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The Lost Airman: A True Story of Escape from Nazi Occupied France
For fans of Unbroken, the remarkable, untold story of World War II American Air Force turret-gunner Staff Sergeant Arthur Meyerowitz, who was shot down over Nazi-occupied France and evaded Gestapo pursuers for more than six months before escaping to freedom.
Bronx-born top turret-gunner Arthur Meyerowitz was on his second mission when he was shot down in 1943. He was one of only two men on the B-24 Liberator known as “Harmful Lil Armful” who escaped death or immediate capture on the ground.
After fleeing the wreck, Arthur knocked on the door of an isolated farmhouse, whose owners hastily took him in. Fortunately, his hosts not only despised the Nazis but had a tight connection to the French resistance group Morhange and its founder, Marcel Taillandier. Arthur and Taillandier formed an improbable bond as the resistance leader arranged for Arthur’s transfers among safe houses in southern France, shielding him from the Gestapo.
Based on recently declassified material, exclusive personal interviews, and extensive research into the French Resistance, The Lost Airman tells the tense and riveting story of Arthur’s trying months in Toulouse—masquerading as a deaf mute and working with a downed British pilot to evade the Nazis—and of his hair-raising journey to freedom involving a perilous trek over the Pyrenees and a voyage aboard a fishing boat with U-boats lurking below and Luftwaffe fighters looming above. With photographs and maps included, this is a never-before-told true story of endurance, perseverance, and escape during World War II.
Bronx-born top turret-gunner Arthur Meyerowitz was on his second mission when he was shot down in 1943. He was one of only two men on the B-24 Liberator known as “Harmful Lil Armful” who escaped death or immediate capture on the ground.
After fleeing the wreck, Arthur knocked on the door of an isolated farmhouse, whose owners hastily took him in. Fortunately, his hosts not only despised the Nazis but had a tight connection to the French resistance group Morhange and its founder, Marcel Taillandier. Arthur and Taillandier formed an improbable bond as the resistance leader arranged for Arthur’s transfers among safe houses in southern France, shielding him from the Gestapo.
Based on recently declassified material, exclusive personal interviews, and extensive research into the French Resistance, The Lost Airman tells the tense and riveting story of Arthur’s trying months in Toulouse—masquerading as a deaf mute and working with a downed British pilot to evade the Nazis—and of his hair-raising journey to freedom involving a perilous trek over the Pyrenees and a voyage aboard a fishing boat with U-boats lurking below and Luftwaffe fighters looming above. With photographs and maps included, this is a never-before-told true story of endurance, perseverance, and escape during World War II.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
May 4, 2021
Pleasant enough, clearly written by an affectionate grandson who tries hard to breathe life into a narrative that relies on research rather than first-person reminiscences. The book suffers for it and for the author's attempts to make his grandfather larger than life when he was simply a gunner with the misfortune of being shot down over France. As a result, Seth Meyerowitz includes overwritten sentences like this: "...showed how highly they respected the American airman for his courage and endurance, as well as his ability to keep his head under stress. His instinctive decision to drop his photo identification and papers while being arrested by the Gestapo had proved his mettle to Morhange." Remember, the author is ascribing thoughts and emotions based solely on his imagination.
The author also bears a grudge against the pilot and co-pilot of Arthur's doomed craft who, he tells us several times, parachuted out of the plane before ensuring the safety of their crew. A little levity is in order here I think. The pilot and co-pilot were only 22 or 23, not some war-hardened men. Besides, they were captured by the Nazis and shipped off to a concentration camp. Isn't that penance enough? Apparently not for either grandfather or grandson, the elder bemoaning until his death the fact that he didn't mention their breach of duty at his debriefing.
Although grandson Meyerowitz attempts to make his grandfather the hero of this story, the heroes are, in fact, the members of the French Resistance, principally Marcel Taillandier and Gisèle and Pierre Chauvin, who built a network to save downed Allied airmen. Now, there would be a book!
The author also bears a grudge against the pilot and co-pilot of Arthur's doomed craft who, he tells us several times, parachuted out of the plane before ensuring the safety of their crew. A little levity is in order here I think. The pilot and co-pilot were only 22 or 23, not some war-hardened men. Besides, they were captured by the Nazis and shipped off to a concentration camp. Isn't that penance enough? Apparently not for either grandfather or grandson, the elder bemoaning until his death the fact that he didn't mention their breach of duty at his debriefing.
Although grandson Meyerowitz attempts to make his grandfather the hero of this story, the heroes are, in fact, the members of the French Resistance, principally Marcel Taillandier and Gisèle and Pierre Chauvin, who built a network to save downed Allied airmen. Now, there would be a book!
