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MISSION REPORT - RESCUES -
05
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28 JULY 1944
A B-24 crew was reported to have made a
forced landing in the
Vogelkop
(bird's head) section of New
Guinea about 18 miles due North of the
village of Tapis. Second
Lieutenant Leroy Nelson, pilot of
the rescue ship proceeded to the designated area and searched for six hours
before locating them in a jungle swamp of kunai grass. A parachute kit of
food and supplies was dropped to the survivors, all of whom appeared to be
uninjured. The parachute kit landed about 150 yards from the crashed plane.
Lieutenant Nelson flew over the area directing the survivors to
the kit, it requiring 3 hours for the crew to force their way 150 yards through the swampy
growth to the supplies and return. After assuring himself that they had recovered the
parachute kit, Lieutenant Nelson returned to his base. Several
trips were subsequently made to provide the men with subsistence and supplies. A ground
rescue crew was organized by Australian and American bush men and with natives from the
village of Tapis. They heavily armed themselves and proceeded to the area in three canoes,
utilizing the river Kamcendan. They reached their landing point in six days from where
they cut their way three miles through the jungle to the survivors being directed by our
PBY crew. During the journey into the interior, the rescue party encountered a patrol of
approximately 150 Jap troops whom they ambushed, killing 38, the rest of whom scattered
into the jungle. Natives, in the course of a few days, disposed of 18 more of the enemy.
The party of five survivors made their way back with the rescue party to Tapis and thence
to their base. The crew was apparently none the worse from their lengthy enforced stay in
the jungle swamp.
RESCUED MEN:
5 members of B-24 crew
AIRCRAFT TYPE:
OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO:
44-33876
(CV-326)**
CALLSIGN:
"Daylight ??"
CREW:
(Pilot)
2nd Lt. Leroy
R. Nelson
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The narrative of these rescues was compiled and published in April 1946 from
logbooks of pilots, notes, letters, and other information by secretary
Marina G. de Guzman in Pampanga, Philippines.
*
Aircraft produced at Canadian Vickers Ldt, Cartierville, Quebec, Canada
** Canadian Vickers contract number that was unique to
each
aircraft produced by at the Cartierville, Quebec plant
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