Informants mention that the Marshallese did so very reluctantly, but nonetheless did so for fear of being beaten and otherwise punished themselves. From what can be reconstructed, some among the Marshallese were not prepared to join in, regardless of repercussions. Chiefly among them was Alexander Milne, a mission teacher who spoke English. The Japanese also went to the plane wreck, or ordered the Marshallese to recover from the wreck a number of items, among them two .50 calibre machine guns, possibly the waist guns, with ammunition. Given the highly centralized system of administration, we can safely assume that the Japanese representatives on Majuro Atoll notified the 6 th Fleet headquarters at Kwajalein Atoll, which then decided on further action.
Oral history has it that a boat came to pick up the airmen.
These, as well as at least one Marshallese, Alexander Milne, were then taken back to Taroa, Maloelap, the very base the plane had attacked. Mr. Milne was accused of spying for the Americans. He was also blamed for conducting Sunday services, and his main fault that cost him his life, was, he could not be found at the time an American plane came down in the lagoon, to act as an interpreter. He was born on 12 June 1904 in Ebon, Ebon, the southern most atoll of the Marshall Islands, as son of James and Liomere Milne. He now lives on Majuro with his wife, a native woman of the upper class.