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Bail Out Over China And The Long Walk Home Atch. # 1 |
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Information which follows was taken from the official interrogation report submitted by Captain James C. Eaton, AGAS, dated 3 May 1945. A copy of this report was obtained at a much later date from files in the National Archives, Washington D. C. by Art Humby, Aircraft Commander of the F-13 photo reconnaissance aircraft. The readability of the original pages is such that their being scanned and displayed with this report is not practical. As editor for this web site, I have chosen to retype this information in a similar format that will be more easily reviewed by interested viewers and to make it suitable for reproduction. There are a few cases where parts of lines of text were partially or completely obliterated. Where it was possible to identify specific words that were identifiable, I typed them in. In cases where I could not be sure, I typed in a series of blank spaces that seemed to fit the space on the page, hoping they might be filled in at a later time. |
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US ARMY OBSERVATION SECTION APO 879 CHINA THEATER (YENAN) DATE: 3 May 1945 SUBJECT: Summary of Experiences of Humby Crew and Lt. R. D. Wells TO: Commanding Officer, AGAS-China, APO 627, through channels. Humby Crew:
Preliminary Interrogation: 18 April 1945 Lt. R. D. Wells:
Not Interrogated. Plane #854, an F-13 of the 1st Photo (VH) Sqn XX BC, was on a photo reconnaissance mission over Korea when an engine began to give trouble. Attempts to feather the propeller failed, and it began to windmill. Eventually, it became necessary to abandon ship. The men jumped in the vicinity of C-sei-shan (Fingu) (overlay). All classified material was destroyed and the ship was seen to crash and burn. In jumping, most of the men failed to take along all of their evasion aids, and consequently were short of medical items that would have been useful. On landing, all encountered plainclothes soldiers of the local Peoples' or soldiers of the Regular Army and were thus protected and gathered together ____ ____. The Japanese garrison nearby sent out a small force to capture them but it was quickly repulsed. Food, shelter, and clothes to protect them from the winter cold and to disguise their identity were provided by the people ____s respect; it is noted that they remark that the money in their belts was of no use to them, as it was Central Government currency. However it is extremely difficult to persuade these people to accept any form of payment. However, it may be quite impossible for anyone to carry sufficient local _____ to pay the ____ of the _____ two to four month trip____ to walk ____ _____ ____. Watches, knives, side arms, trinkets, and the like are far more useful and acceptable. Since Capt. Humby was unfamiliar with Chinese names, his knowledge of the route was vague. He had with him a map obtained from a Korean who traveled with the crew from the vicinity of O-mei-shan to Fu-p'ing (overlay), which shows the general route taken by the whole party (Incl 1). According to Capt. Domke of the USAOS, who accompanied this party from Fu-p'ing to Yenan and finished the information on that portion of the route, the men deviated from the route indicated to pass through Ling'nin-t'ai (overlay), Hqs. of the 11th sub-district of the Chin-h'a-Chi Military Region. It was here that they picked up Lt. Wells, who had been held there about eight days, pending their arrival. After four more days of waiting there, the group proceeded on. Lt. Wells had been downed on the 6th of February after his engine was hit by 20 mm ground fire in the vicinity of Nan-yuan, about ten miles immediately south of Peiping. Following briefing instructions, he headed for the mountains to the west of Peiping and bailed out about fifty miles from the city. The first person he saw on landing was a farmer, whom he seized and showed the flag sewed inside his jacket. This farmer led him to a guerilla leader who arranged his trip to Ling-nan-t-ai, about four day's walk. There he met the Humby crew. Until the Humby crew reached the area of Ling-nan-t'ai, most of their traveling was at night to avoid detection. The Japanese had a fairly good idea of where the men were, for a battle was fought between the 10th Regt of the __ing-Pei Communist Troops and some of the garrison of Ch'ang-p'ing (overlay), said to number about 1000 Manchurian and puppet troops, at a distance of about three li from the city on the 8th of February. And from the 8th to the 11th of February, a Japanese reconnaissance plane scoured the area from the King Tombs to Chen-pien, searching for them. From that point on, the trip was relatively without incident. Night travel was required on several occasions when crossing Japanese lines, but no difficulty was experienced. Lt. Morrison suffered from an injured ankle, and he and Lt. Double were still on route. Other illnesses experienced were snow-blindness, fever, intestinal disorders, and the like. An attempt was made to arrange a drop of medical supplies at Fu-p'ing to meet their needs. After waiting 19 days without any news, the men departed, leaving behind Morrison whose ankle was still ailing and Double to help keep him company. This illustrates the difficulty of arranging drops on air evacuation when total dependence is upon Chinese communications. The drop finally came a couple of days later, but was unsuccessful, as the shroud lines broke and spilled the chute. While at Fu-p'ing, Capt. Humby had attempted to arrange an air evacuation, ---ce the Chinese were, and still are willing to build a field of any dimensions necessary. His plans called for a field capable of taking a C-47, but were abandoned as it was impossible to obtain a commitment that a plane would land. In connection with the proposed establishment of a 10th Weather net throughout this area, several fields in addition to Varoff will