April 19, 2018
I don't want to be churlish about this book. The story is riveting — so much courage, so much compassion. It's really exciting and shows the limits of human cruelty as well as endurance. I felt like I came to know Arthur Meyerowitz, and I never stopped rooting for him. The resolution scene on Rockaway Beach made me cry on an airplane.
Buuuuut....if Barbara Tuchman is The New Yorker, this book is Highlights. Don't get me wrong, both have their place in the world; one is just most definitely for children. It's always the obviously made-up details in purported nonfiction that get me: somebody knocked twice on the door, his mother rubbed the frost from the window, somebody else had rheumy eyes. I mean, maybe? I find it distracting and it makes me suspicious about what else has been distorted. I would have unreservedly loved this book as a 14-year-old, and I think it probably belongs in the YA section. I don't need or want my non-fiction to be wrapped in a candy shell of a novel.
Buuuuut....if Barbara Tuchman is The New Yorker, this book is Highlights. Don't get me wrong, both have their place in the world; one is just most definitely for children. It's always the obviously made-up details in purported nonfiction that get me: somebody knocked twice on the door, his mother rubbed the frost from the window, somebody else had rheumy eyes. I mean, maybe? I find it distracting and it makes me suspicious about what else has been distorted. I would have unreservedly loved this book as a 14-year-old, and I think it probably belongs in the YA section. I don't need or want my non-fiction to be wrapped in a candy shell of a novel.
August 19, 2017
Read the Dutch translation ---
While this book has its charms and the parts about the French resistance were interesting, it was a disappointing read.
During our holidays in the French Pyrenees we occasionally stumbled upon information about the escape routes for allied pilots. This I decided to read up on it and thought this book was a good and casual start. Well, not so much when the escape through the Pyrenees starts in the story. The author clearly doesn't know much about the region and the lie of the land.
The route taken from Toulouse to Perpignan is much longer then described. The pass which the author says they took (Col de Somport) is in the western Pyrenees, not in the eastern part. The Vale d'aran is far from it and not in easy walking distance (I know since I walked it and it takes about a week).
The route from Perpignan into the Pyrenees is impractical since it is just two long tight valleys. From what I understood of the signposts in the Pyrenees the main routes of escape where in the central part around Aulus-les-bains and indeed in the Val d'aran (both best accessed from Toulouse instead of Perpignan). But if you take the later you will cross the border with Spain before you really have to cross the big mountainrange. Getting from there to Figueres in Spain is a really long hike of hundreds of kilometres and certainly not the 40 km described in the book.
Furthermore: the high summits of the Pyrenees are not just over 2500 meters but over 3000. This however will not let you suffer from height sickness much more then a short period. Not as described in the book.
All in all a good effort in the first half but the lack of proper research on the later part let's it down.
While this book has its charms and the parts about the French resistance were interesting, it was a disappointing read.
During our holidays in the French Pyrenees we occasionally stumbled upon information about the escape routes for allied pilots. This I decided to read up on it and thought this book was a good and casual start. Well, not so much when the escape through the Pyrenees starts in the story. The author clearly doesn't know much about the region and the lie of the land.
The route taken from Toulouse to Perpignan is much longer then described. The pass which the author says they took (Col de Somport) is in the western Pyrenees, not in the eastern part. The Vale d'aran is far from it and not in easy walking distance (I know since I walked it and it takes about a week).
The route from Perpignan into the Pyrenees is impractical since it is just two long tight valleys. From what I understood of the signposts in the Pyrenees the main routes of escape where in the central part around Aulus-les-bains and indeed in the Val d'aran (both best accessed from Toulouse instead of Perpignan). But if you take the later you will cross the border with Spain before you really have to cross the big mountainrange. Getting from there to Figueres in Spain is a really long hike of hundreds of kilometres and certainly not the 40 km described in the book.
Furthermore: the high summits of the Pyrenees are not just over 2500 meters but over 3000. This however will not let you suffer from height sickness much more then a short period. Not as described in the book.
All in all a good effort in the first half but the lack of proper research on the later part let's it down.
November 27, 2020
In my opinion, the best non-fiction reads like a great novel. The Lost Airman achieves that. It was a riveting retelling of one young airman's many months in France, evading the Nazis with the help of the French Resistance.
August 3, 2020
A detailed, fascinating, and ultimately moving account of WWII airman's quest to evade capture in occupied France and return home to Bronx, New York. After his B-24 is shot down Seth Meyerowitz owed his life to tenacity and bravery of the French Resistance that will rescue him and help him to freedom. Interesting read one I could not put down.
July 22, 2016
Every Vet has a story, every Bomber crewman who bailed out over Nazi occupied France and escaped, has a hair raising tale to tell. Most do not write about it, and it is left for the son or grandson to investigate, research and come out with a good book. This is one. A lot about the French Resistance fighters who risked and many gave their lives or were tortured terrible for helping the Airmen get to Spain and hopefully on to safety . Writer gives the credit due to them. And told how the loved ones anguished, not knowing for over a year their Airman lived.
