He kept military secrets for years Now Haverhill's Outstanding Citizen tells all in WWII book

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August 4, 2008

By Mike LaBella

HAVERHILL — John Katsaros spent years waiting for the moment when he could tell his harrowing story about being shot down over France during World War II.

Sworn to secrecy by the military after the war, Katsaros got the OK several years ago to finally talk about his wartime adventure. He first told it to family and friends, and now he's telling it in a new book he recently self-published.

In "Code Burgundy, The Long Escape," Katsaros recalls the B-17 bombing mission he was on, how his plane was severely damaged by German ground fire, how he parachuted onto French soil with severe injuries, and how he eventually made his escape to England — with help from the French underground.

Mayor James Fiorentini has honored Katsaros for his war efforts and his new book by presenting him with the city's Outstanding Citizen Award.

Fiorentini said he doesn't give the award out every year, but reserves it for those who have brought honor to Haverhill.

"The award is for more than writing a book. It's for his efforts in World War II where he was a POW for a while and eventually escaped from Nazi Germany," Fiorentini said. "The French Resistance honored him, so it's about time we did too."

For years, Katsaros, 85, was itching to tell his story to his wife, Mary, and his late brothers George Katsaros, a former Haverhill mayor, and Sotiris Katsaros, a former principal of Haverhill High.

John Katsaros, who made a career in finance and real estate after the war, recalls March 20, 1944, when his B-17 Fighting Fortress was returning from bombing a German fighter-plane factory. Flying at 25,000 feet, his plane was severely damaged by ground fire. Katsaros' arm was injured and bleeding, yet he managed to jump out seconds before the plane fell apart.

Katsaros, who was an Army Air Forces gunner, landed harshly on French soil, broke an ankle and six ribs, and was captured by the German Gestapo.

"Six of us landed with our parachutes, and we were all injured," he said. "The bombardier and I were captured, and the others made it back to America."

Katsaros was rescued several days later by members of the French underground. Thinking he was close to death, the Germans neglected to post many guards at the farmhouse where he was being interrogated. Members of the French underground attacked, grabbed Katsaros and whisked him away in a car. He was shot by a member of the Gestapo while he was being rescued. He passed out and woke up several hours later in a farmhouse 20 miles away. He was taken to a Jewish doctor and underwent several life-saving surgeries, he said.

Over the next few months, an exhausted Katsaros worked his way across France with help from the underground — evading capture at one point by disguising himself as a French police officer and as a civilian. With their help, Katsaros, whom the French referred to as "Code Burgundy," made his way across the Pyrenees to Spain and ultimately to freedom in England.

"There are a lot of twists and turns to my escape," Katsaros said, "including hiding in a dry well to avoid being arrested by German soldiers."

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Reading and hearing his story

Copies of John Katsaros' book can be ordered by calling 978-869-3035, e-mailing jkatsaros3@comcast.net, or online at www.oakfordmedia.com.

He will discuss his war experiences Aug. 8 in the Edgewood Retirement Community auditorium, 575 Osgood St., North Andover. More information is available online at www.edgewoodrc.com.