Evening star., 1942-08-16

Vu ~ uuuO uuVu Vu0nuu
U. S. Airmen Evocuoted
900 Wounded, Refugees
As Joponese Advanced
FOR heroism and skin in evacuat-
ing nearly 5000 wounded soldiers
and refugees from Burma, the War
Department last night disclosed that
Silver Star decorations were award
ed to Col. Caleb v. Haynes Of
Mount Airy. N. c.. and at least ~
other American airmen.
Details of the hazardous three
week mass evacuation-accom-
plished without the loss of single
American plane or single patient
were released by Maj. Gen. Lewis
II. Brereton, commanding the Army
Air Forces in India. 1t was
stark record of determination and
skill. During 10 days at the height
Of operations, the American res
cuers made as many as Is to 20
fiights day, always in the face
OF enemy action and in dangerous
weather over lofty mountain peaks.
Shuttle Service Of Mercy.
Col. Haynes personally took
charge of the mission. Food and
medicine were dropped to the
wounded soldiers and refugees and
then the shuttle service took up It's
daily errands of mercy.
The American pilots, co-operat-
ing with a smaller number Of the
Raj and China National Anyways
transports, followed route from
the valley that took the planes
across the Naga Hills, jutting from
100000 to 1900 feet between the
Irrawaddy and Brahmaputra Rivers.
Loaded down with double or treble
normal passenger loads for each
trip, the planes performed an al
most miraculous achievement in
carrying out the wounded and sick
without = single loss.
Mai. Gen. David N. w. Grant. the
air surgeon of the Army Air Forces,
and his staff have studied carefully
the details of. the Burma operation.
They declared it demonstration OF
the practicability of air evacuation
when no other type Of evacuation Is
possible.
Strafed by japanese.
The evacuation was made under
almost constant observation by the
Japanese, who resorted to lombard
ment and ground strafing in un-
successful attempts to foil the
operation.
Among the evacuees were hun
dreds of British and British
Colonial troops, including Aus
tralians, Burmese and Indians. In
addition, scores of women and chill
dren were among the civilian
refugees pouring into the upper
valley from the battle areas of the
south. They came by train. truck
and on foot to the little village OF
DQy1kAyAld, III AA40kO1 L0tAOl1 NCa\l
end" In Northern Burma. The
wounded and the refugees were sur
rounded on three sides by jungles
and mountains and by the ad-
vancing Japanese on the fourth
Their only hope Of escape was BY
air. So the small Raj force called
upon Col. Haynes for assistance.
The American planes - C-47s
which are the military counterpart
Of commercial transports, took ur
the job. They operated with crews
Of three and four, with other per.
sonnel taking over the task Of pre-.
venting refugees from rushing
panicky for places on the ships
Many Of the wounded soldiers dur.
Ing the later stages Of the operation
were moved directly from hospita
trains to the air transports.
Day after day, the evacuation con.
tinued, Gen. Brereton reported, un
til the enemy had moved so nea
the area that the capture of tn
little air field was a matter o
hours.
List Incomplete.
The % additional airmen cite,
with Col. Haynes is not complet
list. Gen. Brereton reported. Be
sides risking their lives for tn
safety Of others, the airmen ais
were rewarded for their work i
bringing in critical supplies to tn
United Nations forces elsewhere i
the India Burma China area.
Col. Robert L. Scott, jr., of Macol
Ca, was decorated twice, receiv
ing the Silver Star and Oak Lea
Cluster for two different mission
In connection with the evacuation
He has since been made chief {
star for American Air Forces
China.
Others decorated included CT
William D. Old. San Antonio, Tex
Mai. Julian M. Joplin, Dallas; Car
Wayne K. Richardson, Milwaukee
Capt. Bert M. Carleton. Proctc
Tex; Capt. Dalene E. Bailey, Sp
kane, Wash; Second 1t. Robert
Hartzell, New York City; Secor
Lit Paul r. Conroy, Hamilton, r.
Second 1t. Jacob P. Sartz, We
Leesport, Va; Second 1t. j. j. Be
1ronton, Ohio; Master Sergt. w
liam p. Bonner, Homestead, Ps
Technical Sergt. Henry J. McE
derry, Allentown, Pa; Staff Ser
Glen Beard. Frankfort, Ind; st,
6ergt. Ernest E. Creach, Hammt
Pa; Sergt. James o. Mink, Oal
KY; Sergt. Ralph B. BaldridI
Wynewood, Pa; Sergt. Robert
Mocklin, Royalton, Pa; Sergt. K,
lerve T. Aaltonen, East Braintr
Mass: Corpl. James L. Shame
jamestown, N. Y; Privt. First Gil
James w. McCabe, Dayton. Oh
Pvt. First Glass George w. Motl
Atlanta, Ca; Private First Cl
Albert A. Wagner, INLAY City, Mi
Army and Navy to PIo,
At Cromwell Shunari-l