They Dared Return

Well, wouldn't you know it.

I no sooner finished complaining about the internet forcing videos on you when you'd just rather read the darn story...and now I'm about to do the same thing to you.(maybe I should have been a politician....)

However, In this case, I think you will want to watch the video.

The true story is documented in a book by Patrick K. O'Donnell titled THEY DARED RETURN.

At the height of World War II, with the Third Reich’s Final Solution in full operation, a small group of Jews who had barely escaped the Nazis did the unthinkable: they went back. Spies now, these Americans took on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines This is their story, a tale of adventure, espionage, love, and revenge

Having barely escaped Germany, several Jewish friends are determined to strike back at the Third Reich while several of their families languish in concentration camps. 

After months of training with the U.S. Army, a small group of spies is formed, including several former German soldiers now willing to betray their Fűhrer for the greater good of Germany. 

The men are given a treacherous covert mission behind enemy lines and deep inside the heavily fortified area of Austria’s “Alpine Redoubt,” where Hitler planned to make his last stand. Capture would mean almost certain death; success, a swift end to the war.

But this daring mission was almost scrapped before it began. The problem was finding a way to get these men behind enemy lines. Parachuting them in was the only practical way to do it, but that was considered too dangerous. The Royal Air Force refused to do it as did everyone else, until one American Pilot and his crew stepped up to the plate and volunteered.

That pilot was John Billings and I was honored recently to have him as a guest on my TV show here in Virginia. 






 PS...John is married to the former Barbara Barrett, Central High School graduate, class of 56.