December 6, 2021
Ik heb dit boek niet zo hoog gewaardeerd. Niet omdat ik het avontuur van de hoofdrolspeler niet waardeerde, maar om andere redenen. Het is duidelijk dat het verhaal vooral leunt op het vele onderzoek, niet op herinneringen. De auteur probeert zijn opa een belangrijkere rol te geven dan die van een boordschutter, die de pech heeft gehad om boven Frankrijk te worden neergeschoten. Hij gebruikte daarvoor soms overdreven zinnen. De kleinzoon, die zijn opa nooit heeft gekend, schrijft gedachten en emoties voornamelijk uit zijn verbeelding.
De auteur lijkt een antipathie te hebben voor de piloot en copiloot, die, zoals hij ons diverse malen laat weten, het vliegtuig hebben verlaten voor de rest van de bemanning. Je zou verwachten dat deze bemanningsleden eerst gecontroleerd zouden hebben of de rest van de bemanning veilig was, maar laten we wel wezen, het gaat om personen van 22/23 jaar oud die weinig tot geen oorlogservaring hebben. Dan lijkt mij dat je in zo'n panieksituatie al gauw voor je zelf zorgt. Bovendien zijn beiden niet al genoeg gestraft doordat zij na hun landing direct gearresteerd zijn en naar een concentratiekamp zijn gestuurd.
Het deel over de Franse ondergrondse (Resistance) was interessant, maar voor de rest was het een teleurstellend boek.
Naar mijn idee zijn de echte helden in dit verhaal de mannen en vrouwen van de Franse ondergrondse, die lijf en leden op het spel hebben gezet om onbekende mannen te helpen.
De auteur lijkt een antipathie te hebben voor de piloot en copiloot, die, zoals hij ons diverse malen laat weten, het vliegtuig hebben verlaten voor de rest van de bemanning. Je zou verwachten dat deze bemanningsleden eerst gecontroleerd zouden hebben of de rest van de bemanning veilig was, maar laten we wel wezen, het gaat om personen van 22/23 jaar oud die weinig tot geen oorlogservaring hebben. Dan lijkt mij dat je in zo'n panieksituatie al gauw voor je zelf zorgt. Bovendien zijn beiden niet al genoeg gestraft doordat zij na hun landing direct gearresteerd zijn en naar een concentratiekamp zijn gestuurd.
Het deel over de Franse ondergrondse (Resistance) was interessant, maar voor de rest was het een teleurstellend boek.
Naar mijn idee zijn de echte helden in dit verhaal de mannen en vrouwen van de Franse ondergrondse, die lijf en leden op het spel hebben gezet om onbekende mannen te helpen.
March 10, 2023
Man, people think of the French as cowards, but that is definitely not the case. This book gives an amazing view into the French underground, and the brave and selfless fighters who refused to comply with France’s capitulation in WW2, and brought the fight to the nazis.
December 3, 2024
This book was written by a grandson of an American pilot - Arthur Meyerowitz, shot down during his second flight over France during the Second World War.
Based on the actual events, the whole story is filled with fictional details to make it more interesting, especially for the younger audience. It shows Arthur's attempts to avoid capture by the Gestapo and his help by the French underground to get him to Gibraltar.
The story made me realise how active the French underground fighters and civilian population were in resisting German occupation and how heavy price they paid for their courage. I would like to learn more about that, and that makes me to recommend this book to wider audience.
Based on the actual events, the whole story is filled with fictional details to make it more interesting, especially for the younger audience. It shows Arthur's attempts to avoid capture by the Gestapo and his help by the French underground to get him to Gibraltar.
The story made me realise how active the French underground fighters and civilian population were in resisting German occupation and how heavy price they paid for their courage. I would like to learn more about that, and that makes me to recommend this book to wider audience.
May 21, 2018
A very intersting and riveting story of how an airman eluded capture in occupied France, but somewhat marred by clearly excessive liberties taken with the narrative. This reads like a novel almost, and includes details that the writer could not possibly have known, such as how certain people felt at precise moments in time; their inner thoughts, physical expressions, etc.
That aside though, it was a quick read and tells a side of the war you may not have read a lot about previously.
That aside though, it was a quick read and tells a side of the war you may not have read a lot about previously.
July 11, 2020
The story of his survival after being shot down is quite impressive but I found the book to be almost too detailed and borderline repetitive at times. The most intriguing part of the whole book had less to do with the American Airman, Arthur Meyerowitz, and more to do with Marcel Taillandier. This is not to take anything away from the airman and his will to survive, but I felt the story to be lacking at times.
