Operation Halyard: The Little Known Rescue Mission of WWII

In 1944, one of the most daring rescue missions of World War II took place deep behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia. Known as Operation Halyard, this incredible mission saw American forces and Serbian resistance fighters work together to evacuate over 500 downed Allied airmen—without losing a single life.

After U.S. bombers were shot down during raids on German-held oil fields in Romania, hundreds of airmen found themselves stranded in Yugoslavia. The local Serbian Chetnik resistance, led by General Draža Mihailović, risked everything to shelter the airmen, feeding and protecting them from German patrols.

In response, the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, predecessor to the CIA) launched a daring plan: they would build a secret airstrip in the mountains, deep in enemy territory, to fly the airmen back to safety. Against all odds, with only hand tools and no modern equipment, the Serbian villagers and American operatives carved out a runway.

On the night of the rescue, C-47 transport planes landed under cover of darkness, loading up the airmen and taking off before the Germans could respond. Over multiple missions, every single airman was safely evacuated, making Operation Halyard one of the most successful behind-enemy-lines rescues in history.

This incredible mission remained classified for years and is still one of the most overlooked yet heroic operations of WWII.