These are true stories of airmen who didn’t return from bombing missions over Europe. To those flying with them, they were simply gone. Many died in fiery crashes, while others became POWs or Evadees. A few were captured and later escaped and a small number were shot in their parachutes or killed after landing. Back at home the families waited, often not knowing if a loved one survived. The stories are about the struggle to survive, so that the blue star proudly hanging in the window at home would not be replaced by a gold one.