Walkout

Ten days before the D-day landings at Normandy, Lt. Henry Woodrum woke early to fly a combat mission that culminated in being shot down over the northern suburbs of Paris. Expected to be captured as he hung suspended in his parachute over Nazi-occupied France, Lt. Woodrum never lost hope—even as he realized the Germans were trying to kill him before he hit the ground.

Lt. Woodrum’s thirty-fifth combat mission flying the Martin Marauder B-26 was supposed to last just a few hours, but it ended up continuing three months as he struggled to survive in war-torn France. In his fascinating war memoir, Woodrum shares his true account of how he managed to evade capture while being aided by the French Underground—some of whom paid the ultimate price for their loyalty to the downed American pilot.

Walkout not only relays the incredible story of a young American behind enemy lines during pivotal months of World War II but also illustrates the quiet heroism displayed by American airmen and the French Resistance during an unforgettable time in history.

“A true story of a B-26 pilot’s escape from the Nazis after bailing out over Paris. A must read!” —Col. William F. Nicol, USAFR, MC (Ret)