21 Feb - 2 Mar 1944, Journal of Lt. Donald W. Kerr
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((Lt Kerr has been moved to a “rock cave”…))
We spent two weeks in the cave. The time went slowly, of course, but having companions and tangible hope made a great improvement over the previous days.
The same five stayed with me all the time. …((One was)) Young Chen…a 14-year old who couldn’t sit still and forever was after me to teach him English words. That was O.K. by me, we traded vocabulary several hours a day; but tiring of that, he’d putter and fool with his automatic pistol while I worried that he’d accidentally fire it and give us away. Worse than that, he’d disassemble the hand grenades he carried on his belt. One was a Mills bomb – I knew how that worked and saw that he did too; but the other, a Japanese model, was a mystery to me, so when he started unscrewing parts off it I’d find an errand behind a rock. A big one.
They all slept late. I’d get up about eight o’clock and sit out near the entrance and finish the rice left over from late supper. And think. And sun my burns. Damn leg was giving me trouble. The walk to the cave had opened it up and it didn’t seem to be doing well. At least, my arm didn’t hurt and was healed on the outside, so I didn’t worry over it.
In the afternoon I’d hold classes. With help of the Pointee-Talkee, drawings and many gestures, we covered a wide range. I drew maps and showed them the war and who was on our side. They were surprisingly informed on progress though they weren’t very strong on geography. Or distance – they seemed to think America was only a few hours away by plane. I taught them English. With great amusement, they taught me some Cantonese. We mutually cursed the Japanese. On that subject, one stood up, pointed to a small group of houses in our valley and said “Japan house.” Gosh, that close!
((These excerpts will resume on March 3.
This journal was copyrighted in 2009. The extracts are being made available to David Bellis for publication on Gwulo: Old Hong Kong (http://gwulo.com) only. Please do not republish without permission. A Chinese/English publication of the journal is being prepared and a film is being considered. Contact David Kerr (davykerr@gmail.com) for further information.))
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BAAG on the rescue of Lt. Donald Kerr USAAF
Ref: Waichow Intelligence Report WIS No. 67 of March 1944 in the BAAG Ride Papers at AWM Series 10 Folder 40 and Kweilin Intelligence Report (KWIZ No.43) (AWM S.10 F.15) of April 1944 reported:
Rescue of downed USAAF Fighter Pilot Lt. Donald Kerr, 3rd Fighter Group, 32nd Fighter Squadrons, USAAF:
On 23 Feb 44 BAAG ‘K’ Group reported that during the Allied air attack on HK on 10 Feb 1944, one of the Allied planes caught a burst of AA and the pilot bale out safely near Sha Tin Valley, and the aircraft crashed NE of Stonecutters Island.
Indians & Chinese policemen were mustered from all stations and combed the Kaitak-Saikung-Ma On Shan area looking for three Europeans for three days without success. Considerable reward was offered for the capture, but the policemen were deliberately conniving at the escape. Rice ration for the Chinese in Shatin & Saikung was suspended pending capture of the pilots. BAAG sources were able to secretly learn that the parachute and uniform were found which identified “Flying Officer Kerr, USAAF”.
The Report of Group K corroborated earlier reports of BAAG sources. BAAG AHQ Waichow speculated that Kerr was in the hand of the Red Guerrillas who were holding him until it is safe to send him out, or for purpose of their own (probably implying political purpose) since the enemy blockade of Mirs Bay had been relaxed since. The Reds had not rescued any US Airman until now. AHQ remained optimistic that Kerr would appear at Waichow BAAG AHQ soon.
WIS No. 70 reported that Lt. Kerr arrived at BAAG AHQ on 20th Mar 1944. He was suffering from slight burns but was otherwise fit. He left Waichow for Kweilin the next day. He provided a brief report of his escape, speaking very highly of the Red Guerrillas.
According to the statement, while he was downed on 11th Feb, he went into hiding and did not present himself seeking for help until 14th Feb, being driven by hunger and discomfort.
On 11th Feb, Kerr left Kweilin covering the B.52 Bombers targeting Kaitak. At 13:20 while intercepting enemy fighters, he was attacked by three Japs planes from the rear. His plane caught fire and he was forced to bale out at 12-15,000 feet above Kaitak, and landed on the hills. Within 5 minutes of landing, a Small Boy appeared and led him to a hiding place escaping from pursuing Japanese troops. He lost touch with the Small Boy and hid himself nursing his own injuries for two days. He moved to another hiding place in another valley on 13th.
On 14th, four young men noticed him and he identified himself to them. They brought him food and a man who could speak English. They took him to a cave where he hid between 15th to 18th Feb.
In the night of 18th, some Chinese clothes were brought to him and he was led to some Chinese Guerrillas who hid him in some bushes for another day in Saikung. He was taken to a house and met a small party of Guerrillas. The Guerrillas took him to a large cave where he hid under guard until 3rd Mar when the Japanese let off the search.
On 3rd Mar, he was taken from Ma On Shan to a house at a coastal village, and then led to another village some distance away where he met the Guerrilla chief on 5th Mar. He was taken by chair to a boat which brought him to Nam O (Dapeng Bay) in the night with an armed escort arriving on 6th. There he was taken by another boat to To Yeung, then another village where he remained until 10th Mar while his infested injuries were being taken care of by the Guerrillas. On 18th Mar, he left for Pingshan & Tam Shui on a chair; then left on bicycle for Wai Chow on 20th Mar, arriving Wai Chow in the afternoon.