Poor Man's Fight: The Odyssey of a World War II Bomber Crew

By Russell L. Greer

July 1944. USAAF Major Marvin Zander and the crew of their B-17 bomber, Poor Man's Fight, are savaged by German fighters over Friedrichshafen, Germany, and forced to land Dubendorf, Switzerland. Despite Switzerland's proclaimed neutrality, Zander and his men now find themselves in an amorphous and sometimes dangerous netherworld somewhere between peace and war, where friend cannot be readily distinguished from foe. At the outset, they are warned by Swiss authorities not to attempt an escape. Should they be caught while attempting such, their punishment will be harsh and quick. While interned, they will not be treated as prisoners of war but as internees. Even though their treatment is not harsh, Allied internees are subjected to privations of food and medical care, both of which take a toll on their collective health. Will that stark warning of draconian punishment by Swiss authorities be enough to deter the crew of Poor Man's Fight from orchestrating an escape attempt?

"Through the lenses of historian, bomber pilot, and storyteller, Russell L. Greer shines a light on a dark and little-known corner of World War II through captivating narrative and fascinating characters. A superbly entertaining read!"

--Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Steven J. Berryhill, USAF

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638815754