May 12, 2021
I appreciate the research Seth Meryerowitz put into following up on the life of his Grandfather during WWII. I've read many books on WWII but this was a very specific perspective in occupied France and I learned much.
Any time I'm feeling like I need to have a pity party, I should read such a book. Gives you a new perspective on fear, pain, hurt, anxiety and even boredom. Difficulties I occasional experience in my life are nothing compared to what so many endured during the war.
Any time I'm feeling like I need to have a pity party, I should read such a book. Gives you a new perspective on fear, pain, hurt, anxiety and even boredom. Difficulties I occasional experience in my life are nothing compared to what so many endured during the war.
August 20, 2018
This also was an engrossing account. However surprisingly Sherry enjoyed it even more than me and sent her Dad a copy.
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
June 18, 2021
This is a good non fiction book. The author took a great deal of writing creativity since the details used far exceeded any obvious actual account. There are a couple different stories in here about survival and I really enjoyed the story and presentation.
April 29, 2021
The true history of a harrowing experience of a downed U.S. airman during WW2 and his dramatic rescue by the French Resistance. Excellent.
June 26, 2021
Enjoyed this story
July 22, 2022
Wow, I can’t believe this is a true story. I hope it’s someday made into a movie - it’s inspiring and incredible. The details of Arthur’s escape from Nazi Germany, the bravery of the French Resistance fighters and their skill, and the narrowest of margin that the escape succeeded makes this a book I’d HIGHLY recommend to any fan of WW2.
April 27, 2023
People back in the day were so resilient and brave! Amazing story.
April 25, 2024
This is a remarkable true story that taught me a lot about the French Resistance during WWII. Boys in the Boat sets the bar high for me when it comes to well-written nonfiction, and this story certainly was not as masterfully told, but it was a riveting listen nonetheless.
January 4, 2021
The Lost Airman is a thrilling and touching true story of fear, courage and cowardice, of loss and survival, as the hearts and character of men and women in the military and in the French Resistance intersect in WW2-occupied France. Keep in mind that it is in that murky sea between history and historical fiction that most history is muddied: it makes assumptions re the details of what facts can be unearthed, of what survivors remember seven decades after the events. No one lacks bias and we all see and tell truth as we see and understand it. It is true here as everywhere, for the story is told by the proud and loving grandson of the title character, whose story it is.
That said, it was a true story, and where details are inaccurate the story isn't really affected or lessened in my eyes, considering the source and the fact that the concerns some have could be said about any biography or memoir. Selected memory affects us all! Read in that context, it's a terrific story. It had a few repetitions that the editor in me noticed.
Perhaps unintentionally, what makes this book gripping is not so much the story of the brave airman, though he certainly was! The real story, the real heroes in this book, are the members of the French Resistance, common people with uncommon courage, daily making self-sacrificial decisions, laying down their lives for total strangers, for their allies, for their country. For Arthur.
I hated having to turn away when the demands of my own life called for my attention. Throughout, it gripped me, angered and appalled me, and thrilled me. It steeled me (en"couraged" me) to face my own fears with bravery and to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost. While the writing mostly avoided hyperbole, and the audible was narrated with a steady, non-dramatic yet intensely, steely-cold voice, it still made me cheer and boooo, and in the end, it made me weep.
Now, excuse me; I need to go reapply my makeup...
That said, it was a true story, and where details are inaccurate the story isn't really affected or lessened in my eyes, considering the source and the fact that the concerns some have could be said about any biography or memoir. Selected memory affects us all! Read in that context, it's a terrific story. It had a few repetitions that the editor in me noticed.
Perhaps unintentionally, what makes this book gripping is not so much the story of the brave airman, though he certainly was! The real story, the real heroes in this book, are the members of the French Resistance, common people with uncommon courage, daily making self-sacrificial decisions, laying down their lives for total strangers, for their allies, for their country. For Arthur.
I hated having to turn away when the demands of my own life called for my attention. Throughout, it gripped me, angered and appalled me, and thrilled me. It steeled me (en"couraged" me) to face my own fears with bravery and to do the right thing, no matter the personal cost. While the writing mostly avoided hyperbole, and the audible was narrated with a steady, non-dramatic yet intensely, steely-cold voice, it still made me cheer and boooo, and in the end, it made me weep.
Now, excuse me; I need to go reapply my makeup...
April 1, 2019
"The Lost Airman" does a great job at telling a war story, from a first person perspective. The main character (Arthur) goes through many different situations and encounters many problems, all of which help develop the realism of war. It is very well done. However the transitions are not always clear, and there are lots of different names of vehicles and guns that I think overwhelm the story. Other than that, the book was able to hold my attention and interest fairly well.
