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Bailout Over Normandy: A Flyboy's Adventures with the French Resistance and Other Escapades in Occupied France
This is the remarkable, newfound memoir of a U.S. fighter pilot, who after his escapades of shooting down German troops in France found himself shot down by them in turn, thence to begin an even greater adventure.
Ted Fahrenwald was a 22-year-old daredevil pilot in the famed 352nd Fighter Group when he bailed out of his burning P-51 Mustang two days after D-Day on his 100th mission. Parachuting into the farmlands of Normandy, he was immediately picked up by the local Maquis, the guerrilla branch of the French Resistance. His rudimentary French, wily and gregarious personality, and backwoods skills allowed him to quickly make fast friends of these unruly outlaws, and he spent the next several months carousing and raiding with their band. But determined to rejoin his squadron, Ted left his new comrades to hike through the fields and forests of the most heavily occupied areas of northern France toward the Channel coast, and the advancing Allied liberation armies.
Captured by the Wehrmacht, however, interrogated as a spy, and interned in a POW camp, the author made a daring escape just before his deportation to Germany. Nothing diminished Ted’s talent for spotting the ironic humor in even the most aggravating or dangerous situations, nor his penchant for extracting his own improvised and sometimes hilarious version of justice.
The author recorded his swashbuckling adventures at age 24, after his discharge and return to the States. Afterward he went into business and never again put pen to paper. But his immediate reminiscence of his wartime experience—recently found—reveal a literary talent that is rare. At once a suspenseful page-turner and an outrageously witty tale of daring and friendship, this book brings to life the daily intrigues of the multiple sides of World War II.
Ted Fahrenwald was a 22-year-old daredevil pilot in the famed 352nd Fighter Group when he bailed out of his burning P-51 Mustang two days after D-Day on his 100th mission. Parachuting into the farmlands of Normandy, he was immediately picked up by the local Maquis, the guerrilla branch of the French Resistance. His rudimentary French, wily and gregarious personality, and backwoods skills allowed him to quickly make fast friends of these unruly outlaws, and he spent the next several months carousing and raiding with their band. But determined to rejoin his squadron, Ted left his new comrades to hike through the fields and forests of the most heavily occupied areas of northern France toward the Channel coast, and the advancing Allied liberation armies.
Captured by the Wehrmacht, however, interrogated as a spy, and interned in a POW camp, the author made a daring escape just before his deportation to Germany. Nothing diminished Ted’s talent for spotting the ironic humor in even the most aggravating or dangerous situations, nor his penchant for extracting his own improvised and sometimes hilarious version of justice.
The author recorded his swashbuckling adventures at age 24, after his discharge and return to the States. Afterward he went into business and never again put pen to paper. But his immediate reminiscence of his wartime experience—recently found—reveal a literary talent that is rare. At once a suspenseful page-turner and an outrageously witty tale of daring and friendship, this book brings to life the daily intrigues of the multiple sides of World War II.
286 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2012
73 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Ted Fahrenwald
4 booksAfter the Second World War, Ted Fahrenwald never fulfilled his early ambition to be a writer or journalist. Instead he started a family, and along with his brother ran a small steel mill inherited from their father. His writing talent was long recognized by family, however, and after Fahrenwald’s death in 2005, his daughter Madelaine was determined to seek a publisher for his memoir, which until then had only existed as a family heirloom. A second volume of Fahrenwald’s wartime writing, Wot a Way to Run a War, based on his letters home, will be published in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 30, 2020
Fantastic story, and astonishing writing! If this is really the found memoir like they say, not edited, filtered or modified too much, that fact is incredible just like all the other heroic events from the war itself.
June 3, 2014
Memorable adventures of wwll france
this is a treasure of a story. what a great writer he was but the world was unaware until his story was published after his death.
this is a treasure of a story. what a great writer he was but the world was unaware until his story was published after his death.
October 12, 2019
3.5 stars
Bailout over Normandy was not what I expected. It didn't tell the tale of aviator prowess and extraordinary acts of war. This isn't a heroic story to be moved by or brought to tears. There are no daring rescues or brave deeds to be commended. Instead, it begins on the mission Fahrenwald blunders and the aftermath of how he survives upon sheer dumb luck and copious amounts of alcohol.
Fahrenwald is on his 100th mission, which is a superstitious number to pilots. Many have died around or on that number, and Fahrenwald notes that before he boards this fateful flight. The departure goes awry and one of his mates dies on the runway. The rest of the pilots taking off end up out of order. After a few minutes of flying the wrinkles finally smooth out, that is until Fahrenwald is dropping bombs and gets hit. He tries to fly back but his plane is in too bad of shape and he bails out.
