2nd Lt. Gerald B. Lowrey, 8th Fighter Group,
36th Fighter Sq. (Pilot P-38) is very glad to be aboard a Squadron Catalina. He stated that while on a strafing mission,
05 November 1944,
his ship was severely damaged near La Carlota and he was forced to bail out
of his plane ten miles South of Guimaras Island at 1100. He did not inflate
his life raft as the Japs saw him leave the ship and sent boats out to
search for him. However, he paddled around avoiding them until darkness. He
was near a small unnamed island and swam around it three times during the
night, not daring to go ashore. When rescued he was extremely fatigued but
otherwise in good condition.
(Courtesy Harold Strub) |
