Rescue from Ploesti: The Harry Fritz Story: A World War II Triumph [Paperback]

William G. Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

In the early 1940s, thousands of young American men, some still in their teens and many without ever having been in an airplane, worked through brief training courses and found themselves within a year or less to be combat veterans. Such a young man was Pennsylvanian Harry Fritz, who was trained as the tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber. Flying with the 15th Air Force from Italy, Fritz’s plane was shot down during a raid over the mammoth ring of oil refineries that encircled the city of Ploesti in Romania. When Romania abandoned Nazi Germany and joined the Allied cause, 1,100 Allied prisoners were left stranded. A daring rescue mission by dozens of B-17 Flying Fortresses brought all of them to safety in one of the war’s most amazing operations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A fascination with WWII history and friendship with a combat veteran led to the story told in Rescue from Ploesti. A veteran of service in the U.S. Navy aboard aircraft carriers and the holder of a private pilot’s license, William G. Williams has been interested in flying since childhood. He majored in journalism at The Pennsylvania State University and retired after a career in journalism and public relations. He has also written three historical novels: Days of Darkness: The Gettysburg Civilians, Heroes Among Us, and The Coal King’s Slaves: A Coal Miner’s Story.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: White Mane Publishing Company (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572493402
• ISBN-13: 978-1572493407
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > History > Europe > Romania
  • #77 in Books > History > Military > Prisoners of War

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One who survied, January 8, 2008

By 

Thomas H. Coyle - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rescue from Ploesti: The Harry Fritz Story: A World War II Triumph (Paperback)

What a great book. I could not put it down. Especialy liked the part on the training involved to make the unit.

5.0 out of 5 stars Remembering, December 2, 2010

By 

Gwennie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rescue from Ploesti: The Harry Fritz Story: A World War II Triumph (Paperback)

I am in my late 60s. Any of you who grew up during the end of WWII as I did, probably had a father or an uncle who was somehow involved in the war. Some talked of it (my dad did) and some did not. Harry Fritz did not .... so the family knew that there was a story ..... and that story has now been written. This is just one of those stories, beautifully written and very informative. Thank you dear Uncle "Bobby" for finally sharing it with the world.