Beyond The Call: The True Story of One World War II Pilot's Covert Mission to Rescue POWs on the Eastern Front

My father was a tail gunner in WW II and he too was my hero. I have read over 100 books on various topics of the brave men who flew in WW II, from well-known and famous pilots to stores about crews and other tragic event of that war.I could not put this book down. It was a whole different side of the war and the commitment that the Greatest Generation had and paid for our freedom. It sheds a who new light on the price that these fine young men paid, not only during their time of service, but for in a lot of cases the rest of their life for what they witnessed.You have to read this book. Robert Trimble is a true hero and paid a dear price because of his love of fellow human beings, more than just his fellow Army Air Corp members. Lee, thanks for getting his story in writing!The sad part is that his post 35 mission actions to rescue American POW, in a similar way the same crap is going on in that same area today. A must read.

Great story about an often forgotten time. Capt Trimble was truly part of the greatest generation. Super grateful to his son for sharing in such detail.

A bit of history concerning our WW2 and I dare say our current relationship with Russia. I find it interesting that they have not changed their mode of operations in at least 80 years. I wonder if the same is true of us.

Bought as a gift for someone going into the hospital. I did read the synopsis and sounds like it would be a good book.

What I liked most about this book was the integrity of both the central figure of the story, Captain Robert Trimble, and the clear, riveting account and in-depth research by the author, Jeremy Dronfield (author of the bestseller “The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz”).There are hundreds of references from the US National Archives (NARA), the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA), and the Texas Military Forces Museum, verifying the details of Captain Trimble’s journey from heavy bomber pilot stationed in England, to undercover rescuer on foot in Poland. This abundance of primary sources validate his story. In fact, two Air Corps historians were commissioned to write the "History of Eastern Command", found in the above archives. Both historians write of Captain Trimble's accomplishments. Of notable importance, is the fact that these historians were fellow officers stationed at the Poltava Air Base at the same time as Captain Trimble. They were therefore witnesses to some of the saved prisoners brought into the base.The most secretive aspects of the mission- the rescue of imprisoned military and civilian men and women- would not find much light in official archived reports, due to the secrecy of the mission at the time, and potential embarrassment of overstepping the authority of an Allied guest in Russian territory. Especially since Stalin saw all prisoners as traitors and cowards.One particularly telling report was found in NARA however, sanctioned by the Air Corps, written by Capt. Trimble. It details the rescue of over 30 soldier prisoners in one mission. What is most striking is the fact that it is cosigned by two officer eyewitnesses on that mission. This report also details the place (Lwow) that Capt. Trimble would find himself more than once, in both outbound and inbound rescue missions. Anyone who may question his heroism, need only research the above primary references for themselves.The rescue of 400 French Women must have been quite awkward for Capt. Trimble, as it was not part of his orders and was quite by accident. The young French woman who found him at the Hotel George in Lwow, was a chance meeting. Trimble was there to find information on lost aircrews and other Allies. The “liberation” of these French women was a clever rouse that had little chance of working. But we now know it did. The story of course did not appear in any archives of military records. But fortunately the honor of the rescue effort became public in newspaper annals in 1945. De Gaulle sent a French entourage to the US to honor esteemed Americans who contributed especially to the liberation of France and its citizens. And so in the autumn of 1945, Trimble received the high honor Croix de Guerre with Silver Star at a ceremony at Wright Air Field, Dayton Ohio. A clipping attached here from The Dayton Herald, Dayton Ohio, Sept. 1, 1945 recorded the event.Another attachment here is a photo of Captain Trimble from the book, found in the Texas Military Forces Museum. It was taken by Lieutenant Arnold Tillman, pilot of one of the aircrews Trimble rescued in Poland, and part of Tillman’s collection displayed in the Museum. The photo is taken outside of the Operations hut at the Poltava Air Base in Ukraine, where Trimble was stationed for his duration there. Trimble later was elevated to Commanding Officer of the base in a bizarre turn of events, where all of Trimble’s superiors at the base with flying status, we’re removed due to the ire of the Russians. He was the last American to leave the base in June 1945, after all of the other officers were safely out.

A stunning story about the Cold War that actually began before the end of WWII.USAAF forces, in support of the Red Army advance westward into Poland and Germany, began using "shuttle" missions by their B-24 and B-17 bombers- launch from bases in Britain, France and Italy, strike targets in the eastern areas of the Reich, and continue on to Red Army held territory (as they did not have the range to return to their bases). There, they would re-fuel and re-arm, and strike targets on their way back.Naturally, a number of aircraft were forced to crash-land in territory held by the Soviets, and the USAAF was anxious to get their planes and crews back- and they applied for permission to recover said aircraft.Enter Captain Robert Trimble, newly minted member of the "Lucky Bastards Club", the select few who had managed to complete the required 35 missions over enemy territory before being rotated home. Trimble was called to his CO's office and offered a choice- go home for a three week leave, and then possibly be re-assigned to a new set of combat missions (maybe in the Pacific), or agree to a "safer" aircraft recovery mission in the Eastern European Theater with the willing help of the Communists. Trimble's experience of combat missions flying both B-17s AND B-24s gave him a rather unique set of qualifications- and he was rated one of his squadron's best officers, as well.He began to notice odd things as he began to train for his new mission, not the least of which was the involvement of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He was to discover that his mission was not only to recover downed US aircraft, he was also to try to repatriate Axis held POWs who had been "liberated" by the Russians. Aircrews who had managed to evade capture by the Germans were treated as heroes by the Reds, but those taken prisoner were considered to be cowards, and abandoned after the POW camps were captured.The Russians performed mass executions of their own people who had been captured by the Nazis, and actively interfered with attempts by the Western Allies to recover theirs. Trimble's assignment was to outfox the Soviets and bring our people home, and in the process freed many more- other allied military, and hundreds of slave workers transported from their native countries to perform duties in the Nazi labor camps.This story is much more than the recollections of one man- it is meticulously researched- many military archives were investigated, and all of Trimble's verifiable details have proven accurate.It is a tale of derring-do, of the nasty politics at work between the "Allies", outright lies, deceits, and obstruction on the part of "Uncle Joe" Stalin, and the bravery and ingenuity of American and other freedom-minded people in a terrible time and place.I cannot recommend this book highly enough- five stars seems inadequate- this story must be known. It screams out for a legitimate historical movie or mini-series ala "Band of Brothers".One more note: I have been a fan of the movie "Patton", starring George C. Scott, for many years. This book illustrates a major failing of that tale. There is a point in the movie where Patton laments his inability to start a new war with the Russians to his friend Omar Bradley, and it is treated as a humorous, insane side-note to General Patton's career. It turns out that General Patton knew full well about the treatment of American POWs in Soviet held territory- treatment that would have been considered an act of war under any other circumstances. See also Bill O'Reilly's book, "Killing Patton".

Well written book!

A report on Russian non-cooperation towards the West at the end of WW2. How they tried to block return of POW's and forced labour workers from German occupied territory. Shows the lengths the pilot in question had to go to save these people.

An interesting story about not only routinely rising to the call of the duty but also going beyond its call and presenting an example for the future generations to follow!

Very good story marred by poor writing. I didn't particularly enjoy the writing which was pedestrian at best.

Christmas gift.