War Stories

Lt. Bullock walk out

SECRET 

76th Fighter Squadron 
23rd Fighter Group
Office of the Intelligence Officer
76th Fighter Squadron

Suichwan, China 13 March 1944

This narrative is written to supplement our Flight Intelligence Report No.30, 4 March 1944.

Lt. Bullock, who did not return from this mission until 11 March after having bailed out and "walked" back, had the following additional information to supply about the mission and his own experiences.

On the second run on the two boats at Wuhu Lt. Bullock observed a dead center hit on one of the boats by a bomb from a B-25.

He saw two Oscars making a pass on the B-25's and before they could fire at the bombers. Lt.Bullock turned in toward them firing altho out of range. As he closed one of the Oscars turned in toward him. They both fired and Lt.

Bullock's tracers went into the cowl and considerable smoke was seen. The Jap fighter dove sharply away and down from 400 feet but pulled up just over the water and was not seen again. This plane is claimed as damaged and is not believed to be the one mentioned by Capt. Hedrick in his report as one went down considerably before the other. This claim has not previously been reported.

Lt Bullock reports that the enemy fighters were very aggressive, closed to very short range and it was necessary to take violent evasive action to avoid collision on the head on passes. He also reports that there were six enemy aircraft rather than four as seen by the others.

The B-25's were observed heading out to the SE along the RR. Lt. Bullock himself set course at 210 degrees after failing to see the other P-51's He flew 40 minutes in this direction then 240 degrees and finally due W but discovered that apparently due to drift he had gone W just slightly S of Namyung. He had no radio contact at any time.

He ran out of gas in mountainous country near Sauchien, fifty kilos SW of Namyung. There was no place visable in which to belly land so he parachuted to safety from 4,000 ft. using the method of rolling the stabilizer all the way forward, popping the stick and simultaneously jumping straight up.

He landed easily on the side of a mountain in a patch of tall rushes which made it impossible to get his parachute by himself. The Provincial Governor promised that he would retrieve it and return it.

He then walked up the center of a small stream, due to high rushes, to the N for a half hour. Then he found a trail and met some coolies. He exhibited his Back Flag and they led him to their nearby home and gave him dry shoes to replace his wet ones.

By means of his Pointie Talkie he asked to be taken the following day to the nearest Chinese Military Headquarters. In return for this they indicated that they wanted his ring (Air Corps Class Ring with ruby set) and silver crash bracelet. Not knowing to what lengths they might go to obtain them he gave them the articles to them at which they seemed quite content. They also asked for his gun, but he was not carrying one.

Lt. Bullock slept there that night and the following day was led to
Ssuchien in three hours.

Through the medium of the Pointie Talkie, it was indicated that the Chinese
intended taking him into Namyung the following day with an escort.
They started walking the following morning and after covering fifteen
miles they were met by an Aide and Interpreter of the Governor bringing food.
Lt. White, base commander at Namyung, also arrived a short time later.

They stopped at Lobar over night due to rain and then continued to Chihing
where he was met by the Governor who promised that he would try to get and return the ring, bracelet and parachute.

Lt. Bullock then rode to Namyung in Lt. White's car and was brought back to
Suichwan by a truck reaching base on the 11th of March. 

The governor explained that the people who took the jewlry were probably
bandits as a number of them had been driven into the hills from Chihing and
surrounding communities by the government.

E.E. PAINE,
1st Lt., Air Corps,
Asst. S-2,
Info to AGAS Interrogating Officer.

Certified A True Copy