Page 48 - moondani kyema
P. 48
ndani kyema, My Story - Ray Moore 48
Here is another piece of background information in a report which described the Duck
Team's mission. It is interesting that the exact location of the camp was not actually
known until the last few minutes before they parachuted down to free us.
“17 AUGUST. The Duck team in a B-24 arrived over the target of
Weihsien at approximately 0930 hours. Owing to the very scanty photographic
and other information with which they had been provided, they could not
immediately locate the Civilian Assembly Camp where the 1500 Allied civilians
were interned. A sweep was made over the area at approximately 2000 feet
and, as no fire was drawn, subsequent flights were made around the area at
lower altitudes. Major Staiger, commanding the Duck team, knew only that the
internees were held in a compound some way outside of Weihsien, but from
the air several locations would have answered to this description. Finally when
the B-24 was down to around 500 feet, a compound was located in which
hundreds of people were collected, waving up at the plane. It could therefore
be presumed that this was the objective sought.
In the course of the circling an air-strip had been noted below located not far
from the internment camp. A conference now took place between Major
Staiger and the pilot of the plans as to whether a landing should be attempted.
Major Staiger finally
decided against this
course owing to the
danger that the field
might be mined.
Also as the
reception of the
mission by the
Japanese was far
from sure, Major
Staiger decided to
go through with the
original plan of
jumping. Thus, if the
worst came to the
worst, the loss in
men and equipment
would be minimized.
Accordingly the B-
24 dropped down to
about 450 feet and
the Duck team
bailed out.”
On the left is a letter
penned by Major
Staiger on behalf of
his Duck Team and
addressed to us.
Here is another piece of background information in a report which described the Duck
Team's mission. It is interesting that the exact location of the camp was not actually
known until the last few minutes before they parachuted down to free us.
“17 AUGUST. The Duck team in a B-24 arrived over the target of
Weihsien at approximately 0930 hours. Owing to the very scanty photographic
and other information with which they had been provided, they could not
immediately locate the Civilian Assembly Camp where the 1500 Allied civilians
were interned. A sweep was made over the area at approximately 2000 feet
and, as no fire was drawn, subsequent flights were made around the area at
lower altitudes. Major Staiger, commanding the Duck team, knew only that the
internees were held in a compound some way outside of Weihsien, but from
the air several locations would have answered to this description. Finally when
the B-24 was down to around 500 feet, a compound was located in which
hundreds of people were collected, waving up at the plane. It could therefore
be presumed that this was the objective sought.
In the course of the circling an air-strip had been noted below located not far
from the internment camp. A conference now took place between Major
Staiger and the pilot of the plans as to whether a landing should be attempted.
Major Staiger finally
decided against this
course owing to the
danger that the field
might be mined.
Also as the
reception of the
mission by the
Japanese was far
from sure, Major
Staiger decided to
go through with the
original plan of
jumping. Thus, if the
worst came to the
worst, the loss in
men and equipment
would be minimized.
Accordingly the B-
24 dropped down to
about 450 feet and
the Duck team
bailed out.”
On the left is a letter
penned by Major
Staiger on behalf of
his Duck Team and
addressed to us.
