RAF Memoirs of SE Asia
358 Squadron

From the Crash Site to Bangkok

by William A. Pugh

We crash-landed at approximately 0645 Hrs. and, after locating the other survivors and collected what we would find from around the remains of the aircraft, e.g. 2 Sten guns, 2 packages of W rations, some water bottles and 1 damaged parachute, we held a very brief talk about what to do next.

Smithy decided (against our wishes) to stay with Cpl. Naparolski who was so severely wounded it was obvious he was close to dying as there was absolutely nothing we could do to help him. Smithy told us (his crew members) that Major Gildee would assume command of the survivors and as before we were very upset with Smithy's decision to stay with Cpl. Naparolski as we felt he was putting his own life in danger when there was no way he or any of us could help the American who had taken the full brunt of exploding cannon shells in his midriff with only bits of uniform holding him together - it was a tragic sight.

The Jap fighters would have already reported our position for ground patrols to capture any survivors. We had to get away from the crash-site as quickly as possible after attending to wounds as best we could, using parts of the damaged parachute. Taffy had shrapnel wounds in his feet and needed cover for them. Timber had shrapnel up his nose and was hardly able to speak. Curly and Ramsay were relatively unscathed as was the American Lt.o. Moore and myself. Sgt. McCarthy was in very serious condition with back wounds and injuries sustained during the crash and was barely able to walk. Major Gildee's left shoulder appeared dislocated and he was suffering from minor concussion.

We started to move through the undergrowth mainly in single file and we had only been walking about 10 to 15 minutes when we heard dogs barking and occasional shouts. We did not know if the voices were those of the Japanese or Siamese villagers. It was decided to immediately find a spot in the jungle where hopefully we could see but not be seen. We kept moving, albeit slow due to the injured, and we were lucky to come across some sunken ground on the edge of a clearing but surrounded by heavy undergrowth, bushes, etc., an ideal place to try and conceal ourselves. It was fortunate in one way that we came across this spot as almost immediately the barking of dogs and voices were very close.

We took cover as quickly as we could allowing for the injured being carefully laid low. Major Gildee whispered to us almost question-like that if these men were a Japanese patrol and not Siamese villagers, maybe we should just shoot it out if they discovered our hiding place. All of us were armed, although lightly. We agreed, however, it was out of no sense of bravado because we were well aware of what Japs did to captured airmen - it was simply a case of "what alternative did we have?"

When we spotted the approaching men amongst the trees about 100 yards away, they appeared to be villagers and, although some wore parts of military uniforms they were certainly not moving like a military patrol. Major Gildee said he knew a few words of Siamese and he would go out to them, and for us to provide armed back-up in case things turned sour. Very fortunately the Major was met without hostility and he quickly beckoned to us all to come out of hiding and join him with the villagers, who these men thankfully turned out to be.

We again proceeded single file through the jungle to a small village where we climbed up poles to the interior of bamboo and thatch huts. These huts were built about 4 to 6 feet above the ground no doubt to keep predators at bay and the occupants dry during the Monsoon rains. We were given some rice and a drink of what I think was water and not long after, maybe two hours, a group of village men brought in Smithy to join us. Needless to say, we were very relieved to see him. We were not surprised but very saddened to learn that Cpl. Naparolski had died shortly after we left them.

I guess we must all have dropped off to sleep in the early evening and while I was awake at first light as was Timbe, Ramsay and Taffy, we were startled by a commotion outside. On glancing through the bamboo screens around us we spotted what looked like a Military Patrol on horseback approaching the village (we were obviously on the outer limits of same). What really scared us for awhile was the leader who looked so much like a Japanese Officer. I guess we were getting a little paranoid over thinking that anyone other than the people we were with would turn out to be Japanese.

Lucky again!

I say lucky because it seemed our luck was turning - because this group turned out to be a Siamese Military Police Patrol who we later found out in Bangkok had been dispatched to find and escort us there. Howeverl we were to have a lot of scary moments until that destination was reached.

Having established our situation with the Siamese Military Police Patrol we were informed that we would be immediately moved out of the village and hidden near the bank of a river until nightfall. The reason for this move was that a Japanese Army Patrol was already searching for us. We later learned that the Japs were ambushed by the Police and villagers and all were killed and buried.

