Building a Legacy of Remembrance
A Strategic Lifeline in 1944
As the airfield was strategically located on the flight path to and from bombing missions, it became an emergency landing field for damaged bombers who would not be able to make it back to their bases in southern Italy.
Either the planes would land—saving both crew and aircraft—or crewmen would bail out over the island and be rescued by locals supporting the Allied cause.
Over the 14 months the airfield was in service, over 4,000 crewmen were saved. Among them were future U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate George McGovern, and Lloyd Bentsen, who would become U.S. Treasury Secretary—both were 20-year-old pilots who landed their damaged B-24s on Vis.
Building the Memorial Center
It is time that this strategic location is recognized for its contribution to the Allied success in defeating Fascism. An advisory team has been established in Croatia to guide the effort to build a significant Memorial Center on Vis.
In July 2024, the advisory team sponsored a kickoff event on the island, attended by over 100 people including the Commanding General of the Croatian Air Force, the attaché to the Croatian Ambassador, and the Mayor of Vis.
The Foundation for Vis Island, a Croatian non-profit led by local historian Velimir Mratinić, works in partnership with the Vis WWII Memorial Center Corporation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization, to make this dream a reality.
Our Vision
A world-class WWII Memorial Center on Vis dedicated to the memory of those airmen who were saved—and those who did not make it. The center will feature audiovisual stories, interactive exhibits, and educational programs to ensure these stories of courage and sacrifice are never forgotten.
