James J. Goebel, Jr. (May 19 1923-September 30 2002),was born in Brooklyn,NY,to parents James and Frances Goebel. He loved flying.During WWII, he served in the US Army Air Force as a pilot and officer both stateside and in Europe.He was assigned to a B-24 crew as part of the 16th Bombardment Operational Training Wing. He was assigned to HB (Heavy Bomber) Crew No. DJ-11, where he was copilot, of the Unit 445th Bomb Group/702nd Bomb Squadron.The rest of the crew was pilot Franklin C. Kendziora, navigator Leon Czaplewski,bombardier Robert C.Tucker, engine top turret gunner Donald D. Irvin, radio operator Charles H. Westerlund, waist gunners Irl J. Klinginsmith and Norman C. Mosher, ball turret gunner Charles L. Weymouth and tail gunner Theodore S. Chriss.When their bomber was shot down on 24 April 1944, James successfully evaded capture with the help of the Belgium and French undergrounds.The Comet Line (French: Réseau Comète; 1941–1944) was a Resistance organization in occupied Belgium and France. The Comet Line helped Allied soldiers and airmen shot down over occupied Belgium evade capture by Germans and return to England. The Comet Line began in Brussels, where the airmen were fed, clothed, given false identity papers, and hidden in attics, cellars, and people's homes. A network of volunteers then escorted them south through occupied France into neutral Spain and home via British-controlled Gibraltar.The motto of the Comet Line was "Pugna Quin Percutias", which means "fight without arms", as the organisation did not undertake armed or violent resistance to the German occupation.The men who headed to Switzerland were James Goebel Jr.,Jack Holton, Donald Brinkhurst, Charles Westerlund,Robert Tucker,Solomon and Pavelka, they were known as The Lucky Seven.After WWII, James continued his aviation career, spray flying with the U.S. Agriculture Department, and he joined Eastern Airlines as a commercial pilot in 1951. He wed Joan Ann Stewart on Sept. 20, 1952. Together, they had 7 children, six sons and one daughter. James retired from Eastern in 1983 as a captain.In his honour, Goebel Field Airport was established in Mountain Home,Texas.

This was very fact based and just seemed to lack any emotion or tension on what must have been a terrifying journey.

It certainly opened my eyes to the chances that were taken by ordinary people to get allied personal to safety.

Worth a read.

The Lucky Seven - An interesting recounting of the survival of several downed United States Army Air Force and Allied airmen during World War II. The story follows mainly Lt. James J. Goebel, Jr., the copilot of the downed B-24 Ruthless Ruth, in Belgium, on April 24, 1944. Fortunately, the crew A.K.A. DJ-11 survived the death of Ruth. His experiences with the Belgian and French Resistance fighters, his crew, and Allies make an immersing read. Included are supplements and references, as well as what happened to whom. The photographs were distorted on my phone's Kindle app making them difficult to see and read. Source: Netgalley. 5*

The Lucky Seven tells the incredible wartime story of First Lieutenant James J. Goebel Jr. His journey is one of courage and true heroism that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

This book is also a wonderful testament to both the French and Belgian Resistance. At a time when the world was full of chaos and hatred, these groups offered unbelievable kindness despite their own personal hardships and demonstrated acts of true bravery and resilience.

I am fortunate to have visited Normandy, many French and Belgian battlefield sites, and the numerous Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries and memorials - and what is always apparent to me is that we can never grasp the scale of both World Wars, nor comprehend what both servicemen and civilians endured. First Lieutenant James J. Goebel Jr’s story should not be forgotten and I highly recommend this wonderful tribute to him that is ‘The Lucky Seven.’

I cannot finish this review without mentioning the author’s meticulous research and impeccable attention to detail concerning every character and every location featured in the book. A fantastic accomplishment and tribute of which the whole Goebel family should be proud.

I am grateful to the publisher, NWH Holdings, via NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In The Lucky Seven, author Norman W. Holden writes about the experience of his father-in-law, James J. Goebel, Jr., whose B-24 was shot down over Belgian. Goebel would spend months being hidden by the Belgian resistance before finally escaping to Switzerland.

This is one of the most descriptive accounts I have read about the actual process of getting a crew trained in the U.S. to their destination abroad. Over 9,400 miles flown just to arrive in the European Theatre of War. And once there, the long slog of additional training, and waiting for their crew’s pilot to fly the required “co-pilot” missions to be cleared back to his crew for combat. It truly reflects the “hurry up and wait” schedule that frustrated so many airmen.