April 28, 2020
Disappointing. When I selected this book I was hopeful that it would be a retelling of one man’s experiences returning to safety after being shot down over occupied France during World War II. To me, the book was much more about the French Resistance and the main character was simply used as an example of one man they helped lead to safety. With that in mind, it was a pretty good story.
The frustrating and disappointing part for me was that the author seemed more interested in building up his grandfather’s reputation and tearing down other soldier’s, including regularly referring to certain soldiers as cowards. For me, it was an unnecessary personal attack and an unnecessary theme in the book.
The frustrating and disappointing part for me was that the author seemed more interested in building up his grandfather’s reputation and tearing down other soldier’s, including regularly referring to certain soldiers as cowards. For me, it was an unnecessary personal attack and an unnecessary theme in the book.
April 27, 2020
I give the story an easy 5/5 - one of the best war stories you’ve never heard of - but the writing wasn’t great. This might be a rare occasion where I enjoy the movie more than the book (hint, hint, Hollywood)
July 19, 2016
This was a very good book about a airman that was brought down over France! This book retells the incredible story of survival. If you enjoy reading World War II history, you will enjoy this!
November 8, 2018
The Lost Airman, by Peter F Stevens and Seth Meyerowitz is a must-read for anyone who is interested in World War II stories. The main author, Seth Meyerowitz, is the grandson of Arthur Meyerowitz, who is the protagonist of the book. It is quite amazing how much information he gathered from the people that his grandfather met. His grandfather passed away before the book could be written, so that is why he had to dig deep into his notes, letters and conversations with the people that he met. This book actually reminds me of the way Rebecca Skloot, author of Henrietta Lacks, had to research information for a decade before publishing her book. This is the only novel that Seth Meyerowitz ever published but the secondary author, Peter F. Stevens, is known for his two books, Voyage of the Catalpa and Fatal Dive.
The Lost Airman is about the story of Arthur Meyerowitz who joins the army for World War II because he was very patriotic after the Pearl Harbor bombing. He wants to become an airman and trains very hard for several months. Arthur finally became an airman and on his first mission, his plane gets shot down over Nazi-occupied France. He found himself to be alone, with the enemy all around him, and nowhere to go. But Arthur meets up with the French Resistance who helped him escape from the Nazis.
From my understanding, Arthur Meyerowitz is a very connectable character. He has a family that cares deeply about him and he is very compassionate towards the French people that helped him evade the Nazis. He was very bold to sign up for the army willingly and he was very helpful to others that needed it.
Seth Meyerowitz writes the story in such a way that the reader stays intrigued throughout the story. There is a lot of suspense every time that Arthur Meyerowitz, the protagonist, comes close to getting captured by the Nazis. There are several jokes throughout the novel that will give the reader a good laugh or a connectable moment such as when he almost beat up a husband for beating his wife frequently.
The main idea of the book that I saw was that there are always people that are willing to help others, even if it meant that they put themselves in danger doing so. The French Resistance was willing to help many stranded American troops, including Meyerowitz, escape from the clutches of the Nazi Empire.
I recommend The Lost Airman to anyone that is interested in World War II stories. I feel that older people, however, will take more appreciation towards this novel because younger people may not care about World War II, but I may be wrong.
One thing that should be brought to the attention of any parent whose child may read this book however is that there are many references to Nazi Germany and the horrors that they committed. So if you do not want your child to know what Hitler and his Nazis did, this book may not be suitable for younger children. There are also some cases of violence and implied death, which may also not be suited for younger readers.
This novel actually reminds me of another novel that I read by the name of Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, which is another book about a World War II airman by the name of Louis Zamperini. His story was different however because he was captured by the Japanese and put into an internment camp until the war ended.
The Lost Airman is a truly exceptional book that I recommend to anyone that is willing to enjoy a World War II story. The story is very relatable for the reader and from my experience, the reader can build a connection with Arthur Meyerowitz. I give the book a 9.2 out of 10 just because at some parts, the story seems a bit slow. But please do read this book!
The Lost Airman is about the story of Arthur Meyerowitz who joins the army for World War II because he was very patriotic after the Pearl Harbor bombing. He wants to become an airman and trains very hard for several months. Arthur finally became an airman and on his first mission, his plane gets shot down over Nazi-occupied France. He found himself to be alone, with the enemy all around him, and nowhere to go. But Arthur meets up with the French Resistance who helped him escape from the Nazis.
From my understanding, Arthur Meyerowitz is a very connectable character. He has a family that cares deeply about him and he is very compassionate towards the French people that helped him evade the Nazis. He was very bold to sign up for the army willingly and he was very helpful to others that needed it.