The rest of the story is Fahrenwald traipsing through France. While it is interesting to meet some of the French Resistance, it isn't that interesting to follow Fahrenwald on his booze tour. I mean this guy could drown a fish! I am more shocked he didn't die of liver cirrhosis instead of being caught by Nazi's. Additionally, he spends most of his time plotting to get back to his war front, so he doesn't really do anything with the French Resistance. It's the most disappointing part of the book.
I realize not every war story is going to be epic, but this doesn't even feel like a war story. It's more like these events just so happened to take place during a war. Fahrenwald isn't a great protagonist to follow, and by the end I didn't care if he managed to get back to his team. I wish he had written a more comprehensive timeline that included some flights before the bailout and concluded with the end of the war instead of when he finally returned to his base.
Bailout over Normandy was not what I expected. It didn't tell the tale of aviator prowess and extraordinary acts of war. This isn't a heroic story to be moved by or brought to tears. There are no daring rescues or brave deeds to be commended. Instead, it begins on the mission Fahrenwald blunders and the aftermath of how he survives upon sheer dumb luck and copious amounts of alcohol.
Fahrenwald is on his 100th mission, which is a superstitious number to pilots. Many have died around or on that number, and Fahrenwald notes that before he boards this fateful flight. The departure goes awry and one of his mates dies on the runway. The rest of the pilots taking off end up out of order. After a few minutes of flying the wrinkles finally smooth out, that is until Fahrenwald is dropping bombs and gets hit. He tries to fly back but his plane is in too bad of shape and he bails out.
The rest of the story is Fahrenwald traipsing through France. While it is interesting to meet some of the French Resistance, it isn't that interesting to follow Fahrenwald on his booze tour. I mean this guy could drown a fish! I am more shocked he didn't die of liver cirrhosis instead of being caught by Nazi's. Additionally, he spends most of his time plotting to get back to his war front, so he doesn't really do anything with the French Resistance. It's the most disappointing part of the book.
I realize not every war story is going to be epic, but this doesn't even feel like a war story. It's more like these events just so happened to take place during a war. Fahrenwald isn't a great protagonist to follow, and by the end I didn't care if he managed to get back to his team. I wish he had written a more comprehensive timeline that included some flights before the bailout and concluded with the end of the war instead of when he finally returned to his base.
November 21, 2019
By far one of the best memoirs I have ever read about D-Day and the months that followed. Fahrenwald writes about his own experiences after his Mustang received damage on a mission over Normandy, causing him to have to bail out over occupied France. His experiences with the French resistance, wandering undercover, getting captured by the Germans, and later escaping and all his experiences in trying to make his way on his own back to the Allied front is insipring.
His story is at times funny, frightening and endearing as he meets so many people in his time in the region until the liberation finally comes to him. This should be required reading for anyone who wants to learn about some of the real history of Normandy and what it was like during and after German occupation of the region. This is one of my favorites.
His story is at times funny, frightening and endearing as he meets so many people in his time in the region until the liberation finally comes to him. This should be required reading for anyone who wants to learn about some of the real history of Normandy and what it was like during and after German occupation of the region. This is one of my favorites.
January 24, 2020
An excellent account of one mans effort to escape from occupied France. Not only does it tell the story of an escape it gives a picture not only of a man living in his wits to survive behind the lines but also if life for those French people living under the Germans and their hardships and privations. Those who helped him risked even more and thanks to them he made it home. And when he did make the American lines he still had a struggle to get to England!! As a previous reviewer commented the book seemed to them to describe a a lot of drinking and it does but that too says something about the stress that he and his helpers were under never knowing whether they would see tomorrow knowing that discovery by the Germans could lead to imprisonment or execution!
March 8, 2022
Superb book. A brilliant read. I even could feel his hunger being satisfied in the Normandy farmhouses even with the threat of collaborators.
The description of the liberation was astounding. The German soldiers lying in ditches, the death and destruction of war. But also the good people who resisted the nazis and helped the allies.
If you want to read a book about what happens when a pilot is shot down on his 100th sortie over France then go no further than this book.
Ted Fahrenwald a true legend.
The description of the liberation was astounding. The German soldiers lying in ditches, the death and destruction of war. But also the good people who resisted the nazis and helped the allies.
If you want to read a book about what happens when a pilot is shot down on his 100th sortie over France then go no further than this book.
Ted Fahrenwald a true legend.