That night (it would now be May 30th), we were loaded into bullock carts and moved out over the shallow river. Later that night we stopped in a village and were given some rice with bits of chicken in it. It had been an extremely bumpy ride and we were all concerned for the badly injured, especially Sgt. McCarthy with his back injury, as it must have been extremely painful for him.

We left the village and travelled through the night and eventually arrived at what appeared to be a lake or it could have been a river. After awhile we transferred from the bullock carts to sampans (small covered boats) and moved out in the early evening. The mosquitoes on this stretch of water were making it very uncomfortable for us but, while the air was full of them, I believe we were far more concerned about where we were being taken.

It had been, and still was, a very tense situation for us because even though we had been told by the Police that we were in safe hands, we felt very uneasy. We could not help discussing amongst ourselves that perhaps these people would deliver us to the Japs for whatever compensation they could get - after all the Siamese were allied with the Japanese (although under duress) insofar as the rest of the World was concerned.

It is difficult to recall all of the happendings - from the time we left the first village on the night of May 30th until we arrived at the home of the Police Captain in charge of Nakhon Sawan Province. The house and Headquarters for the Province were located at the junction of two northsouth rivers with a railway line running in between same, just before they joined together. I believe we arrived there on Thursday night May 31st and were given a really good welcome by the Police Captain's family. They gave us a good meal - we were very hungry - and thankful.

After a couple of hours we were moved from the house across an open field and up an embankment and told to keep low to the ground. At the top was the railway line referred to earlier and we were to cross same and down the other side to another riverbank where we were loaded on board a Police motor launch. Crossing the rail line had to be done as quickly and as quietly as possible due to Japanese guards on duty at the rail bridge (presumably going over one of the rivers) only about 100 yards north of our position.

The Police Captain was dispatching us across the rail line mostly one at a time. Curly and Ramsay between them carried Sgt. McCarthy across safely. The boat we were loaded aboard was about 25 ft. in length with a beam of only about 31 ft. I believe it had a wooden and metal covering over the so-called deck with the usual type of bamboo roll-up side screens. The screens were kept down most of the time to keep us hidden from passing craft - sometimes Japanese patrols - as the river we were on was one of the main waterways to Bangkok.

Cast Off

It must have been near midnight or soon after when we cast off. The coolness of the river was very welcome. We tried to sleep but it was next to impossible, and in fact I think we were probably all past any pattern of sleep functioning. Sgt.McCarthy was made as comfortable as possible. The rest of us had to sit with our buttocks up against the low sides of the boat alternately sitting across and next to each other. This was a very cramped position to be in but we had no reason to complain just being gratefulthat we were all still alive and together, bud heading for what we did not know! In our emergency kits we had saved tablets (I have forgotten the chemical name) to be used to purify water for drinking. Fortunately we had recovered from the aircraft several water bottles (hip type) and we put them overside to fill with river water then ration out the tablets. Being so thirsty with the heat of the 21 days we spent on the river probably caused us to drink the water before the tablets had done their job of purifying same. I'm sure this resulted in our later health problems.

We would pull into a riverside village at night for some food always a rice concoction. The thatched and bamboo houses were all built up on stilts above the water - this type of housing was quite common all along the river. We had a couple of scares with approaching Japanese but otherwise the trip was without any significant incidents. The nights were more than welcome after the heat of the day and by now I think we were hardly noticing the mosquitoes who were nevertheless having a feast on me. The sanitary arrangements were good compared to our earlier experiences and consisted of a small canvas-covered platform with a hole[ in it sticking out over the stern.

On Saturday night June 2nd (we must have been quite close to Bangkok now), we pulled into the riverbank close to a few houses and stayed there for a longer stop than usual. The next day, Sunday June 3rd, we arrived in Bangkok (I suspect the outer limits of the City) at about 1300/1400 Hrs. tied up at a small jetty and within minutes we were the centre of extreme curiosity to the local habitants. It was fairly obvious to them that we were Caucasians and for awhile our worries were rekindled that the Japanese would learn of our presence.