be constructed. Weather stations, in conjunction with Y--sig-4, when it goes into operation, will provide far better communications than now exist. Drops of supplies and personnel and air evacuation may become far easier than at present. Now, however, Varoff Field is the only place where we can ____ _____ ____ _____ _____ _____ _____ place near which we have US Army communications. Leaving Fu-p'ing, the group, now less Morrison and Double, but with the addition of Captains Domke and Dolan, of the USACS, traveled to Chi-Chin District Hq. At Ch-en-nan-chuang (overlay), where they laid over a day awaiting news of the route to the south. When information was received that the river crossing involved would be difficult, the group turned north again to Liu-ta-shu, where they met Morrison and Double. It had been decided to move Morrison despite his ankle because moving him separately would involve tying up another regiment of troops. Two days later, they arrived at Shan-lo (overlay), Harrison was again forced to drop out because of his ankle and Double remained with him. After resting for two days and debating the problem with the ankle, the rest of the group proceeded on, passing through the Wall at Niu-pan-k'ou (not shown) and then making a night crossing of the upper reaches of the Nu-t'ou River on mule and horseback. On the third day after this crossing, they reached Nan-k'ou, where they ate supper and then proceeded on to T'an-yu (neither shown). While eating breakfast the next morning, word came that the Japs were coming. They pulled out hurriedly and moved up the canyon, where they waited half a day before going on to Chang-chun-mu to be sure that the way would be clear. In the middle of the next afternoon, they moved out to cross the T'ung'__' RR. This is preferably done on a moonlight night. On this occasion it was done in the dark of the moon to avoid unnecessary delay. The crossing was made one mile north of Hsuen-hua (overlay) at 0230. The group moved on to Hua-t'a (not shown), where it rested briefly, and then pushed on to Ts'uang-k'ou. (not shown). The Fen River was crossed at Shih-chia-chuang (overlay) in daylight with no trouble experienced. From here, they pushed on for the next three days by regular steps to Hsing-nsien (overlay), where they rested for two days before attempting the crossing of the Yellow River. This was also accomplished in daylight. The ferry trip was short and easy. Four days later, they arrived at Mi-chih to find a 3/4 ton truck waiting for them. Late in the evening of the following day, the 17th of April, they arrived at Yenan. From here, they went out on the first plane, 19 April. In regard to the illnesses experienced by the men, none were beyond the facilities immediately available in the vicinity, although it is possible that they might have responded more readily to better drugs or more modern techniques. It might be added, also, that, while serious surgical cases involving anything but the abdomen can generally be treated successfully throughout Communist China, though perhaps crudely and painfully, abdominal wounds are frequently fatal. This points out the need for information and supplies for the treatment of such cases to be made available against the possibility of American fliers so wounded being brought down in this area. Alternatively, if it is possible to arrange immediate drops of supplies and a doctor to any area, even as far east as the Shantung Peninsula, it might be possible to thus provide aid. Experience in this instance has, however, shown the futility of attempting such arrangements without on-the-spot American communications. The “E” material supplied to the men was of considerable value, the medical supplies being of principal use. No “E” vests had been issued, which resulted in___ ____ coming down with only part of their equipment. On the other hand, it is reported that the vest cannot be _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ ______ _____ _____ ______ ____ possessed by the men were old, for instance the E-3 kit instead of the E-3A. In some cases, the halozone and salt tablets were useless because of rust from the container cap. One essential lacking, mentioned by all, was insect powder. Since this is an item of general issue, it need not be provided by AFAS, but this necessity _____ _____ ______ ______ ______ _____be stressed in briefing. None of the men could indicate more specific locations of possible landing fields for air evacuation than those already known at Fu-p'ing and along the Yellow River at 38 deg. 40 min. - 110 deg. 45 min. though several mentioned having seen numerous suitable areas. Capt. Humby, and presumably his crew, had no information regarding the strength and location of Japanese troops. While more detailed interrogation might have elicited more information than this would indicate they possessed, it seems doubtful. In conclusion, it might be said that the experience of these men again shows the strength of the Communist Government in these areas, and the high degree of organization that they possess. As an evasion organization, they have been tested frequently in the past, with excellent results obtained. Their shortcomings in radio communications and the inordinate time required to walk out were also highlighted by this experience. For the future, with many more downed airmen to be expected, it is evident that every effort must be turned toward the establishment of suitable radio communications and greater facilities for air evacuation. Obviously too, the establishment of caches of medical, food, and comfort supplies and the extension of medical aid to the Communists to improve their facilities in the event of seriously wounded airmen requiring their care will add greatly to the well-being of our fliers downed in this area. James C. Eaton Capt., AGAS Encl. 1: Sketch map of North China, 1 copy 2: Overlay, 3 copies Note: See route of travel on Peiping quadrant map. |
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