The Secret Rescue: An Untold Story of American Nurses and Medics Behind Nazi Lines

In November 1943, twenty-six Army nurses and medics from the 807th Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron boarded a cargo plane for transport. The aircraft crashed in Nazi-occupied Albania, forcing the group and its flight crew into a months-long struggle for survival. They evaded enemy fire and severe winter weather while traversing mountains, aided by local villagers who risked their lives to help them. Cate Lineberry's account documents this survival story, which remained largely unknown for decades. The narrative follows the group's endurance and the clandestine rescue efforts mounted by American and British organizations operating within the wartime landscape. The story centers on the experiences of ordinary military personnel facing extraordinary circumstances during World War II.