George Vujnovich

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George Vujnovich
Born
George Mane Vujnovich

(1915-05-31)May 31, 1915
DiedApril 24, 2012(2012-04-24) (aged 96)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Belgrade
SpouseMirjana Lazich
AwardsBronze Star Medal (2010)
Espionage activity
AllegianceUnited States
Service branchUnited States Army
Office of Strategic Services
RankMajor
OperationsOperation Halyard

George Mane Vujnovich (May 31, 1915 – April 24, 2012) was an American intelligence officer for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. He is known for his role in the organization of Operation Halyard, a successful operation that evacuated over 500 downed Allied airmen from Serbia.[1][2]

Early life

Vujnovich was born in

Pan American Airways who then relocated him and his wife to Ghana to a United States
controlled air base there.

Wartime and Operation Halyard

While in Ghana, the US entered the war and militarized the commercial airline company. At that point he was commissioned into the US Army and subsequently transferred to another US controlled air base in Nigeria where he was made base commander. The Army recognized his Serbian background and experience in Yugoslavia and recruited him to help the US assist resistance efforts in the Balkans. They sent him to training in Virginia and then he was stationed in Bari, Italy.

In the summer of 1944, US bombers went on a bombing run to take out Nazi oil fields in Romania but many were shot down over Yugoslavia. Vujnovich then came up with Operation Halyard, a plan to get them out by building a secret airfield. He trained Serbian speaking agents to conduct this operation. He taught them how to blend in by showing them small things such as tying their shoes the Serbian way among other things. The agents parachuted in and led the operation to a success. Over 500 airmen were rescued with huge help of Gen. Draža Mihailović and his chetniks forces from Yugoslavian Royal Forces.

Post-War

After the war was over he and Mirjana settled in New York City where they had a daughter together. Shortly after moving there he began a new career selling aircraft parts. He did this until he retired in the 1980s but continued doing consulting work in the field well into his 90s.

In 2003 his wife, Mirjana Lazich, died.

In 2010, Vujnovich received the Bronze Star for his role in the operation.[3]

In 2012 he himself died at the age of 96.[4]

References

  1. ^ Goldstein, Richard (April 29, 2012). "George Vujnovich is Dead at 96; Led War Rescue". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  2. ^ "George Vujnovich". The Daily Telegraph. London. May 27, 2012.
  3. ^ "George Vujnovich: OSS agent whose Operation Halyard saved allied". The Independent. 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  4. ISSN 0458-3035
    . Retrieved 2019-04-04.