Seth Meyerowitz writes the story in such a way that the reader stays intrigued throughout the story. There is a lot of suspense every time that Arthur Meyerowitz, the protagonist, comes close to getting captured by the Nazis. There are several jokes throughout the novel that will give the reader a good laugh or a connectable moment such as when he almost beat up a husband for beating his wife frequently.
The main idea of the book that I saw was that there are always people that are willing to help others, even if it meant that they put themselves in danger doing so. The French Resistance was willing to help many stranded American troops, including Meyerowitz, escape from the clutches of the Nazi Empire.
I recommend The Lost Airman to anyone that is interested in World War II stories. I feel that older people, however, will take more appreciation towards this novel because younger people may not care about World War II, but I may be wrong.
One thing that should be brought to the attention of any parent whose child may read this book however is that there are many references to Nazi Germany and the horrors that they committed. So if you do not want your child to know what Hitler and his Nazis did, this book may not be suitable for younger children. There are also some cases of violence and implied death, which may also not be suited for younger readers.
This novel actually reminds me of another novel that I read by the name of Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, which is another book about a World War II airman by the name of Louis Zamperini. His story was different however because he was captured by the Japanese and put into an internment camp until the war ended.
The Lost Airman is a truly exceptional book that I recommend to anyone that is willing to enjoy a World War II story. The story is very relatable for the reader and from my experience, the reader can build a connection with Arthur Meyerowitz. I give the book a 9.2 out of 10 just because at some parts, the story seems a bit slow. But please do read this book!
February 9, 2024
Sometimes, mysterious events occur for which I have no explanation. My acquisition of the book THE LOST AIRMAN by SETH MEYEROWITZ and PETER STEVENS is one of those mysteries. I recently found this book in my stack of “to read” titles. It was published in 2016 and I read it in February 2024. However I got it, I am extremely pleased that I read and enjoyed the true World War II story.
The story told is about Mr. Meyerowitz’s grandfather, Staff Sergeant Arthur Meyerowitz. Arthur was Jewish and was born in the Bronx, the northern borough of the City of New York. His parents were Rose and David and he had a younger brother, Seymour. Arthur joined the United States Army when WW II broke out with the goal of becoming a pilot. Due to an accident during pilot training, he was forced to give up that plan. Because of his outstanding record during pilot training, the Army decided to offer him the training for Flight Engineer, a role he relished. Flight Engineers were responsible for the maintenance of the planes in which they flew. He was also a Top Turret Machinegun Operator.
After his training at various places around the US, his plane (a B-24 bomber nicknamed Harmful L’il Armful) and crew were assigned to the 715th Squadron, 448th Bomb Group at Seething Airfield north of London, England. The plane and crew arrived there in mid- November 1943. Arthur’s second mission was New Year’s Eve, 1943 to attack targets in western France south of Normandy. The bomber was shot down after delivering its bombs over the target airfield. According to the author, the pilot and co-pilot bailed out before the rest of the crew. Then the rest of the crew was left to their own devices to get out of the falling plane.
His landing was not without consequences for Arthur. He injured his back but he was alive and able to walk away with the help of local French farmers. The bulk of the story involves Arthur’s survival and the members of the French resistance (AKA the “Maquis”) and the team known as Morhange. Marcel Taillandier was the heroic leader of this team and was based primarily in Toulouse, France. For six months, Arthur played the role of Georges Lambert, a French farm worker who was a deaf mute. Along the way, numerous French Patriots befriended Arthur and helped him.
In 2012, the author started his search for his grandfather’s story. Seth Meyerowitz went to France and Spain a couple of times to find either those who helped his grandfather or their families. His family had kept correspondence between Arthur and those French heroes. Seth was an experienced computer user at the time. That helped him with his research.
Even though I knew the outcome of the story, I was on the edge of my seat while reading the story. When Arthur sent a telegram home, it brought tears to eyes. I wanted to get up and cheer. If I had been home, I would have but I was in a restaurant having lunch so I did not.
If you want to read a great story of heroism and perseverance, this is a book for you. If you want learn a little more about WW II that is not spoken about, this is for you. I give this book my VERY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
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The story told is about Mr. Meyerowitz’s grandfather, Staff Sergeant Arthur Meyerowitz. Arthur was Jewish and was born in the Bronx, the northern borough of the City of New York. His parents were Rose and David and he had a younger brother, Seymour. Arthur joined the United States Army when WW II broke out with the goal of becoming a pilot. Due to an accident during pilot training, he was forced to give up that plan. Because of his outstanding record during pilot training, the Army decided to offer him the training for Flight Engineer, a role he relished. Flight Engineers were responsible for the maintenance of the planes in which they flew. He was also a Top Turret Machinegun Operator.
