Detroit evening times., 1945-07-26

CONTINUED one)
ains was so small flight rapid that felt cheated W
my heeting sight of 1t.
~ want to see 1t again." I cried to McColom
Just ahead of could glimpse pass the mountains
Abruptly started climbing toward the pass thought
CUDDENLY could feel McCollom sfen
- looked down.
The big plane shearing the tops out of
the tall jungle trees. But wasn't scared.-
| Just thought doing little fancy
flying, fiat on the deck.
"GSe her the gun let's get out of here" McColom
shouted.
thought he joking.
So did every one else.
possible that had had close shave reasoned
But we were still climbing
II neuer occurred to me that going to
crash, as the big plane mt the SIDE OF
Just didn't believe it could happen me, the
impact shook the plane
NEVER but hard for to say just
what happened
swiftly and suddenly Tor me 10
neatly pigeon-holed impressions.
All l know that suddenly bouncing, bouncing
bouncing l thought would never stop bouncing.
Later I reasoned that l must haze been
thrown around the big plane roeketed into the
Jungle, swapping trees like matches, crushing through
the underground along the mountain side
The plane shook like man in a terrible spasm
The fuselage began to fold from back to front.
sudden suction drew the walls in
From the moment Of impact the air was hled with EXPLOSIONS
The plane must have burst into flames instantly.
Fire uDas already ieoping doWn the center of the
fueloge, the plane came to rest on the noun
tain side.
NV first impulse was to pray. But somehow couldn't.
only be indignant because this thing had happened
As bounced for the last time realized that |
top of Who, don't know.
whoever it had wrapped his arms tightly around
my waist
of lead
or unconscious. .
Already FIRE was scorehing my face and hair.
But | W conscious Of no pain.
There oucry from one else IN the
For moment as was held that grip, wondered
If it worth the effort TO try to get free
it and again during the days that
followed did doubt life worth the effort
HAD always heard that of crises
i superhuman strength aid them.
know this is true.
weighed less than a hundred pounds.
Yet somehow with the strength that to me at the
managed to break the Nse-lke grip around my
waist.
NV only instinct get away. started to crawl my
hands and knees anything to get away from the flames.
whether going forward or backward in
the right or wrong direction.
My hair FIRE, and hre licked at the lett side
Of my face.
direction toward the back of the plane
Suddenly plane. There was just hole
crawled through the SCARED jungle floor.
Incredibly enough from the time the Cal struck the
mountanside until crawled to safety not more than 81
seconds had gone by.
then and hours now, but It was
bare half minute.
WY Cod Hastings" some one cried as stood up.
Il Dazedly looked around
1t John McColom, without scratch or mark on
him.
He had escaped seconds before / had and by the
crash the tail Of the plane had broken off just back
of beyond window McCoom and had shared
o Hidden Valley.
i
TIME fact we of the plane and that the tail
broke away from the rest fuselage saved lives
BY this time the plane burning herceS.
There constant explosions toward the front
McColom could say another word, heard the
first only cry that came from the plane
A woman W calling for help.
McColom whirled instantly and back IN the plane
stood rooted to the ground
couldn't have moved much less have acted bravey, my
life had depended It. Just stood there IKE stump