AMERICAN AIRMAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 5

AMERICAN AIRMAN

LIFE SAVED BY AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES REPORT TO “WHITE FELLA ' AIR FORCE.” FORTUNE IN CIGARETTES EARNED. (By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright) SYDNEY, June 16. The Australian aborigines’ reaction to the wax’ in the north is to some extent illustrated by a story just arrived from a northern operational base revealing how three aborigines saved the life of an American airman who had parachuted during a recent Japanese raid and landed in mangroves near an island beach. His legs were burnt. Three aborigines, Jaberoo, Diamond and Johnny, saw smoke from the American’s burning plane and proceeded to investigate. They picked up the airmans tracks and agreed to take him back to the mainland in a dugout canoe. They reached the mainland the next day and Jaberoo stayed with the wounded American, making him comfortable and spearing fish for a meal, while .Diamond and Johnny trekked inland seeking the “white fella air force., Late at night they arrived at the rendezvous, but had difficulty in making themselves understood. In fact, they caused a stir at the camp, Dia- 1 mond with his long beard and Johnny dressed in a pair of little girls rompers. An ambulance with rations lushed to the beach, with Diamond showing the way. The aborigines were duly rewarded with flour and tobacco and the American was taken to hospital. Today Johnny is carrying a young fortune in cigarettes round his waist, and his photograph has been taken by the Department of Information. Blissfully unaware that his exploit will go round the world, Johnny explains what he thinks of air raids with a wealth of gesture.