[Back][Next] The survivors stated that while ferrying a
P-38 from Biak to Clark Field, they encountered a tropical front and became lost. They
climbed above the clouds and finally located the familiar island of Sangie, but
unfortunately, they had insufficient fuel to reach their destination and decided to ditch
in the shallow water of the northern coast of the island. Both pilots successfully ditched
their planes side by side at 2130 on 7 June 1945 and escaped unhurt. They removed all
their survival equipment from the planes, waded ashore, and proceeded to a village a few
hundred yards distant. Their reception was cool and restrained and fearing that the
presence of Japs may have intimidated the local inhabitants, they withdrew from the
village and selected an abandoned hut on the beach as a temporary shelter for the night.
They inflated their rafts and secured them at the water's edge in readiness for a hurried
flight, should it become necessary. In order to prevent the natives from carrying off
their emergency supplies, they removed them from the rafts and stored them in the shack.
About midnight Lieutenant Woliung heard footsteps approaching and yelled for them to halt.
A flash of lightning at this moment disclosed their shack to be partially surrounded by
Japs. The two pilots crawled through the opposite side of the hut and raced through the
darkness to the beach where they secured their rafts and departed the scene. Shortly after
they left, the Japs opened fire on the hut. The pilots hurriedly launched their dinghies
and paddled away from the sound. By some miracle they escaped unhurt and continued
paddling through the night. At daylight they were about two miles off shore, but were
surrounded by natives who attempted to pursuade them to return to the village. The pilots
declined and continued paddling. However, about noon, they observed several boat loads of
Jap soldiers putting out from the shore. Their hopes of escape were fast dwindling when
suddenly two spitfires suddenly appeared. The Spitfire pilots, observing the situation,
proceeded to strafe the canoes, driving all of them ashore. They remained in the vicinity
as long as their fuel supply would permit, finally departing about 1330. In the meantime,
Playmate 46 had been notified of the position of the two survivors and being only about 30
minutes away, hurried to the position given. They arrived just in time as the Japs had
again put out from shore and were rapidly approaching the life rafts. The arrival of the
rescue plane dispersed the Japs who scurried to shore as Lieutenant Hutchings landed near
the survivors and took them aboard. Had the two survivors not lost their equipment in
their hurried escape from the Japs, they could have attracted the attention of several
ships which passed over them during the morning. Their escape from the Japs was miraculous
and a credit to the alertness of the two Spitfire pilots and the speedy arrival of
Lieutenant Hutchings, pilot of the rescue plane. Rescued P-38 pilots: Lt. D.L. Finch and Lt J.W. Woliung, both assigned to the 41st Fighter Squadron AIRCRAFT: OA-10A 44-33933 CALLSIGN: "PLAYMATE
46" CREW: (P) 2Lt Earl Hutchings |
|
| JUL'44 - AUG'44 - SEP'44 - OCT'44 - NOV'44 - DEC'44 - JAN'45 - FEB'45 - MAR'45 APR'45 - MAY'45 - JUN'45 - JUL'45 - AUG'45 - SEP'45 - OCT'45 - NOV'45 - DEC'45 1 |
|
 |
