"I looked into my
rearview mirror and saw an unmistakable image: that of a Japanese fighter in
firing position. He was so close I didn't bother to look over my shoulder and I
didn't have time to be afraid! Instinctively, I shoved the P-38 into a
violent dive. It was then that I
felt the shudder of bullets striking my plane."
With
these words begins the incredible story of Charles P. Sullivan - an ace fighter
pilot - forced to crash land in the jungles of New Guinea and survive alone for
thirty days during World War II. Sullivan managed to find his way to a
local village in the mountains near his downed plane, where he was welcomed and
taken in by the natives. Within just a few hours, however, he would have
to fight for his life to escape the village, or face a bone chilling fate at the
hands of headhunter warriors!
Sullivan
roamed through the mountains after escaping the natives, trying to make his way
home. Thirty days
after
his plane crash, Sullivan came across a unit of Australian commandos who took
him in and allowed him to send a message to his home base:
"The Aussies had a
radio and asked if I wanted to send a message. Of course I wanted to let my squadron and the Fifth Air Force know that I
was safe. I composed a very concise message: 'Captain
Sullivan, 39th Fighter Squadron, arrived at this point. Injury slight...please advise." |
