Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-22


Isembly was destroyed and his tires
were punctured.
One gunner was killed, another
was seriously wounded in the leg
and a third had his hand torn
away, leaving one gunner to oper-
ate guns on both sides of the plane.
This the ginner did SO efficiently
that four Jap planes fell officially,
and seven unofficially.
SHELLS ALL AROUND HIM
There were bursts of anti-air-
craft fire all around u.s." Whe-
less related under pressure.
"The Japs were firing a few ex-
plosive Shells"
Trying 10 get Wheless to admit
that his maneuvering of the plane.
which by this time was flying with
only two motors. was more than
ordinary proved more difficult
than putting tooth paste back into
the tube.
1.-THE clouds were very
friendly" he grinned. "but there
weren't enough of them"
Only after both his ship and the
Japs' were out of amSunition, did
Wheless turn back to'his base. Al
though third motor went out en-
route back and brushed a palm
tree in setting down, he made a
successful crash landing not far
from his point of origin.
I've didn't 20 quite over" he
fidgited. But there were q few
seconds when we weren't 30 sure
about anything"
TAKES NO CREDIT
For all of this, Wheless assumed
no credit. His chest devoid of the
Distinguished Service Cross which
he was awarded for his daring, he
refuted with a hearty laugh re-
ports that he cared for the
wounded while aloft and that he
thumbed his nose at the Nipponese
as they turned about.
At the United States Rubber
Company plant this morning, Cap
tain Wheless made an inspection
tour and then addressed 300 en-
ployes of the self-sealing gasoline
tank division. telling them:
81 have seen men die for want
OF the equipment you are MAX
ing.
TANK SAVES LIVES
'T have seen lives saved be-
cause the airplane had n self
sealing tank.
'If you boys will make II,
we'll fight with It,"
He presented the two oldest en-
ployes of the company, William
Stevenson and Mike Foley, with
American flags.
Captain Wheless then left for a.
brief call at the General Motors
Building, following which he was
to visit the AC Spark Plug plant
in Flint, and go to Lansing to meet
Gov. Murray d. Van Wagner.
VERBAL 'ALL-AMERICAN'
Verbally, Wheless is probably
the greatest broken field runner
alive. He lodged praise more deity
than Michigan's Harmon ever
|eluded a tackler.
"YOu don't do much thinking
at time like that" he said.
Anything you do Is automatic.
1 just kept the plane I'm the air.
didn't worry about anti-air-
craft fire or anything because II
you do, well you Just have
too much to worry about"
1t was not the first time Wheless
had been on bombing missions or
the target for enemy fire. He was
on the December 10 flight in which
Colin p. Kelly. the wars first Off
cial American hero, gave his life.
HE MISSES KELLY
kelly was a great guy and
I'm not the only one in our out
ri who thought So" he said, his
ever-present grin fading We all
missed him"
On tour Of the nations war
plants for the war department,
WheleSs refused TO confirm or
deny the inference of Col. Eugene
Eubanks. travelling with him. that
he took up flying in order TO cover
faster the vast expanse of his
fathers Menard, Tex. ranch.
He entered Randolph Field, Tex,
July l, 1893. after graduating from
the University of Texas. Subse-
quent 10 receiving his wings at
Kelly Field. Tex. he was stationed
al March Field Cal. 1t was there
that he met his wife Raymonda,
p, whom he married Dec. 20. 1910.
When his daughter, Raymonda
Jean was a week old hp was sent