SMOKE RINGS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 13, 8 October 1943, Page 3

SMOKE RINGS

SAVED AMERICAN FLYER

ENTERTAINED NATIVES Second-Lieutenant Milton Veckler, UiS. Marine Corps bloAvs a neat smoke-ring, which is why he is safe to-day. Velled's Corsair was badly hit while he was starting Jap. installations on Kolombangara Island. The plane was moving so fast that he couldn't climb out of the cockpit, so he put her into a loop and: fell out. His parachute opened at 300 feet. He fell into the sea seven miles from an island, inflated his rubber boat, and paddled for five hours with his hands. He found a village on the island, but the natives Ave re not friendly. He shook hands Avith them. The reception Avas still chilly. He gave them some chocolate and part of his emergency ration. Still the atmosphere did not Avarm up. Fin-ally he took out a cigarette and nonchalantly bleAv smoke rings. The natives began to laugh. They AA T ouldn't. let him stop. He ran out of cigarettes, so they brought him native tobacco and paper. The smoke from these "roll your owns" Avould not hold its shape, but Vedder lay flat on his back and bleAv the best rings, he could, Avhile the natives stood round and held their sides'-. It Avas such a good show they Avanted Vedder to go up into the hills Avith them and bloAv rings for natives in other villages. But Vedder insisted he had to get back to Guadalcanar. When he did reach his base,, he arranged for the next group of Navy pilots passing over the island to drop a few cartons of cigarettes so that the natives Avould haA r e the best raw materials to blow first-class rings for themselves.