Bailout Over Normandy, Ted Fahrenwald, 2012, Casemate, 286 pages, photos. ISBN 978-1-61200-474-7

This one of the best books I have read lately.

Lt Theodore "Ted" Fahrenwald, Mustang pilot bailed out of crippled fighter-bomber after taking heavy damage from an exploding ground target east of Caen a few days after Overlord. He was ably assisted by local, including the Maquis until he tried to make his way to British lines on the Orne. He was detained by German forces and eventually discovered by them not be a local Frenchman and was sent further inland, to wait on transport to a proper PoW camp. He managed to escape and was hidden by a French farmer and his wife until the area was liberated in mid-August by French and US forces.

Fahrenwald wrote a manuscript of his adventures in 1946, but left it on the shelf. After his death, his daughter worked to have the manuscript published without editing, other that to correct some spelling and punctuation.

Fahrenwald apparently was quite a character and this work well represents his exuberant, comical outlook on life. While the book is not dismissive of the perils he and others faced during the two months he was lost, evaded, was captured, escaped, evaded again, and then was recovered, his telling of his adventures is comical at times and easily held my interest. His description of his bailout was hilarious to me, but still described the dangers and closeness of death for him

I highly recommend this book for its sheer entertainment value alone. The historical record is a close second and well worth the read for that. His writing style is just additional cream.

10/10 Why have I not read this before? Furthermore, why aren't getting yourself a copy and reading now? ( )

A suspenseful and witty memoir of an American World War II fighter pilot shot down over France and his outrageously brave adventures behind enemy lines.

A daredevil aviator in the famed 352nd Fighter Squadron, Ted Fahrenwald bailed out of his burning P-51 Mustang two days after D-day and was launched on a thrilling adventure in Occupied France. After months living and fighting with the French Resistance, he was captured by the Wehrmacht, interrogated as a spy, and interned in a POW camp—but he made a daring escape just before his deportation to Germany.

Despite Fahrenwald’s harrowing experiences, nothing diminished the ace’s talent for spotting ironic humor in even the most aggravating or dangerous situations—and nothing stopped his penchant for extracting his own improvised, and sometimes hilarious, version of justice.

Recently discovered but written shortly after the author’s discharge and return to the United States, Bailout Over Normandy is a remarkable memoir that reveals a rare literary talent. This WWII page-turner is an audaciously humorous tale of daring and friendship that brings vivid life to the daily bravery, mischief, and intrigues of fighter pilots, Resistance fighters, and allies in the air and on the ground.

World War II fighter pilot Ted is forced to bail out of his airplane into occupied France. He is quickly taken in by the French Resistance and drafted into their ranks. After meeting with other downed pilots, they decide to leave the Resistance and try and make it past enemy lines back to the Allies.

I grew bored with this book. I realize that this is a true story, however at times it drags on and on and on. On a plus, the writing style is very conversational. The characters are easy to get a feel for and seem one hundred percent genuine. I also loved the use of the vernacular of WWII and fighter pilots. I wish some of the longer passages had been edited more carefully, in order to provide a more concise and interesting tale. ( )