Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1944)
0 6 Heppner Gazette Times, March 9, 1944 Our Men in Service Continued from First Page to hold his ship in formation long enough to allow the bombardier, Second Lieut. Edmund J. Torpey, of Rockville, Center, Long Island, N. Y., to release his bombs smack on the target. This done, the stricken engine began to "run away". German fighters noted it and began to line up for the kill. Capt. Brown drop ped down to a low group for refuge against the developing attack. The fighters, ever reluctant these days to mix it with more han one for tress at a time abandoned the at tack Capt. Brown's move to the lower group would spell securitty enough under ordinary circumstances. Bui not with one motor running wild and threatening to burst into flame any second. As a matter of fact a few minutes after ihe bomb run tiny flames be gan to lick at the frozen oil on the engine nacelle. A few minutes later giant oil-fed flames actually melt ed part of the propeller. Soon, the propeller, bent from the flak im pact, started to cut chunks out of the engine cowling. There was no thing the occupants of the Fort could do but just sit up there and watch the fire. Fortunately the flames spent themelves and went out. They were so threatening in one instance that Capt, Bmwn ordered hiis crew to the radio compartment so that bal ing out could be accomplished with a minimum of obstruction. This reporter was atop the con trol tower watching the landings the day Capt. Brown' plane came back. I walked over to say hello as he taxied his plane in. Just as he brought it to a stop the bent and half-melted prop, still spinning, tore loose and literally "walked" through the outer hide of the For tress, two feet behind Capt. Brown's seat in the cockpit. It was his sec ond escape from disaster in a day. To him it was his fifteenth mission and just another raid. Others aboard his ship were1 Navigator Second Lieut. John A. Forsylhe, of Ashland, Oregon; Ra dio Gunner Tech. Sgt Edward G. Chrun, of St. Louis, Mo.; Turret Gunner Sgt. William H. Huffman, of Guyandotte, West Virginia; Right .Waist Gunner Secont Lieut. Ralph D. Burks of Howe, Tex.; Left Wing Gunner Staff Sgt. Richard A. Gar rison, of Tribune Kansas; Tail Gun ner Harry L. Edwards, of North Hose, New York. BOAItDMAN MAN 28 HOURS 4 IN LIFE RAFT IN PACIFIC Somewhere' in the South Pacific (Delayed) Nine men, crew mem bers of a navy amphibian patrol plane that crashed in a heroic but futile attempt to rescue an army fighter plane pilot, spent 28 hours in two wave-tossed life rafts before they were picked up by a U. S. de stroyer. Members of the crew, who es caped wich no more serious injur ies than a few cuts and bruises, and who told of their experiences on their return to duty included Ensign L J. Kennedy of 2723 Ben venue, Berkeley Calif., co-pilot; Aviation Machinists Mate first class Charles A. Martin, of Sprague, Wash., and Aviation Machinist's Mate second class Ted S. Ekker, of Eoardman, Ore. . The big navy plane was directed to attempt rescue of an army fight er plane pilot who had crashed, many miles from land. "We found the pilot floating in the water on a one-man life raft and two army planes flying over head." Ensign Kennedy said, "so we circled and prepared to land . The water was rough, but we thought we could get down safely. A swell apparently built up under us and when we hit we bounced 100 feet into the air. "The radioman reported a large hole in the hull. The pilot gave the order to stand by for take off and gave the ship full throttle. We bounced hard once and then again. After the second bounce, the port prop came off and cut thru the hull at the navigator's compartment, splitting the navigator's table in in the direction in which they last raft kept a man on watch all night not to land, two, nnd missini him hv a few Raw thp rilnt thev had attempted to to see that the line securing us did The plane scant inches The port engine fell off rescue, but could find no trace of not break. About 3 o'clock we heard hcur and then dropped into the water aft the plane." The plane struck hard and then began to settle fast. The pilot order ed the crew to abandon ship. Scarcely had they broken out hte life raft when the plane settled rapidly, but remained afloat with the tail high out of water. circled for nearly an a package him. They never saw him again. planes overhead. They were deter- containing cnocoiaie ana cigaieiw. m. -x- .rj i. mined to be Jat bv men who had and a note wishing them a 'Merry Aiie slums oi uie men acuui wutu .- - - ... i j, l. ii iU , , , , VarA ilitom Koforo cn wn fired, no Christmas and signed by ail the they lound themselves alone on an ocean that tossed their little craft -Very shells." heard them before, so we fired no about so mercilessly that they all During the morning the crew suffered from seasickness. Nearly sighted more army fighters, but five hours ater the cra.li another they failed to see the rafts. About plane crossed the sky miles away, noon a twin-engined1 navy plane The nine men left the sinking and though the crew signaled with came in view and they succeeded in plane in two life rafts. Upon taking every means they had, they saw it attracting the attention of the pi slock, they found they had one bit grow smaller and disaDoear. lot. Christmas' and signed by crew. Down went the spirits of the men on the life rafts again, but at that moment they spotted the mast of a United States desroyer on the hori zon, and presently they were safe aboard of emergency rations and six cans of water. The two army fighter planes continued to circle overhead for awhile then disappeared into distance. The men attempted to row "For supper we ate three malted Another amphibian plane circled milk tablets and had two sips of wa- over the rafts during the afternoon ter per man," Kennedy said. "We and prepared to attempt a landing abandoned sailing at dark and tried But the sea was rough and the men to get settled for the night. Each on the raft motioned for the pilot HERE FOR FUNERAL Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Chapin and daughter Kingsley were up from Portland Monday to attend the funeral of Mrs. Chapin's uncle, Robert McCullough. o Having sold my farm I will offer at public sale at the farm, 1 9 miles southwest of Heppner and 3-4 mile south of Eight Mile postoffice. Beginning at I o'clock P.M. Tlhiyrs(dlsiy Ma To 6 the following equipment and household goods: LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY 1 second hand binder 5 head medium sized work horses from 2 Complete blacksmith shop to 12 years old; all broke but one colt 1 Royal Blue cream separator I milk cow, just tresh 5 dozen chickens FARM EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 3 grain drills 2 3-bottom plows Mower and rake 1 10-ft. disc plow 2 rod weeders 3 double discs 7 sections of springtooth 1 25-f t. wood harrow 9 sections of steel harrow 1 Killiford chisel 1 2-wheel trailer 1 hay wagon 1 iron wheel wagon 1 hack 1 hogwire stretcher 300 second hand sacks Small amount of hay 1 concrete mixer 1 shotgun 5 sacks of potatoes 5 cords of wood 100 posts 8 gas barrels 1930 Chevrolet truck in good condition A-1 stock saddle Harness for six horses 1 9-foot Deering combine 1 LeRoy engine 1 scalding vat 1 4-horse fresno 1 weed burner HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS 1 Montague range 1 circulating heater 4 bedsteads with springs and mattresses 1 davenport 1 Philco radio 1 telephone 1 Maytag washing machine 4 dressers About one dozen chairs 1 kitchen cabinet 1 dining table 1 4-burner coal oil cookstove Fruit jars and some fri.it 1 set aluminum ware 20 gallons paint rms: CASH Nothing removed from farm until settled for V. R. Runnion Auctioneer L REDDING, Owner Harry Dinges Clerk