newspaper after the transatlantic phone call:
“April 11 1961: ‘French Farmer Saved Ridger From the Gestapo.’
Hollywood has used the plot many times. This time the story of the World War II rescue of a downed American fighter pilot by a French farmer is true—and local.
The pilot was Oak Ridger Fred Moretto, who parachuted from his flaming P-47 June 12, 1944, six days after D-Day. The French farmer is Georges Desmares, who hid Lt. Moretto from the Gestapo for two whole months in the hayloft of his barn.
The manner in which Moretto learned some of the missing pieces of this tale is only one more amazing part of an inspirational story of bravery and courage…”
“A French farmer is trying to find a former U-S Air Force lieutenant whom he hid from
