Evening star., 1943-04-21

oilOCh WHICH, SERIOUSLY Injured MIN
and the other crew members.
Thatcher, although badly cut on the
head and momentarily knocked un-
conscious when the plane hit the
sea and turned over, nevertheless
swan back to secure the medical
kit from the crushed plane. He was
the only one physically able to
carry it.
Chinese Help in Escape.
After it became plain that any
further wait would result in capture
by the japanese forces. which were
only about three miles away,
Thatcher persuaded Chinese fisher
men to carry his injured crew mtaes
to temporary safety around the
Japanese outpoSts. Chinese villagers
carried his companions over noun
famous and difficult terrain until
they reached medical aid All Of
this planes crew were saved either
from capture or death as a result
of Corpl. Thatcher's initiative and
courage in assuming responsibility
and tending the wounds himself day
and night, and arranging for the
transportation of his companions.
1t. Thomas r. White, flight sur
geon who flew in the plane piloted
by 1t Donald G.. Smith, also was
commended for bravery.
1t. White "at great risk OF his
life and with exemplary courage"
i,ciIn i,,ly r,1o
with water rising dangerously, un-
til his surgical instruments and
medical kit could be salvaged. The
plane plunged into 100 feet of water
just after he had completed this
effort and escaped. Later on. 1t.
White remained in dangerous terri
tory tending the injuries of the
crewmen of 1t. Lawson's plane.
Reasons for Secrecy.
The preoccupation in bringing
American fiers to safety was prin-
cipal reason why no detailed state
ment was issued after the raid. To
have named the fiiers and disclosed
that they were still missing would
have intensified the effort of the
Japanese to capture them. Also,
consideration had to be given to the
possibility of reprisals on friendly
Chinese who helped the Americans
in Japanese occupied China
The initial secrecy was essential
to permit the small naval task force
to elude the Japanese surface YES
Sels which were between the Ameri-
can warships and the outer Pacific.
AS long as this secrecy could be
maintained, the japanese were OBJ
liged to set up defense against a
number of possibilities. They could
not be sure whether the planes had
come from China, or an aircraft
carrier, or some stepping stone in
the North Pacific. They did not
know when the attack might be
repeated. Thus, the Japanese were
forced to tie up part of their mill
tary strength during crucial months.
If the secret could always have
been kept from the Japanese-which
in the end was impossible-it would
naturally have added to the tension
"Aeii "AiASli y dpdIl d"dlUo OllC dtJdCkS
that still lie ahead.
List of Flyers.
Here is the War Department list
of participants in the raid:
Interned in Russia:
Emmens. First 1t. Robert Gabel
Medford, Greg.
Herndon. Second 1t. Nolan A..
Sulphur Springs, Tex.
Laban, Sergt. Theodore H., Keno
sha, Wis.
Pohl, Corpl. David W., Wellesley
Mass.
York, Maj. Edward j., San An
tonic, Tex.
Missing in action:
Dieter, Sergt. William j., Tulelake
Calf.
Fitzmaurice, Corpl. Donald E.
Lincoln, Nebr.
Prisoners of war:
Barr. Second 1t. George, Madison
Wis. ....
Farrow, First 1t. William Glover,
1919 Varnum street, Washington.