SHOT DOWN IN TIMOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1943, Page 3

SHOT DOWN IN TIMOR

AIRMAN SAVED BY NATIVES. AND AUSTRALIAN GUERILLAS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) SYDNEY, January 14. An Australian pilot, Flying Officer S. Wadey, Adelaide, who was the only survivor from a bomber which exploded over Timor when it was attacked by Zeros, owes his life to friendly natives and A.I.F. commandos who helped him to escape from the island. Though severely burnt on the legs and arms, Wadey managed to tear up his parachute and make rough bandages. He was found by natives, who treated his wounds and hid him in an outhouse when they thought the Japanese were near. The natives were friendly,'' but evidently very much afraid of the Japanese. After four days, some Australian commandos who had seen the plane shot down same to search for survivors. For 31 days they carried Wadey across the island. Mountains 2000 feet high had to be crossed. For 11 days native bearers carried him through buffalo grass 12 feet high. Wadey is now safely back in Australia. He declares that the morale of the A.I.F. commandos is very high. “I .expected to see some emaciated creatures hiding fearfully in the jungle,” he said. “Most of the natives are giving them magnificent assistance. The bearers who carried me a good part of the way across the island could not have been more gentle.”