Evening star., 1943-01-15
Sharks Nearly Upset Rickenbocker Raft
While Airmen Were Adrift in Pacific

sssu~ Nuuuu1SuB
fThts Is the fourth instalment
OF the storp-told here in fuH for
the first tinle-ot Capt. Eddie
Rtckenbacker and seuen con,pan-
ions and their three tDeeks' fight
tor lfte against the pertls Of the
equatorial Pactfc.)
BY LIT. JAMES c. WHITAKER,
U. g. Army Air Force Transport Command.
As Told to CHARLES LEAVELLE.
We welcomed the rising sun of
october 23-our third day afioat-
even though we knew that very soon
1t would begin roasting us alive. Our
shark escorts seemed to welcome it
too. They were out in force. During
the entire three weeks there wasn't
time when at least one dorsal fin
wasn't cutting the water near our
tiny fleet.
They were good humored beasts
in their uncouth way. I suppose it
was anticipation of good meal that
made them so playful. We didn't
mind the smaller ones, but the big
fellows who ranged up to 12h feet
had a disturbing habit of scraping
off their barnacles on the bottom OF
the RATS. They would start at the
end raft and make all three.
After a dash to gain momentum,
they would scoot under us, rubbing
their backs and giving flip Of the
tail as they left each raft A man
sitting on the floor would get wall
lop jarring him to the teeth. We
could have killed them with our
sharp oars, but we feared quantities
of blood in the water might excite
them to the point of attacking and
upsetting us.
We were worn out when the sun
went down. l remember the sunset
of that evening because the sweep
of colors was so fantastic no one
would have believed it on canvas.
But sunsets are not edible, no mat
ter how magnificent they may be.
Agonizing Hunger.
The fourth day found our hunger
agonizing 1t. John j. De Angels,
our navigator, had some fish hooks,
but we had no bait and the fish
weren't interested. These hooks
we're all that remained of the jungle
packs we should have had. All
bombers in that region carry jungle
packs, Zippered into the cushions OF
the parachutes. 4
Each is supposed to contain a
flashlight. jungle knife, fish hooks
and line. hard biscuit, and chocolate.
Mechanics, however, are always pill
fering them. I remember hoping
that whoever had taken our biscuit
and chocolate might some day be as
hungry as we were just then.
On that fourth morning each man
received his last eighth Of an orange.
Then there developed the most
amazing discussion I ever have sat |
in. 1t seems grotesque now, but it
was deadly serious for us then
Capt. William T. Cherry, pilot and
commander of our Flying Fortress,
had baited a hook with a bit of
orange pulp, but the fish still were
DO you suppose Cherry in
1uired idly, that we could use
ingernail parings or something like
hat as bait?' Young Pvt. Johnny
8artek, engineer on the Fortress,
overheard. He called over from the
BOAT he occupied with Capt, Eddie
and Col. Hans Adam
son:
~"Naw,, the only. bait we've got is
,ur own hides" This was startling
possibility.
What part would you use?' some
body asked. Johnny replied he
thought the lobe of the ear would
be best, because its loss would not
De a serious one. I Joined in here.
I told them I thought quick slice
of the ball of the little finger
would be best. There would be
minimum chance of infection.
Some one asked Capt. Rickenbacker
what he thought about the scheme.
We Grow Weak.
Flesh would serve as bait If 1t
should become necessary" he an