It is also very detailed regarding the day-to-day lives and routines of airmen who were being assisted by the Resistance. If you’re looking for an action-packed read, this isn’t it because The Lucky Seven accurately reflects the secrecy, hiding, and waiting that so many Allied airmen endured when trying to evade capture by the Nazis. Having read many accounts of airmen assisted by the French Resistance, I was surprised by the many risks taken by the Allied airmen and their Belgian Resistance members, such as going for walks in occupied cities or taking in a movie at a theater frequented by Nazis. I know boredom needed alleviating, but it seemed a tremendous risk, especially to those hiding the men. The Nazis considered such a thing to be a crime punishable by death.

Overall, a well-researched and thorough account about Goebel’s experiences in the war.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Author Norman W. Holden gave a vivid and suspenseful telling the story of several airmen who were shot down over occupied-German territory in Belgium. The title, 'Lucky 7', didn't begin to cover it. Centered around James T. Goebel, Jr. who was on his very first flight mission when his plane was shot down, Holden recounts Goebel's day-to-day experience as members of the resistance found him instead of the Nazis. It is hard to imagine anyone who is desperately trying to get to Switzerland under the noses of the enemy. From day one, Goebel and the others, lived in fear for their lives--not knowing who to trust or where their next meal was coming from. Many of the resistance members who helped these men were either murdered or disappeared altogether never to be seen again. It was a harrowing read, but a story that needed to be told. I often wonder when I read these types of books, whether anyone in today's world would be brave enough to risk everything and help a complete stranger. Giving up their ration of food and putting their own lives on the line for harboring them in their homes. Definitely a page turner, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in World War II history or anyone who might like a good adventure story. It is very hard to imagine what these men, and others like them, went through in the name of freedom. Thank you, Mr. Holden for introducing the world to James T. Goebel, Jr.--a real hero among men.

An interesting read about the trials of an American airman in a bomber group on his first mission and the help he receives in occupied territory when he has to bail out.
It reminds us of the sacrifices some people made for people they had never met before in order to promote freedom from Hitler's Nazi Germany.
Well worth a read about one of many airman who had to fly and bomb in Germany with a high rate of attrition and facing huge losses in the air.

This is the story of WW Army Aviators, generally in the European Theater. It is more of a memoir of the main actor, a relative of the author. Mostly based on surviving letters, there is a lot of speculation. But the author alerts you to this. As a history, it has its deficiencies.

But, as amplification of the adventures, it is quite effective. The story is compelling, including the travails of aviators detained after ditching their damaged planes over Europe! Detained, by neutral counties! Not stories often known, nor told.

As a kind of memoir for those seeking all the many tales of “our boys” serving in WW II, with nitty-gritty details, I give it four stars. For a general audience, I have to give it three.

The long way home for Second Lieutenant James J. Goebel, Jr. began on April 24, 1944. He was a member of a B-24 Liberator crew, the plane was hit by enemy fire. The only option for Goebel and his crewmates was to parachute into enemy territory.

I’ve read many WWII books detailing bombing missions or infantry actions, but I don’t recall ever reading about the very personal, individual, day-to-day activities of those brave and selfless individuals who put themselves in harm’s way to get American and British crews to safety.

Men, women, even children played a part. Fear of being identified as Americans, hunger, and yes, even boredom was ever present. Language barriers were a problem, as were the fears of not knowing if any of the new civilian helpers were friend or foe.

This was a thoroughly interesting book, and one I am glad to have had the opportunity to read.

The Lucky Seven is the true, compelling, inspiring tale of how a group of US Army Air Force aircrew evaded capture after their airplanes were shot down over Nazi occupied Europe during World War 2. It is a story of the daring, bravery and endurance exhibited by a group of very young American men, and the sheer good fortune they occasionally enjoyed, in what were totally alien and often terrifying circumstances; and of the magnificent selflessness, sacrifice and sheer heroism shown by so many ordinary men and women in Belgium and France who came to their aid, offering help, food and shelter despite the risk of betrayal, capture, interrogation under torture and very possibly death at the hands of the occupying force. This exhaustively researched and extensively sourced book is clearly a labour of love for the author, the son-in-law of Second Lieutenant James J. Goebel, Jr who is the main protagonist. It is an important story which deserves the widest possible audience to keep alive the memory of all those, both in the Allied military forces and in the general population of occupied Europe, who gave so much and made so many sacrifices to free the world of Nazi tyranny.