February 25, 2019
After my reading of Bailout Over Normandy by Ted Farenwald, I grasped a deeper understanding of WW2 as an Allied pilot through a first-hand account. Ted's narrative provided an interesting perspective of the war, as he enrolled as a pilot, unexpecting the fate that lied before him. As he was forced to land in enemy territory, in a chaotic operation. Ted's story of surviving the war in France-occupied Germany was inspirational, as well as fascinating. The struggles of being surrounded by the enemy in the search for fellow friends is an overwhelmingly difficult task. Through grit and determination, Ted reunited with his allies and survived the war. In conclusion, I would give this book a 4/5, as it was a very interesting topic and narrative, but lacked a persistent moving plot, as at some points it was rather slow.
May 8, 2017
This book is very well-written and is humorous besides. It tells about the author bailing out of his plane, creeping through the French countryside, finding friendly French men and women to help him, feed him, and hide him, and finally reaching the coast and an airplane to fly him back to England. I liked the part where he escaped from a contingent of prisoners of war.
December 19, 2019
Passed Some Time
Typical American bravado and B.S. No one won the war but them and everyone else was just dumb and lazy. The hero was a consummate drunk. Hard to believe he didn’t die of scirrocis of the liver before he made it back to England. Made the war sound like one big party.
Typical American bravado and B.S. No one won the war but them and everyone else was just dumb and lazy. The hero was a consummate drunk. Hard to believe he didn’t die of scirrocis of the liver before he made it back to England. Made the war sound like one big party.
October 13, 2021
For those who enjoy WW2 memoirs this should be on the top of your to-read list. The story of a young man in the US Army Air Corp who ends up in German-held France and his adventures as a result. Well written by a man who knows how to tell a story. First and last book he ever wrote but if you’re going to write “one” book this is the one to write.
April 11, 2019
World War 2 Story
Author and interesting book, even though the author presents too much humor in the first part. He straightens out and makes a good story of his evasion and escape. He tells a good story about the French people he met and of his final meeting with the Air Force
Author and interesting book, even though the author presents too much humor in the first part. He straightens out and makes a good story of his evasion and escape. He tells a good story about the French people he met and of his final meeting with the Air Force
December 8, 2019
Amazing Adventure Told by the Flyboy Himself
Ted Fahrenhold was an extremely talented writer. Thanks to his daughter for making his writings public. I’m not sure yet how anyone could have survived what he did. But I found this book very enjoyable.
Ted Fahrenhold was an extremely talented writer. Thanks to his daughter for making his writings public. I’m not sure yet how anyone could have survived what he did. But I found this book very enjoyable.
June 10, 2017
A very colorful personal account, written by a man who knows how to use words, very entertaining to read.
August 2, 2019
Abandoned for language.
February 18, 2022
This book was interesting because the beginning of the book mostly when he thrives in France for a while.
March 6, 2023
The story of a young American pilot shot down over France during WW2 and the adventures he has. Both suspenseful and witty I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 4.5 stars
November 14, 2019
A firsthand account of a P-51 Pilot who crashed in France on his 100th mission( I guess he sort of shot HIMSELF down). It reads more like a journal than any literature, even though he uses a lot of quotes which certainly were just how he recalled it.
I loved the book. After the crash of "the Joker" (his beloved Mustang) he finds himself under the protection and (somewhat) in the service of the French resistance. After a short time he decided that he had had enough and headed for the front lines. Although the story has a lot of humor, it is deadly serious in his effort to get back to the American or British lines. Many French people worked with him to save him from the Nazis, while risking their own lives.
So, he spent his time as a "drafted" member of the Maquis, an escapee trying to get home, a POW, and escaped POW and finally with a loving family that protected him until liberation. His resourcefulnesses and moxie allowed him to live for another day.
Sadly, this story was not published in the author's lifetime. He finished the book in 1946 and it sat on the shelf untouched for decades. After Ted's death in 2005, his daughter finally took it on herself to publish the book.
I loved the book. After the crash of "the Joker" (his beloved Mustang) he finds himself under the protection and (somewhat) in the service of the French resistance. After a short time he decided that he had had enough and headed for the front lines. Although the story has a lot of humor, it is deadly serious in his effort to get back to the American or British lines. Many French people worked with him to save him from the Nazis, while risking their own lives.
So, he spent his time as a "drafted" member of the Maquis, an escapee trying to get home, a POW, and escaped POW and finally with a loving family that protected him until liberation. His resourcefulnesses and moxie allowed him to live for another day.
Sadly, this story was not published in the author's lifetime. He finished the book in 1946 and it sat on the shelf untouched for decades. After Ted's death in 2005, his daughter finally took it on herself to publish the book.
August 25, 2016
Ted’s Marvelous Adventure
Bailout over Normandy is an entertaining, gripping story of Ted Fahrenwald’s crash landing in Normandy during the air support for the D Day invasion.At times his effort at evasion avoiding capture border on the hilarious. However, for downed pilots in wartime France this was a serious deadly business.
