Book- D-Day and Beyond: A True Story of Escape and POW Survival

"...a vivid first-hand account of the trials and tribulations of being a pilot during WWII... This book adds to our understanding of how much luck and determination made the difference between life and death for the typical POW...leaves the reader with a compelling message for today's youth." ~ David A. Frolick, Professor of Political Science,

North Central College

" Stan Edwards' story is a window into the cockpit of a C-47 on D-Day and his survival behind enemy lines...

His story of repeated capture and escape is like a great conversation with a history-loving uncle." ~ Chuck Coppola, WGN-TV Chicago

Experience the extraordinary journey of Stanley E. Edwards, Jr., a young C-47 pilot with the 82nd Airborne Division who faced the unimaginable at just twenty-two.

On D-Day, tasked with dropping paratroopers over Normandy, Stanley’s mission took a drastic turn when his plane was shot down, forcing him to parachute into enemy territory.

Alone and determined, Stanley joined scattered paratroopers in a daring bid to rejoin American forces—only to be captured by the Nazis.

Yet, his story didn’t end there.

D-Day and Beyond chronicles Stanley's harrowing escapes from captivity, his unyielding spirit that led to two more daring bids for freedom, and his final capture that placed him in the infamous Stalag Luft III prison camp.

Amid the darkness of war, Stanley found friendship, resilience, and lessons that would shape him for the rest of his life.

This gripping memoir of courage and survival paints a vivid picture of WWII heroism and the indomitable will to survive.

If you’re inspired by stories of relentless perseverance, brotherhood, and history come to life, D-Day and Beyond is a must-read that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

181 pages.