Evening star., 1942-10-09

"This is an American pilot fight
ing for China. Give him all possible
aid and bring him to the nearest
police station" .....
Blond, soft-spoken Erikisen E.
Shilling, the Washington flyer who
authored this '"passport" for the
vaunted Flying Tigers with a crash
in mountainous China, is home from
the wars taking very lightly the
public acclaim paid to him and
his band of intrepid fellow air
fighters.
The personal exploits of this 26-
year-old flyer, whose home is at
301 Anacostia road Sc, is legend
IN Flying Tigers records, for it was
his misfortune that caused Brig.
Gen. Claire L. Chennault to have
tackled to the backs of each of his
American volunteer fighters the
above admonition to the Chinese.
It was December %, 194l, young
Shilling recalled at his home today,
and the Washington flyer was bring
ing a plane in from Rangoon to
Running, base Of the Flying
Tigers.
Motor Failed.
my motor failed about so miles
out from my destination and I had
to bring her down as we'll as I
could" he recalled.
The section was mountainous and
heavily wooded. with not bit of
habitation In sight. II picked out
q small knoll on the precipitous
side of the mountain and tried to
bring my ship in. A tree sheared
of my left wing and as my plane
slowed around. another clipped off
my fuselage. But I came through
all right. Knocked out for five
or six minutes and a bruised right
arm. Otherwise I was O. K.," he
continued.
That night, the next day and
following night-"that was Christ
mas Eve, and spent it under the
wing of my wrecked ship'-young
Shilling had the mountain entirely
to himself. But the next morning,
the flyer related, Chinese native
came on to the scene.
That meant temporary trouble for
the aviator. This fellow had never
seen a white man before. He knew
that the Japs were invading his
country and naturally took me for
m enemy"
Language Fails.
Calling on his limited Chinese,
Mr.. Shilling's attempts to describe
himself as an American friend fell
far short. Looking around for some
other means Of clearing up his
problem, the flyer reached into his
pocket for his passport and papers
and that sent the native fleeing
down the mountainside.
But he and about 200 fellow ma
tives, armed with broadswords,
knives and other weapons were back
the next day.
They had me labeled for a Jap
anese," continued the ruddy face
nyer.
The natives cleared a space
around the plane, then used foliage
and tree limbs to hide the ship from
above. They ringed the area with
armed guards and convinced Mr.
Shilling without the least doubt that
he was to remain within bounds.
A portable phonograph eased the
situation for the flyer, he recalled
and for every new arrival he was
requested to turn on the music box.
Ironically the Chinese favorite
record was High On Windy Hill
Interpreter to Rescue.
But the search was one for him
and after a full day and night in
the hands Of his captors, Mr.. Shill-
ing was relieved to see an inter-
prefer come in from Kumming.
"As soon as they knew who I
was-that I was q Flying Tiger
they couldn't do enough for me,
Mr.. Shilling said.
While he was we'll able to walk,
the Chinese built q sedan chair and
carried him some 10 miles down
mountain trails to Swampo, q four
day trip.
From there it was just an air
lump to RUNNING where Gen,
Chennault, on learning Of Mr.
Shilling,s experience, decided that
to be on the safe side all Of his
flyers would from then on carry the
identification markings on the back
Of the jackets.
The Tigers were the best flyers
"but We he'd quite . bit Of luck
too" the flyer stated.
His own personal score was "just
three bombers," and he conveyed
the impression that some Of his
nails who Knocked Zero or two
out Of the air had done = much
better job
when the Tigers disbanded, Mr..
Shilling and q dozen or more OF
the American flyers signed up with
China National Aviation Corp
ferrying supplies in from India.
Air Freighters Beat Trucks.
Hnn,e on q two months leave, the
aviator disclosed that the ali
freieheers are lettering the records
made by trucks over the old Burma
Road. When he goes back, he said