Twelve Desperate Miles
Subtitle: the epic WWII voyage of the Contessa
By: Tim Brady
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Crown
Published: 2012
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 328
ISBN-13: 9780307590374; 9780307590398
Subjects: Contessa (Steamer); Operation Torch, 1942; Campaigns; World War, 1939-1945; Riverine operations; American Riverine operations
Description: Documents the World War II service of a Honduran banana boat staffed with international merchant seamen, inmates, and a French harbor pilot who heroically succeeded in setting the stage for Patton's epic invasion of North Africa.
Table of contents: title: Dramatis personae; title: Prologue : A good citizen of Mehdia : Morocco, 1940; title: Part 1.; title: New York, June 1942; title: Airborne to London; title: Incorrigible; title: Claridge's; title: Halifax to Belfast; title: Walking the tightrope; title: D.C.; title: The apostles; title: The hazards of Port Lyautey; title: "I should like to embrace you"; title: Snatching the shark; title: Part 2.; title: Hollywood; title: Tangier to Gibralter to England; title: Needs and wants; title: Meeting Gruenther; title: SOS; title: Amphibians; title: Monsieur Prechak; title: Looking for a ship; title: The pieces in place; title: Part 3.; title: Dry dock; title: "Our worst war town"; title: Off to sea; title: Uncle Sam wants you; title: Convoy; title: Crossing; title: "Je m'engage et puis je vois"; title: Rendezvous; title: "Viva la France eternelle"; title: "Crack it open quickly"; title: The Dallas goes first; title: Twelve desperate miles; title: Armistice Day; title: Epilogue : "The little Contessa did the trick"