It is a shame that this story emerged after the death of the author. Only with the persistent effort of Ted’s daughter. What an adventure! The author’s humor, attitude and his easy nature with the French people got him through many tough situations.Ted Fahrenwald was a hero as well as the heroic French people who helped Allied personnel at great risk to themselves. He embodied courage, grace under pressure and good old American can do attitude.
The Ted Fahrenwald story needed telling,and, I am very glad his family brought forward his story for our enjoyment.
Bailout over Normandy is an entertaining, gripping story of Ted Fahrenwald’s crash landing in Normandy during the air support for the D Day invasion.At times his effort at evasion avoiding capture border on the hilarious. However, for downed pilots in wartime France this was a serious deadly business.
It is a shame that this story emerged after the death of the author. Only with the persistent effort of Ted’s daughter. What an adventure! The author’s humor, attitude and his easy nature with the French people got him through many tough situations.Ted Fahrenwald was a hero as well as the heroic French people who helped Allied personnel at great risk to themselves. He embodied courage, grace under pressure and good old American can do attitude.
The Ted Fahrenwald story needed telling,and, I am very glad his family brought forward his story for our enjoyment.
June 4, 2016
The funniest and most entertaining war saga I have ever read. Fahrenwald wrote his memoir shortly after the war, but it was not published until 2013, several years after his death. He tells of his exploits as a P-51 fighter pilot, but it is primarily about his adventures after bailing out in Normandy shortly after the D-Day invasion. His wit and devil may care attitude got him into and out of the hands of the French Resistance, through the German lines, into and out of a POW camp and finally back to London. It is a great read.
June 8, 2016
Terrific, Terrifying and Funny
This is a terrific firsthand account of a very brave, brazen and funny fighter pilot shot down over occupied France around D-Day. This book is like reading a long letter home describing the brave folks he met along the way that helped him survive the ordeal of getting out of France and back to his squadron. He really brought the electrifying experiences and colorful characters to life and it was a very enjoyable way to learn some history. I highly recommend this book to everyone from teenagers to The Greatest Generation.
This is a terrific firsthand account of a very brave, brazen and funny fighter pilot shot down over occupied France around D-Day. This book is like reading a long letter home describing the brave folks he met along the way that helped him survive the ordeal of getting out of France and back to his squadron. He really brought the electrifying experiences and colorful characters to life and it was a very enjoyable way to learn some history. I highly recommend this book to everyone from teenagers to The Greatest Generation.
January 9, 2016
Really 3.5 stars. It's certainly an adventurous story, but hard to read at times due to he heavy use of idioms and French that is not always translated or understood from context. I can somewhat read French, but if you cannot, you'll find yourself bogged down.
Spoiler Alert:
One other little issue. After bailing out, he lights a cigarette on the way down? I'm not saying it's not true, but it made me question some of the other tales.
Spoiler Alert:
One other little issue. After bailing out, he lights a cigarette on the way down? I'm not saying it's not true, but it made me question some of the other tales.
July 23, 2014
I visited a French Resistance site (in a winery/vineyard) last summer. This was very interesting to me as details of Americans shot down and assisted by the Resistance were not familiar. I cannot imagine how it would be to live like that for 2 months....fear, hunger, sleeplessness, filth, etc. Makes me appreciate our military even more.
January 31, 2013
Interesting memoir of a fighter pilot shot down over Normany during WWII and his escapades with the Maqui and other freedom desiring French. Eventually he is captured but escapes and after D Day is able to return and rejoin his squadron.
November 3, 2014
Three and a half stars
I am a little torn on how to rate this. It's a fast-paced, interesting, and pretty incredible true WWII tale, but some of the things he does are so foolhardy that it made me shake my head.
I am a little torn on how to rate this. It's a fast-paced, interesting, and pretty incredible true WWII tale, but some of the things he does are so foolhardy that it made me shake my head.
May 26, 2016
Great read
This book was a great read. We owe so much to guys like this. I was 5 yrs old when WWII ended so I did not know much about what was going on at the time. But I believe that thanks to guys like this, America is still America.
This book was a great read. We owe so much to guys like this. I was 5 yrs old when WWII ended so I did not know much about what was going on at the time. But I believe that thanks to guys like this, America is still America.
August 23, 2013
I didn't finish. Not because I didn't like the book. I did. It simply wasn't something that called to me when I had a free moment.
July 6, 2013
Top tale of daring do. highly recommended.
July 27, 2016
Great fun
Read
July 20, 2016Although the writer makes some fundamental literary errors, this is such an entertaining read that it overcomes them. We all owe this gentleman a debt of gratitude for the country we live in today.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews