard Mission" and the young men who risked everything for their fellow soldiers is revealed for the first time in this book. THE FORGOTTEN 500 is truly the greatest World War II story never told. The photos below were taken from the book "The Forgotten 500" by Gregory A. Freeman: August 19th 2007 04:59:43 AM The Forgotten 500 Posted by Julia under Republican Riot In my American Legion article last month, I wrote of the 500 American airmen rescued during WWII by the anti-Nazi guerilla forces of the Serbian commander Draza Mihailovich and the U.S. troops who coordinated with him in what was arguably the greatest but never-spoken-of rescue mission of the war. I am heartened to be able to announce the release on August 28th of a book titled The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All For the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II: Book Description An astonishing, never-before-told story of the Second World War, based on newly declassified documents and exclusive interviews. In 1944 the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia. Classified for over half a century for political reasons, the full account of this unforgettable story of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and bravery is now being told for the first time. About the Author Gregory A. Freeman is an award-winning writer with over 25 years in journalism. He is the author of Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It. Last month I published two letters from a gentleman who was part of the rescue mission and is featured prominently in the book, Arthur Jibilian. He had written me after reading the Legion article: Thank you for your article on THE BALKAN BLOWBACK in the July issue of the AMERICAN LEGION! I parachuted into Mihailovich (Serb) territory in August,1944, to evacuate shot down American airmen. We “saved” over 500 American airmen…..made possible with the help of Gen. Draja Mihailovich and the Serbian people, many who lost their lives protecting and hiding our boys. I have been trying to clear Mihailovich’s name for over 60 year, but no one is willing to listen. Again, my heartfelt gratitude, Arthur Jibilian Second Letter: Richard Felman was in the first contingent of 250 Americans evacuated on Aug. 9 and 10, 1944, I believe. I spent almost six months with General Mihailovich, during which time he “funneled” over 500 American airmen to us so that we were able to evacuate them back to Italy. I was a member of the small contingent that had the honor of presenting the Legion of Merit to Mihailovich’s daughter in May, 2005. VERY little publicity attended this event……it was almost like another one of our OSS secret missions!!!!! In addition, I had the pleasure of presenting her with an album of the "Halyard Mission" that I had made copies of for this express purpose. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that, had Mihailovich been a collaborator, 500 American airmen, four members of the "Halyard Mission", and three members of the RANGER MISSION, together with a three member medical team, would have been turned over to the Germans…… As the last survivor of the "Halyard Mission", and on behalf of those who are no longer able to, I say “thank you, and God bless”. Arthur “Jibby” Jibilian Jibilian in 1945, and in 1999 Jibilian kneeling in front, middle; Mihailovich directly behind him (the shorter one). How the men of the Halyard and Ranger missions slept Mihailovich’s daughter, Gordana Mihailovich, accepting her father’s Legion of Merit. In 1979, California Governor Ronald Reagan wrote the following letter: Mr. Michael Radenkovich Vice President California Citizens’ Committee to Commemorate General Mihailovich Dear Mr. Radenkovich: Please convey to the California Citizen’s Committee to Commemorate General Draja Mihailovich my sincere appreciation for their kind invitation to attend tonight’s dinner to commemorate General Mihailovich. Unfortunately, prior committments prevent me from being with you. I believe that the spirit in which you have gathered here to honor the memory of General Mihailovich, the faithful allied commander and the first anti-Nazi leader in Europe, is shared by the great majority of Americans. The ultimate tragedy of Draza Mihailovich cannot erase the memory of his heroic and often lonely struggle against the twin tyrannies that afflicted his people, Nazism and Communism. He knew that totalitarianism, whatever name it might take, is the death of freedom. He thus became a symbol of resistance to all those across the world who have had to fight a similar heroic and lonely struggle against totalitarianism. Mihailovich belonged to Yugoslavia; his spirit now belongs to all those who are willing to fight for freedom. … Thus, the fate of General Mihailovich is not simply of historic significance — it teaches us something today, as well. No western nation, including the United States, can hope to win its own battle for freedom and survival by sacrificing brave comrades to the politics of international expediency. Your dinner therefore commemorates something more than the legacy of patriotism and heroism that Mihailovich left us. You commemorate the principles for which he fought and died. And you remind our nation that abandonment of allies can never buy security or freedom. In the mountains of Yugoslavia, in the jungles of Vietnam, wherever men and women have fought totalitarian brutality, it has been demonstrated beyond doubt that both freedom and honor suffer when firm commitments become sacrificed to false hopes of appeasing aggressors by abandoning friends. Sincerely, Ronald Reagan Tesla Memorial Society of New York is grateful to Mrs. Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & TV of New York for her contributions of information for the book "The Forgotten 500". Meeting with Minister of Diaspora, Srdjan Sreckovic, and Secretary of State of Serbia, Miodrag Jaksic, at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008: Above (from left to right): Miodrag Jaksic - Secretary of State of Serbia, Srdjan Sreckovic - Minister of Diaspora, Dr. Ljubo Vujovic - Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, Dusica Protic - lawyer, and Nenad Milinkovic - President of the Board of the Serbian Orthodox Church in New York at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008. Photo by Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & Television, New York. Above (from left to right): Ms. Zarubica - new Serbian Consul in New York, Miodrag Jaksic - Secretary of State of Serbia, Srdjan Sreckovic - Minister of Diaspora and Dr. Ljubo Vujovic - Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008. Photo by Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & Television, New York. Above (from left to right): Miodrag Jaksic - Secretary of State of Serbia, Srdjan Sreckovic - Minister of Diaspora, Dr. Ljubo