Post by dmether on Apr 28, 2012 13:58:29 GMT 8
Thought this was an interesting story that I came upon while looking for something else. Talaud Island is about 150 miles south of Mindanao. On 6 November 1944, Lt. James Steele was flying a P-47 during a mission to Cebu, when he became lost and ran out of fuel. He went down on Talaud Island where he was picked up and turned over to the Japanese by the locals.
On 13 January 1945 four Australian Air Force P-40s became lost while flying between Noemfoor Island and Morotai. Three of the pilots, Flying Officer Hann, Flight Sergeant King, and Warrant Officer Waters went down near Talaud Island where the locals captured and turned them over to the Japanese garrison at the village of Boe. Don’t know what happened to the fourth pilot.
On 23 March 1945, the Japanese tied the four airmen to wooden crosses (after infliction “some indignities” on the men) and used the airmen for bayonet practice.
On 13 May 1945, Flight Officer Rodney Neilson went down near the island. He was flying a F-5F and ran out of fuel. On 15 May an Australian Air Force search aircraft spotted the F-5F, a Catalina Aircraft landed and a crewmember examined the F-5F and interviewed some locals who said the pilot had been apprehended by the native police and taken away to Boe. The Japanese decapitated him on 10 June 1945.
In September 1945 an Australian ship visited the island to round up the Japanese garrison. The Japanese commander (Col. Koba) said the five POWs were sent to the Celebes, however after interviewing some locals the graves were discovered.
The Australians put on trial five Japanese soldiers for the execution of the two Americans and three Australians; all five were found guilty and hanged. The remains of Lt. Steele and F/O Neilson were returned to the US in 1947.
On 13 January 1945 four Australian Air Force P-40s became lost while flying between Noemfoor Island and Morotai. Three of the pilots, Flying Officer Hann, Flight Sergeant King, and Warrant Officer Waters went down near Talaud Island where the locals captured and turned them over to the Japanese garrison at the village of Boe. Don’t know what happened to the fourth pilot.
On 23 March 1945, the Japanese tied the four airmen to wooden crosses (after infliction “some indignities” on the men) and used the airmen for bayonet practice.
On 13 May 1945, Flight Officer Rodney Neilson went down near the island. He was flying a F-5F and ran out of fuel. On 15 May an Australian Air Force search aircraft spotted the F-5F, a Catalina Aircraft landed and a crewmember examined the F-5F and interviewed some locals who said the pilot had been apprehended by the native police and taken away to Boe. The Japanese decapitated him on 10 June 1945.
In September 1945 an Australian ship visited the island to round up the Japanese garrison. The Japanese commander (Col. Koba) said the five POWs were sent to the Celebes, however after interviewing some locals the graves were discovered.
The Australians put on trial five Japanese soldiers for the execution of the two Americans and three Australians; all five were found guilty and hanged. The remains of Lt. Steele and F/O Neilson were returned to the US in 1947.