After his training at various places around the US, his plane (a B-24 bomber nicknamed Harmful L’il Armful) and crew were assigned to the 715th Squadron, 448th Bomb Group at Seething Airfield north of London, England. The plane and crew arrived there in mid- November 1943. Arthur’s second mission was New Year’s Eve, 1943 to attack targets in western France south of Normandy. The bomber was shot down after delivering its bombs over the target airfield. According to the author, the pilot and co-pilot bailed out before the rest of the crew. Then the rest of the crew was left to their own devices to get out of the falling plane.
His landing was not without consequences for Arthur. He injured his back but he was alive and able to walk away with the help of local French farmers. The bulk of the story involves Arthur’s survival and the members of the French resistance (AKA the “Maquis”) and the team known as Morhange. Marcel Taillandier was the heroic leader of this team and was based primarily in Toulouse, France. For six months, Arthur played the role of Georges Lambert, a French farm worker who was a deaf mute. Along the way, numerous French Patriots befriended Arthur and helped him.
In 2012, the author started his search for his grandfather’s story. Seth Meyerowitz went to France and Spain a couple of times to find either those who helped his grandfather or their families. His family had kept correspondence between Arthur and those French heroes. Seth was an experienced computer user at the time. That helped him with his research.
Even though I knew the outcome of the story, I was on the edge of my seat while reading the story. When Arthur sent a telegram home, it brought tears to eyes. I wanted to get up and cheer. If I had been home, I would have but I was in a restaurant having lunch so I did not.
If you want to read a great story of heroism and perseverance, this is a book for you. If you want learn a little more about WW II that is not spoken about, this is for you. I give this book my VERY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
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February 18, 2018
The good points: Although retired, reading this true story reminded me of the excitement with which I delved into a suspenseful & exciting tale as a youth. There were times I regretted that it would end. Emotions ranged the spectrum as the trials & experiences of the protagonist, airman Arthur Meyerowitz, as well as those who aided in his escape from occupied France during WWII, were related. His story is almost eclipsed by a daring, dashing, & incredibly brave leader of a cell of the French Resistance, Marcel Taillandier. One stands agape witnessing the courage & self sacrifice of good people who resist the authorities during terrible times. Those Resistance members who were captured almost all suffered terrible endings. The Gestapo were masters of making death a painful passage. The book ends on a very poignant note - those who survived the events covered in the book almost all had very hard times adjusting to life after the war's end.
The bad points: The book lacks an index, which is maddening due to the array of characters & locations in the text. (I even made a rudimentary one for myself.) In addition, many events & even the characters beg for more information, considering the action & intrigue involved in this story. This is, understandably, unavailable due to the fact that no first hand sources remain alive. The author does a good job of accessing now declassified documents. The dialogue in quotation marks in the book come mainly from these documents. Lastly, the author, publisher, proofreader (I don't know who to blame) exhibits a very frustrating lack of correlating chronology e.g. at one point, the airman is captured & severely beaten. After being rescued by his supporters, he stays at a safe location in order to recuperate from his injuries. Once recovered, he is transferred back to a former location from which he could resume his attempt to escape from France. All throughout this period, the author gives fairly specific time frames, such as "...late March, 1944.." & "In early April, 1944...". However, for what has occurred in the story, the time frame from the airman's capture un
till his return to his former location would have had to have lasted at least one month. From the author's writing, it could be argued that the airman's capture occurred AFTER his return. This was not the only glaring example of skewed chronology. Overall, however, reading this book was definitely not a waste of my time.
The bad points: The book lacks an index, which is maddening due to the array of characters & locations in the text. (I even made a rudimentary one for myself.) In addition, many events & even the characters beg for more information, considering the action & intrigue involved in this story. This is, understandably, unavailable due to the fact that no first hand sources remain alive. The author does a good job of accessing now declassified documents. The dialogue in quotation marks in the book come mainly from these documents. Lastly, the author, publisher, proofreader (I don't know who to blame) exhibits a very frustrating lack of correlating chronology e.g. at one point, the airman is captured & severely beaten. After being rescued by his supporters, he stays at a safe location in order to recuperate from his injuries. Once recovered, he is transferred back to a former location from which he could resume his attempt to escape from France. All throughout this period, the author gives fairly specific time frames, such as "...late March, 1944.." & "In early April, 1944...". However, for what has occurred in the story, the time frame from the airman's capture un
till his return to his former location would have had to have lasted at least one month. From the author's writing, it could be argued that the airman's capture occurred AFTER his return. This was not the only glaring example of skewed chronology. Overall, however, reading this book was definitely not a waste of my time.