This was an excellent book. Anyone who enjoys a good military history story will enjoy this one. It's a real page-turner. Well written and well researched.

Interesting insight into bombers and the resistance.*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

An important, extremely detailed, moving account of an U.S. Army Air Forces pilot's harrowing experiences during World War II. On April 24, 1944, Second Lieutenant James J. Goebel, Jr. was shot down over Belgium after a successful B-24 bombing raid .

Goebel and his crew jumped for their lives, and what followed is a harrowing---and amazingly successful---evasion of Nazi patrols. The author is a son-in-law of Lt. Goebel, and he had access to detailed documentation. A must-read account that I am sure will be made into a movie! I don't see how it can't be.

Completed! Highly recommended. Plan to purchase for my local library and to recommend to my non-fiction local book club.

At 71% … several times I’ve read passages aloud to my hubby with the exclamation … “if this were a novel I would never believe it!” Tomorrow is my non-fiction book club night, so anxious to talk to the librarian about this book. This is a MIST READ! Absolutely fabulous. This book needs more media attention!

36% and will provide updates as I continue to finish The Lucky Seven. If you are looking for a non-fiction book that is better than fiction, look no further. This one is very, very well written and well researched. (I've never gone back and forth between notes - in the back - and the text because I don't want to miss a thing.) The author/Norman Holden is the son-in-law to the late James J. Goebel Jr; he makes this book so interesting. I'm really shocked that their are only a handful of reviews for this book; which was released about 6 months ago. All the details really enhance this book, the route of the team going from US to Germany through Brazil and Africa (and the care around neutral Ireland) is something I was unaware. The US Airmen were getting into it (Goebel connected with the airman - shot down less than two weeks earlier - who previously occupied his bunk, without considering the danger they were putting their rescuers in. Had this detail been in a novel, I would not have believed it. This book reminds me of the Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Ok, back to the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for (yet once again) introducing me to a "new to me author"; I'll try to get to another Holden book once I can get my TBR list under control. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher NWH Holdings, LLC for approving my request to read the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.

World War II was a time for heroes. None are more courageous than those who flew the skies in America's Army Air Corps during that war. Some were lucky and came home, others did not. The Lucky Seven chronicles the maiden and final flight of a heavy bomber and Liberator aircraft in World War II. It was shot down after delivering its payload over Germany in the months before D-Day. Seven of its ten-member crew survived with, several never being taken prisoner and one that was severely injured and captured by the Germans. The book tells the story of the Belgium secret army, a group of citizens that quietly and secretly hid American and other Allied servicemen who had found their way to Belgium during the dark days of Hitler's reign over their country.
Many of these stories are being lost,, with the generation who fought this war. Many thanks to Norman Holden, the son-in-law of the pilot of the aircraft for preserving the story and piecing together as much as possible about the days of the surviving crew members after the downing of their plane. Great book for lovers of World War II aviation history. Thanks to #NetGalley#The LuckySeven for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The personal life story of the co-pilot of a B-24 Liberator who, with his 6 fellow crew members, was shot down on their first operational mission when on the return leg to England. His personal story is interwoven with those of his crew throughout their training once assigned to the B-24, their trials and somewhat primitive accommodations throughout that period including the long transit flight to bring their aircraft to Engand. This involved south to Brazil and the long crossing of the South Atlantic to West Africa, north to Morrocco and thence to England.
The crew had to undergo more training flights before the assignment of their first operational mission and it is on this mission that the second part of the story begins. Once the escort of P-51 Mustangs left them over Belgium and before the P-47 Thunderbolts arrived, the German fighters attacked and shot them down. The crew had time to bale out but some were wounded in the air attack but all were picked up by local Belgian resistance members and then started the arduous ‘escape and evasion’ process via the escape lines in Belgium and France and then to Switzerland.
A fascinating true story that is truly stranger than fiction that shows human resilience and comradeship in the face of the enemy.

An inspirational novel about the trials of avoiding capture and escaping from occupied Europe by US and British pilots in WW2. The story will hold your attention and you will find it hard to put down this book. I found it to be a quick and enjoyable read. A great story and book!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A compelling read - the story gripped me from the very begininng. I felt as though I was descending myself via parachute into WW2 Belgium. The pace of the story is brisk enough and there is plenty of factual references to keep track of.
I quite enjoyed the additonal information at the end of the book, a small appendices of sorts which only served to further my curiousity about the 445th Bomb group.
What a tribute to the real men who sacrificed much and spoke little of their navigations of the machinations of war.