For more than 80 years, Ted Fahrenwald lived on Chicago's Far South Side, but the three most remarkable months of his life were spent behind enemy lines in occupied France. Now, his own spellbinding account of that time has been published for all to read.

Released posthumously, “Bailout Over Normandy” details the adventures of this daredevil pilot who jumped from his burning P-51 Mustang two days after D-Day in 1945. He fought with the French Resistance, endured capture by the Wehrmacht and interrogation as a spy, then escaped—only to find himself alone and with few resources far from Allied lines. The tale of his eventual return to his squadron is a gripping mix of pluck, outdoorsman skills, courage, some incredible luck, and a surprising amount of humor.

This Chicago native's story was edited by his daughter, Madelaine Fahrenwald, who also grew up in Chicago's stately Morgan Park neighborhood. She was raised in the same big, white stucco house at 115th Street and Longwood Drive that Ted had first occupied in 1930 at age eight and until his death in 2004. His father, Frank Fahrenwald, founded a steel foundry, the Fahralloy Company, that operated in Harvey, IL until the 1970s. Ted attended Chicago's Clissold School and Morgan Park Military Academy—now Morgan Park Academy—and two years of college before enlisting in the Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot.

Until publication of this book, Fahrenwald's daring heroism was one of the many untold stories of Chicago-area servicemen who fought for freedom in WWII. Now Chicagoans, and anyone interested in this thrilling time in history can share in the story told in "Bailout Over Normandy."

For more information about the book, visit the Casemate Publishers website.