December 12, 2017
For the most part this was an interesting a readable book about a grandfather who bailed out of a B-24 over France in 1943 and spent several months with the French resistance in Southern France and, ultimately, escaped and returned to the USA. The story is as much about the heroes of the resistance as it is about the protagonist, a young, Jewish non-com who became a crew chief and gunner after just missing an opportunity to get his wings in flying school. It's a classic WWII tale of heroism and perseverance, a story that was repeated many times. Hundreds of airman were rescued and saved from torture, prison and even death by brave French men and woman. Curiously, our hero, who was trained by the resistance to act deaf and dumb was arrested once by the Gestapo and severely beaten. A Vichy cop who secretly a resistance member walked him out of jail and into hiding. I'm sure that Seth Meyerowitz, the author and grandson, had to work hard to put all the pieces together to tell this story. There are more than a couple instances that are bothersome. In one winter scene food is served that must have been out of season and hard to find in wartime. In another, the leader of the resistance walks with our hero and guides and a couple of very uncooperative Belgians across the Pyrenees. During this hike they were constantly under surveillance by German spotter planes. The resistance leader, Marcel, who throughout the book would not hesitate to pull the trigger on Germans or disloyal French, puts up with the Belgians and then decides to walk all the way back over the mountains with them. Another curious sidebar is the Meyerowitz's grudge against his pilot and copilot who he alleges abandoned ship before the rest of the crew. Small complaints aside, an enjoyable book.
May 1, 2025
Superb book about Arthur Meyerowitz during World War 2. Myerowitz was shot down on his second European mission. Survived by parachuting into the French countryside. Protected for months by the French resistance, especially by the group Morhange and their founder, Marcel Tailander. Tailander is an amazing individual who saved many downed fliers with his network of safe houses. He is a hero. Many Frenchmen gave their lives to protect these aviators. The Nazis, ie Germans, were unnecessarily brutal even when they knew that the gig was up. Meyerowitz hid both in safe houses and also quite openly. He was given false papers, and he was trained to be a deaf mute. Even after capture by the Gestapo,ie Germans, he was tortured but he maintained his silence until a plant in the jail was able to free him. For awhile, he even worked in a paing store. Finally, he is able to escape over the Pyranese Mountains to Spain after around 6 months. The book was written by his grandson, who really never knew the full story. Like many World War 2 veterans, including my father in law, we never heard the stories. They didn’t want to tell us, and we didn’t push them. To our American ears, we find it almost impossible (not anymore) to hear about unbelievable cruelty to our fellow man. Much praise goes to the author’s grandson, Seth Meyerowitz who dug and dug to tell us this amazing story. We need to hear more like it. There are good people in the world who fight for justice, just as much as their are savages and animals in our midst. You will not have a dry eye when you finish this book.
August 26, 2018
The Silent Sound of an Audible Deletion
I had great expectations for this book as a good WWII novel, but was surprised to realize that it was actually written as more of a memoir... or maybe a family roots type chronicle. To give a book to compare it to, it reminds me a bit of Ghost Train Through the Andes: On My Grandfather's Trail in Chile and Bolivia. It is written in a subjective tone of someone who admires an ancestor, rather than being an objective look at a person's deeds. So, the characters seem to be flat and one dimensional.
I enjoyed Ghost TrainThrough the Andes because I had a reason to read it... info on the railroads and a little known (to me) region of the world. Here however, I've read other novels on the Nazi invasion and occupation. There's no real motivation to make me want to follow a one dimensional memoir of a stranger's distant relatives. I don't know. It just didn't seem very interesting to me. I couldn't force myself to finish this. So, I cast it aside (figuratively, since I actually just hit the delete button on my Audible app and got a credit refund.) There will be other WWII novels, though I have pledged myself to not allow my Journey Around the World in 80 books project be a series of books about war. I can always read war novels on the side without feeling like I've gotten lost on my journey. But, this is not that. (Not a war novel.)
I had great expectations for this book as a good WWII novel, but was surprised to realize that it was actually written as more of a memoir... or maybe a family roots type chronicle. To give a book to compare it to, it reminds me a bit of Ghost Train Through the Andes: On My Grandfather's Trail in Chile and Bolivia. It is written in a subjective tone of someone who admires an ancestor, rather than being an objective look at a person's deeds. So, the characters seem to be flat and one dimensional.
I enjoyed Ghost TrainThrough the Andes because I had a reason to read it... info on the railroads and a little known (to me) region of the world. Here however, I've read other novels on the Nazi invasion and occupation. There's no real motivation to make me want to follow a one dimensional memoir of a stranger's distant relatives. I don't know. It just didn't seem very interesting to me. I couldn't force myself to finish this. So, I cast it aside (figuratively, since I actually just hit the delete button on my Audible app and got a credit refund.) There will be other WWII novels, though I have pledged myself to not allow my Journey Around the World in 80 books project be a series of books about war. I can always read war novels on the side without feeling like I've gotten lost on my journey. But, this is not that. (Not a war novel.)
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