A Long Walk Home

Wings of Gold, Fall 2004

ARM2C Frederick A. Lafser, AMM3C David Nyman and their pilot, ENS Del Landry, of VT-3 on USS Yorktown had completed five combat missions in the Philippines but on January 7, 1945, two days before American troops returned to the Philippines, their lives took a dramatic turn. Their TBM, fully loaded with fuel and bombs, used the entire flight deck for take-off, dropping perilously close to the water before gaining enough power to level off and climb. Their target was the heavily defended Clark Airfield. They began the attack from 12,000 feet. At one point in the dive, the Avenger shuttered violently but they pressed on, releasing their bombs at 2,000 feet. Landry recovered from the dive, heading for Yorktown.

Lafser saw oil covering the bomb bay. Landry noted severe loss of oil pressure. They had been hit by AAA. Landry got the TBM to 4,000 feet headed now toward a submarine pickup point but still over land. He advised the flight leader of their intentions as smoke and fire enveloped the aircraft and it began to stall.

"Bailout!" ordered Landry. Both crewmen put on their chutes and survivor packs. All three made it safely to the ground. Fortunately, a group of Hukbalahaps or Huks, Philippine guerrillas friendly to the allies, found them. Thus began the three-week walk home by the Avenger crew.

The Huks passed them on to other Huk units en route to the submarine pick-up point. For several days, the fliers and their guides traveled from small village to small village, usually walking, occasionally riding in two-wheeled carts over rutted roads. They slept in bamboo huts on braided mats or on the ground. The airmen didn't fully trust their guides the first few days so they took turns sleeping and guarding. One day they were circumventing a village from which the Japanese could see them. Such exposure did not faze the Huks. "Let them come out and we will fight them," said one of the Huks. Lafser noticed that the pigs and chickens had short ropes or twine around their necks. A guide explained, "When the Japanese come to our village for food, the kids take the animals to the woods and hide them until the enemies leave."

Twice daily rations consisted of water and dark brown rice cooked in old pots over open fires. When eating, Lafser would think about two tins of candy, a Christmas gift from his sister, which he had been saving in his locker for a special occasion. The rice was served on large leaves and eaten with their hands. Canteens were filled with water from small streams.

After a week, as night was falling, the group approached a large village with a river flowing through it. The travelers were to spend the night in a bamboo hut located on the far side of the occupied village. Their guides transported the flyers through the village, laying them flat on their backs on the bottoms of hollowed out log boats. Later, at the safe house, they ate and had dessert, a sweet made with rice, coconut, and sugar cane.

An Army Air Corps colonel joined the group. He was the CO of the 95th Fighter Wing and had also been shot down over Clark Field.

While crossing a main highway the next night, they were advised by their guides to unholster their revolvers since the highway was patrolled regularly. Lafser wondered "why" since a heavy fog limited vision to less than ten feet. That evening their host showed them a drawer full of Japanese money that would buy one sack of rice. He gave Lafser three or four bills of varying denominations.

About day ten the group slept at the base of a 6,000 foot mountain and next morning they climbed to the mountain top in four hours. They had arrived at Huk headquarters a garrison of 30 armed men living in small tents scattered through the area.

Living with the Huks was a U. S. Army sergeant who had parachuted in to gather information which he relayed to the Army at Lingayen Gulf. The sergeant radioed headquarters to request a rescue for the airmen, rather than using the submarine. Each evening the group watched the war from the mountaintop. They enjoyed a 90 mile view which extended from Lingayen Gulf to Manila. Battle lines could be determined by gun flashes in the night and clouds of dust by day.

While awaiting rescue, Lafser whittled four wooden spoons to more easily consume their rice rations. Located part way down the mountain was a stream which enabled Nyman and Lafser to bathe for the first time in weeks. They also filled their canteens with the cold, refreshing water.

On the eve of their departure, the Huks hosted a fiesta party on the mountain top. In addition to the ubiquitous rice, dinner included a roast pig. Singing and dancing enlivened the evening celebration. When asked to sing, the Americans rendered "Home on the Range" which in spite of being off key was enthusiastically applauded by the Huks.

Word came next day that since the Japanese were retreating into the hills, the Army was ready to attempt the pick-ups. The men cleared a small level area at the foot of the mountain creating a runway of sorts. Shortly after dawn, two Piper Cubs arrived and flew the colonel and Landry to safety.