Lost among the great stories of World War II was the escape and rescue of hundreds of Allied airmen shot down over German-occupied Yugoslavia. Their target had been the vital Axis oil fields at Ploesti, Romania. Robert P. Moore and his B-17 crewmates were among the first wave of high altitude bombing raids that intensified in April, 1944.
Enemy flak and engine trouble brought down their aircraft short of the target. It was Moore's first mission, in an unfamiliar aircraft, with a crew he had met only moments before take-off. He bailed out into a completely unknown and rugged country, and was confronted by local militia carrying axes and firearms. The men were part of a larger nationalist army--Chetniks. Fiercely anti-communist, the Chetniks desperately wanted Allied help. The Chetniks guided Moore and hundreds of other airmen, traveling in rugged mountains to get them to a safe zone for rescue.
Moore's escape and rescue is here recounted in his own words.
"Bob's story is from a desperate time, and tells of one of the most dangerous operations in the European theatre of war. It is . . . a story of a hero."
Dennis Fennessey Airbase Leader, Airbase Arizona Commemorative Air Force
"One Mission to Ploesti is an important contribution to our understanding of World War II. Robert P. Moore's story takes the reader along on a journey through the complex and dangerous landscape of the Balkans. A good read for any fan of World War II history."
Gregory A. Freeman, The Forgotten 500
"Robert Moore takes the reader along as his B-17 crew 'bailed out' and struggled to survive the Nazi Regime as members of the 'Forgotten Five Hundred'. This is a must read for all historians."
Colonel James A. Swanke, USA, (Ret.) Executive Officer, Air Base Arizona Commemorative Air Force
"His book tells of his adventures as a young airman; great reading for anyone of any age. Bob was my hero and my friend, and a perfect example of a true American." Dick Stich, Brigadier General (Ret.) USAF
