1st Fighter Group 08/17/1943
71st FIGHTER SQUADRON
1st Fighter Group
APO 520
23 August 1943.
SUBJECT: Account of Escape.
TO : Intelligence Officer, 1st Fighter Group, APO 520.
“On 17 August 1943, I bailed out of a P-38 aircraft at approximately 1745 “B” hours at position 39o30’N 13o40’E. My engines ran perfectly until the target was reached. Then the left engine began running rough and quit entirely at 1730 “B” hours. I feathered the left engine and called my squadron leader, asking for an escort. I then picked up a heading of 180o, hoping to reach Sicily. The right engine was running rough and quit at 9,000 feet, but I tried to start it until I reached 3,000 feet and having failed to do so, called my leader to give a ‘Mayday’ call. I slowed the plane to 150mph, dropped full flaps, released my canopy and tried to crawl out. My canteen was hung on the left side of the cockpit. Upon releasing the canteen, I was blown clear of the ship at an altitude of approximately 2,000-2,500 feet. My left foot hit something as I went out, probably the horizontal stabilizer.”
“As soon as the chute opened, I unbuckled my leg straps and began releasing the snaps on the dinghy cover. I hit the water facing downwind and unbuckled my chest strap; then inflated my life preserver. My feet were tangled in the chute strands and after a futile effort to clear myself, I inflated my dinghy and pulled myself into it and cut myself free from the strands. The remaining P-38’s circled until I was in the dinghy and proceeded on course.”
“I bailed the water out of the dinghy and unbuckled my pistol and web belt and placed them on the bottom. I tied the canteen to the strap and opened my escape kit to dry the water out of it. I replaced my escape kit in my flying suit pocket and started to fasten the pocket when the dinghy capsized. I lost my pistol, web belt and escape kit.”
“No one came to pick me up by nightfall, so I put my sea anchor out and fell asleep. Something later in the night hit my anchor and nearly upset the dinghy. I pulled the anchor in and had no sooner pulled it in than a seven foot shark started doing 360o turns around me. The shark made two attempts to upset the dinghy. He stayed in the vicinity, perhaps 20 minutes and bothered me no more. The wind was strong enough to make whitecaps, as a result, I was wet and cold all night.”
“On the morning of 18 August, I could hear a plane and motor boat to the south and west of my position. They never came near enough for me to sight them, but remained in the vicinity for approximately four hours. When I could no longer hear them, I pulled my anchor in and started drifting south. I drifted south the remainder of the day and all night. I was able to keep track of the direction I was drifting, by means of a pocket compass. Nothing of consequence happened the night of 18 August.”
“I continued to drift south until noon of 19 August. I heard planes, but never sighted any until a mission of B-25’s came directly over me on the d_c_ escorted by P-38’s with letter markings. When the formation appeared on the horizon, I poured my sea marking powder into the sea. Two P-38’s remained to orbit until the mission returned and were then joined by four more P-38’s, who stayed as long as possible. Two Spitfires arrived and orbited as the P-38’s were leaving and continued the orbit for perhaps forty five minutes.”
“The Spitfires left and half an hour later, I could hear a plane west of me. This was a Walrus and it continued searching until they found me. I was picked up at 1700 “B” hours on 19 August, 1943. They flew me to Palermo where I was examined and placed in a hospital, until the morning of 21 August. I returned to my organization by courier plane at 2000 “B” hours on 21 August.”
“I was in the dinghy forty eight hours without any food. I had a half canteen of water, but I saved it asmuch as possible since I was not sure when I would be picked up. There is no use to get panicky if you aren’t picked up immediately, because a man can live a long time on very little food and water. Save your water, tie everything to yourself or to the dinghy and above all be certain that you have your helmet because the sun at noon is very hot and could result in something serious. Just take it easy; do not let you imagination run away and wait patiently.”
CHARLES E. SIMPSON,
2d Lt., Air Corps.
GENE H. BOWYER,
Capt., Air Corps,
Intelligence Officer.
Official US Army Air Forces Combat Report by Charles Simpson of the 1st Fighter Group. This material is a transcription of official reports-testimonials of Charles Simpson's combat experience.
Charles Simpson: Personnel File
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