Vujovic - Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York and Dusica Protic - lawyer, at the Serbian Consulate in New York City, September 11, 2008. Dr. Ljubo Vujovic presented to the Minister of Diaspora, Srdjan Sreckovic, the book "The Forgotten 500" and a photo of Major Feldman, an American pilot rescued by Serbs during WWII holding a banner with the text "We're some of the 500 American WW II MIAs rescued by Yugoslavian Serbs". Photo by Dara Lucic, Serbian Radio & Television, New York. Above: Milan Lucic - Serbian Radio and Television, New York. Took photos of the event. Above: Father Djokan Majstorovic (in the center) was also present in the event. Dara Lucic (woman to the far left with camera in hand) - Serbian Radio and Television, also took photos of the event. Above: Distinguished Serbian-Americans at the event. Promotion of the book -"The Forgotten 500" - in St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Manhattan, New York City, September 7, 2008. Above: St. Sava. Above: Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City. Above: Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City. Above: Church Hall by the Serbian Orthodox St. Sava Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City. Above: Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City. Above: Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City. Above: Promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan. From left to right: Djordje Brozak - member of the Church Board, Mr. Brozak is the initiator for the promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500". Next, George Vujnovich - who during World War II was the coordinator for the rescue of American pilots in Serbia,. Mr. Vujnovich is a Serb, born in the United States, was at that time a Major in the US army. Mr. Vujnovich is a Serbian-American hero from WWII. The third from the left is Milos Prica - Ambassador of Bosnia and Hercegovina by the United Nations, New York. Lastly, on the far right is V Rev. Toma Popovic. Above: Mrs. Knezevic, Board Member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church speaking at the promotion ceremony of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan, New York City, September 7, 2008. Above: Dr. Milos Prica, Ambassador of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Dr. Prica spoke at the promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan. Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York also spoke at the promotion of the book "The Forgotten 500" at the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava at 26th Street, Manhattan. Dr. Vujovic took the photo of Major Feldman, American pilot rescued by Serbs during WWII carrying the banner in the "Desert Storm" (first photo of this section) parade in New York City, 1991. Belgrade Book Fair on October 20, 2008 The Belgrade Book Fair, one of the biggest in Europe, took place on October 20, 2008. The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the book "The Forgotten 500" and the photo of the banner "Serbs Rescue 500 American Pilots". Also displayed, the book "Tribute to Nikola Tesla" by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York. Above: The entrance alley to the Belgrade Book Fair. Photo from http://www.begfair.com Above: "The Forgotten 500" and the banner "Serbs Rescue 500 American Pilots". Photo by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, 1991. Above: The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the book "The Forgotten 500". Above: The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the book "The Forgotten 500". Above: The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the photo of the banner "Serbs Rescue 500 American Pilots". Photo by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, 1991. Above: Sign for the Diaspera book stand. Serbian translated to english - "Government of Serbia - Ministry of Diaspera". Above: The stand of the Ministry of Diaspora Republic of Serbia displayed the book "The Forgotten 500" and "Tribute to Nikola Tesla" by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York. Reviews of "The Forgotten 500" found at amazon.com "Just finished a great book called "The Forgotten 500" by Gregory Freeman. It recounts a risky rescue mission launched during WWII to save over 500 American and Allied flyers who had bailed out over Yugoslavia. The airmen were saved by the local Serbia people. The Serbs saved them from the Nazis at great personal risk. And fed from their meager rations. Many Serbs died for harboring US airmen. The leader of the Serbs was an anti Nazi guerilla; Draza Mihailovich. With the help of Mihailovich's fighters a high mountain plateau is turned into a small landing field. The OSS in spite of British opposition mounts a rescue mission that involves landing C-47s on the short runway. The runway was prepared by the local peasants and downed airmen using rudimentary farm tools. The airstrip was only 12 miles from Nazi encampments. It is an exciting and tense drama. The book also recounts how the US and it's allies turned their back on Mihailovich. Primarily because of the disinformation provided by communists and their sympathizers in both US and British ranks. He points out "Far more numerous than the Communists, and infinitely more numerous that the committed agents, were the muddleheaded liberals who shares a nebulous feeling that they too were serving the cause of progress. This book is a must read for anyone interested in WWII missions or how the US lost the Eastern block to Stalin." -- by Roger B. Jestel "Highland" "President Ronald Reagan's quote in the book states it best: "...the fate of General Mihailovich is not simply of historic significance-it teaches us something today as well. No Western nation, including the United States, can hope to win its own battle for freedom and survival by sacrificing brave comrades to the politics of international expediency." Another great title to this book could have been: Allie Betrayed! I still can't believe Americas betrayal. Mihailovich was "Time" Magazines man of the year in 1942, won the highest U.S. award given to a foriegn national called "The Legion of Merit" under recommendation of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, had the #1 war movie made about him starring Phillip Dorn in 1943 called "The Fighting Chetniks", (which some how can't be found any more), and abandoned him at a mock trial when HUNDREDS of these rescued airmen begged to tell their story! All this, as President Reagan stated: "for political expediency". WOW, I can't wait for the movie. This was an excellant reading, easy and exciting. I just could not put it down!!! ENJOY" -- by Sam Subotich Speech (in Serbian) by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York, over Radio Belgrade on September 12, 2008 about the Forgotten 500