Seeking flight nurse rescue from Albania

Dear Ms. Nako,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located 9 series in the Records of the Office of Strategic Services (Record Group 226) that pertain to Albania. We also located the Personnel Files of the Office of Strategic Services, 1942 - ca. 1962 in Record Group 226 that includes a personnel file for Smith, Lloyd G., Capt - [Serial Number] 455941 who was involved in trying to find the nurses. For access to these records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.

In addition, RDT2 has custody of microfilm copies of operational records relating to U.S. Army Air Force units. We searched the Air Force History index to the microfilm and located war and daily diaries for 1 Sept 1943 through 31 Jan 1944 of the 807th Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron. In the PDF listing, the IRISREF is the microfilm reel number and note the FRAME and FRAMELST numbers for the location on the reel. Since the reel number begins with A, please contact RDT2 for access by providing the reel and fame information.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT2. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

Since the British were part of the rescue, we suggest you contact The National Archives of the United Kingdom, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, United Kingdom.

In case you have not seen these articles, please see Utah Nurses Escape from Albania; Albania Secret Rescue; Harold Hayes, Survivor of Secret World War II Odyssey; and The Thrilling Untold Saga of Rescue.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!