Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 24, 2024 20:26:13 GMT 12
Rescue and search lead to meeting
From JOHN N. HUTCHISON
SAN FRANCISCO.
Thirty-two years ago, a New Zealander flying a bomber from 99 Squadron, 175th Wing, spotted two liferafts bobbing in the sea off south Burma.
In them were the crew of an American bomber, shot down by the Japanese.
Now for the first time, that pilot will meet the men he rescued. He is Mr E. G. Paterson, a Dunedin businessman. who is about to realise an ambition of three decades. He is waiting in a San Francisco suburb while arrangements are being completed for a reunion of the crew in Denver, Colorado. He inspired, and will attend, the meeting.
On November 27, 1943, Ted Paterson was sent out to search for the Americans, who had been spotted but then lost again in an earlier search. Mr Paterson found them, dropped supplies, and directed a rescue vessel, which picked them up on November 30.
“It was one of the most rewarding episodes of my four years overseas, to see all those lads in the two dinghies waving their hats in the air.” he said. “We couldn’t stay long, though, for fear of attracting the attention of Japanese aircraft.” The Americans were safely landed on December 1.
An accidental encounter with an American tourist in Dunedin last year finally led Mr Paterson to identify and find the addresses of eight of the original crew of ten Americans, now living in widely scattered places from California to the Carolinas. He had a casual conversation in a Dunedin shop with Mr and Mrs Warren Young of Denver about his frustrated efforts to identify and make contact with the American airmen.
Mr Young, a retired executive of Denver's large and influential newspaper, the “Denver Post,” took on the challenge. He enlisted the assistance of officials in the United States and New Zealand Governments in Washington, and got the cooperation of the Defence Department, which had turned aside Mr Paterson’s written inquiries.
Slowly, over months, Mr and Mrs Young sought out and corresponded with the eight, seeking agreement on a time and place where they might meet. Meanwhile Mr and Mrs Paterson arranged a trip abroad. It took them first to England, where they found the navigator of the rescue flight, an Englishman, Mr Tom Ames. Then the Patersons came to California, where they are now visiting relatives, Dr and Mrs L. E. Miles.
The manager of Denver’s fine old luxury hotel, Brown’s Palace, has invited the Americans and the Patersons to spend a week-end without charge there, probably this week.
“One of the eight chaps may not be able to attend because of poor health, I’m told,” said Mr Paterson. “But we hope for at least seven of them to be there. I look for the celebration to be as exciting as my experience in finding them so many years ago.”
It will doubtless be a great day, too, for Mr and Mrs Young, who put it all together.
The Press, 18 September 1975.
From JOHN N. HUTCHISON
SAN FRANCISCO.
Thirty-two years ago, a New Zealander flying a bomber from 99 Squadron, 175th Wing, spotted two liferafts bobbing in the sea off south Burma.
In them were the crew of an American bomber, shot down by the Japanese.
Now for the first time, that pilot will meet the men he rescued. He is Mr E. G. Paterson, a Dunedin businessman. who is about to realise an ambition of three decades. He is waiting in a San Francisco suburb while arrangements are being completed for a reunion of the crew in Denver, Colorado. He inspired, and will attend, the meeting.
On November 27, 1943, Ted Paterson was sent out to search for the Americans, who had been spotted but then lost again in an earlier search. Mr Paterson found them, dropped supplies, and directed a rescue vessel, which picked them up on November 30.
“It was one of the most rewarding episodes of my four years overseas, to see all those lads in the two dinghies waving their hats in the air.” he said. “We couldn’t stay long, though, for fear of attracting the attention of Japanese aircraft.” The Americans were safely landed on December 1.
An accidental encounter with an American tourist in Dunedin last year finally led Mr Paterson to identify and find the addresses of eight of the original crew of ten Americans, now living in widely scattered places from California to the Carolinas. He had a casual conversation in a Dunedin shop with Mr and Mrs Warren Young of Denver about his frustrated efforts to identify and make contact with the American airmen.
Mr Young, a retired executive of Denver's large and influential newspaper, the “Denver Post,” took on the challenge. He enlisted the assistance of officials in the United States and New Zealand Governments in Washington, and got the cooperation of the Defence Department, which had turned aside Mr Paterson’s written inquiries.
Slowly, over months, Mr and Mrs Young sought out and corresponded with the eight, seeking agreement on a time and place where they might meet. Meanwhile Mr and Mrs Paterson arranged a trip abroad. It took them first to England, where they found the navigator of the rescue flight, an Englishman, Mr Tom Ames. Then the Patersons came to California, where they are now visiting relatives, Dr and Mrs L. E. Miles.
The manager of Denver’s fine old luxury hotel, Brown’s Palace, has invited the Americans and the Patersons to spend a week-end without charge there, probably this week.
“One of the eight chaps may not be able to attend because of poor health, I’m told,” said Mr Paterson. “But we hope for at least seven of them to be there. I look for the celebration to be as exciting as my experience in finding them so many years ago.”
It will doubtless be a great day, too, for Mr and Mrs Young, who put it all together.
The Press, 18 September 1975.