However, after waiting in the boat a couple of hours an old bus appeared on the street above the jetty and we all hastily boarded it. It took off through the main streets of Bangkok. The bus had no glass in the windows but did have some sort of bamboo mats hanging down which kept us hidden from view. The mats kept blowing open due to the wind allowing us every now and then to see the crowded streets and many groups of Japanese soldiers mingling among the civilians. We knew the Japanese Army had a large contingent based in the City because of its strategic position as a port and a main transportation hub for supplying their Forces throughout Siam and Burma.

We had no idea where we were being driven to but after about 20 - 30 minutes we arrived within what appeared to be a Military Compound. We were now at the Siamese State Police Headquarters. First-aid was administered to us and when evening darkness approached we were allowed outside to take a wash-down in what appeared to be just a large pool of water. There was no electricity for lights due to our planes having bombed the City a few days earlier, destroying the power stations and some of the Port facilities, so we found out later. After bathing we were ushered into a 2-storey building and up the stairs to a long dormitory-type room lined on each side with what appeared to be dark solid wood cabinets or boxes.

We were told we could sleep on them and I'm sure everyone was sound asleep within a minute or two - not only because of lack of sleep for a week, but also I guess we felt somewhat safer than we had during any time since our crashlanding.

I have no idea what time we dropped off, however I awakened after a very sound sleep to realize it was daylight and the sun-rays were streaming through what I could see now were open windows. I sat bolt upright when I suddenly realized I was the only person in the long room. I quickly rolled off the so-called bed (had not noticed how hard it was) and felt very very much alone, scared too I guess. Where had the others vanished to? I went to the end of the room and looked out of one of the many open windows and saw no sign of anyone. Then, turning to the top of the stairs I heard voices from outside. I dashed over to the nearest window and much to my relief saw Timber, Ramsay and Taffy below me. I called to them and made my way downstairs to meet up with them. I jokingly chastised Timber for leaving me asleep and to wake up alone - however he assured me they would not have left without me - some joker! I wanted to know what had happened to the others, whereupon Timber astonished me with the following reply.

During the night two American O.S.S. Officers (we later found out they were secretly operating in Bangkok) came to where we were all sleeping. They quietly awakened Major Gildee, Lt. Moore, Sgt. McCarthy and Smithy with the news that they were going to arrange their escape out of Siam. It apparently then developed that they would have room for one other so Smithy decided it should be Curly because of his long overseas service. Of the five chosen, only Curly did not need proper medical attention. It was crucial the Japanese did not find out that we had been about to drop three O.S.S. Agents into Siam. These then were the main reasons for getting the above mentioned out of Bangkok as quickly as possible, and avoiding any possible interrogation.

Smithy awakened Timber and told him of the plan - they were leaving the four of us - and should we be interrogated by the Japanese as we expected, although we were now Siamese P.O.W.s we would simply say we were on a Meteorological flight.

The four of us stayed at the Police Headquarters until Thursday. Armed Police guarded us and were wearing yellowy brown uniforms, with which we were later issued, but not the caps they wore, which were stylized after the Gestapo-type. The Officer commanding this unit explained in not too bad English that they were actually a Criminal Investigation Division (C.I.D.) unit - they could have fooled us!!

Getting Stories Straight

During our stay with his unit we very discreetly and thoroughly went over the story we intended to follow, as advised by Smithy, namely that we had been on a Meteorological flight. We would have to convince the Japanese interrogators that we were on such a mission, and the same story would have to be imparted thereafter to everyone else including fellow P.O.W.s and civilian Internees with whom it later developed wedwould come into contact. At this time we were unaware who would be interrogated just 1, 2, 3 or all 4 of us.

We all agreed that our earlier conversations concerning the events that transpired during the attack and after crash-landing were as follows: we recalled Curly telling us that he saw three containers drop but that the Ichutes did not fully open. Based on this we concluded that, if the Japanese pilots had observed the same, they would assume the containers were bodies which would probably have no hope of surviving due to obvious ?chute failures. Therefore, counting these three containers as bodies, combined with ourselves would mean our crew would have totalled 7. This we decided was easier to explain - we would say there were: 2 pilots, 1 navigator, 2 WOPs and 2 A/Gs as there would be no need for a bomb-aimer and dispatchers on a Meteorological flight. This is how we convinced ourselves to stay with this story.

RAF Memoirs of SE Asia: 358 Squadron Special Ops and P.O.W

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© Copyright 2001 by William A. Pugh.
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