Albanian Escape: The True Story of U.S. Army Nurses Behind Enemy Lines

Photos

Lieutenant Agnes Jensen, 1944. .I _ .- . - -- , - --- ---- ---_..... ... .. .' - .... Bordering Yugoslavia and Greece, Albania is just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. Bari, the planned destination for the night, is located just above the Italian heel. Courtesy of the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Government, Springfield, Virginia. Adrilltic ---- ----- . -- . --- --- - ._----- ----- .I " " 10- -" --- -- , - ,.. - ORE~CE -'I Albania's rugged mountains were a major obstacle in the nurses' escape to Allied lines. Courtesy of the National Technical Lnformation Service, U.S. Government, Springfield, Virginia. ALBANIA ~ u '" " ~ ~ -. ""« Albanian Villages, Cities, and RiverCrossings along Escape Route, 1943- 1944 In this view ofthe Albanian terrain from the east side ofthe "last mountain," the widest and deepest "V" is the Dukat-Terbaci pass, dividing line between the partisans and Ballists. Courtesy of Lt. Col. Lloyd G . Smith, AUS (Ret.). (Map at kft) Many of the towns and villages visited were very small, with only a few houses, and they are too nwnerous to note on this map. They are listed here in the order of the party's escape route and lie between the cities and locations marked with asterisks, which do appear on the map. Cr:lsh site south of Elbasan' Pashtrani Berat* Matishave Bargulla Dobrusha Derzhezha Leshnija Mt. Tomomt* (alt. 8136 ft.) Terlioria Lovdar· Krushove Gjergievice Panerit Osum River· GostomickalCostomicka (spelling used interchangeably] Malini Odrican Pennet on the Vjose River* Mt. Nennerska" (alt. 8186 ft.) Shepr Gjirokaster* Mashkulon Zhulat Progonat Golem* Kalonja Karla Doksat Saraginishte Orin River* Midhar Golem* Kuc* Kalarat Terbaci Dubt* Seaview* Sea Elephant* (Above) Kostig 5teffa as a student in Italy prior to World War ll. Author's archives. (Beluw) Lieutenant Gavin (Gary) Duffy, 50E, led the stranded nurses, medics, and flight crew from Krushove to the coast during the escape from Nazi-occupied Albania. British Army Photograph. Hodo Meta (without hat) and his cousin (second from left) helped Major Smith rescue the last three flight nurses of the 807th Evacuation Squadron, March 1944. Courresy of Lt. Col. Lloyd G. Smith, AUS (Ret.). Major Lloyd Smith, OSS, in Albania ta evacuate the last three nurses, March 1944. Courtesy of Lt. Col. Lloyd G. Smith, AUS (Ret.). \ The nurses' rescue boat arrived at Bari, Italy, on 9January 1944. U.S. Army Photograph. (Above) Members of the 807th Flight Evacuation Squadron were welcomed with hot coffee on their return to Ban. U.S. Anny Photograph. (Below) Seven ofthe thirteen flight nurses of the 807th Evacuation Squadron after rerurning from Albania. From left to right, Lois Watson, Lillian Tacina, Pauleen Kanable, Elna Schwant, Ann Kopsco, Frances Nelson, and Ann Markowitz. Author's archives. After an SOO-mile trek out of Nazi-occupied Albania, the nurses' Annyissue boots were well beyond being broken in. From left to right, Lois Watson, Lillian Tacina, Pauleen Kanable, Elna Schwant, Ann Kopsco, and Frances Nelson. Author's archives. Lieutenants Pauleen Kanable and Jean Rutkowski the day of their rerum from A1bania. Author's archives. (Above) The army flight nurses during their hospitalization following their return to Bari, Italy. Front, from left to right: Gertrude "Tooie" Dawson, Elna Schwant, Lois Watson, Lillian Tacina, and Ann Kopsco. Back, from left to right: Ann Markowitz, Frances Nelson, Agnes "Jens" Jensen, Jean Rutkowski, and Pauleen Kanable.Author's archives. (Below) Gertrude "Tooie" Dawson and Agnes "Jens" Jensen (standing) in the Twenty-sixth General Hospital in Bari. Author's archives. (Above) The four·man flight crew ofthe ill-fated air evacuation flight, Lieutenants James Baggs and Charles Thrasher and Sergeants Richard Lebo and Willis Shumway. Author's archives. (Beluw) Technical sergeants of the 807m Evacuation Squadron at the Twemy-sixth General Hospital in Bari. The soldier in bed is SergeantJames P. Cruise. Author's archives. \ Ann Maness, Wilma Lytle, and Helen Porter in the snowcapped mountains of Albania in March of 1944. Courtesy of Lt. Col. Lloyd G. Smith, AUS (R".). (Above) Left to right: Wilma Lytle, Helen Porter, Ann Maness, and Albanian guides. (Beluw) Ann Maness, an Albanian partisan, and Wilma Lytle on their hike out ofAlbania. Courtesy ofLt. Col. Lloyd G. Smith, AUS (Ret.). [18.222.121.170] Project MUSE (2024-04...