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Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
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Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
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Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
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Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
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SHOW PHOTO DETAILS
'; } else { caption += $(this).find('figcaption').html() + getDetailsURL($(this).parent()) + getDownloadURL($(this).parent()) + showFBShare(); } } else { if (isMobile()) { caption += '
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' + getDetailsURL($(this).parent()) + getDownloadURL($(this).parent()) + showFBShare() + '
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SHOW PHOTO DETAILS
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Realizing that rescue probably depended upon going for help, the survivors sent out a team of four men on Nov. 12. Three days later, another four-man team departed for help in another direction. Eight men remained with the plane, only one of whom was physically able to carry water for the other seven badly injured personnel.
The first team encountered unbelievable hardships and difficulties in the mountains and jungle. While attempting to float down a river on logs, two men were swept away, never to be seen again. Finally, after 32 days, the surviving two men found help. The second party encountered similar hardships, but they all reached the coast on Dec. 14, 1942.
Based upon the meager information provided by the first two men, a search party was dispatched to find the crash site by back-tracking the escape route. After about eight days, it had to abandon the search when its native porters stole all the provisions and disappeared into the jungle.
Aerial reconnaissance missions flew over the general crash area without success, but eighteen months later, in July 1944, the crash site was discovered. A rescue party went to the location, only to find the eight crash survivors dead.
Ironically, searchers looking for another downed airplane rediscovered The Flying Dutchman in 1967, and they found this door. The notes written on it reveal the tragic hopes of those who had been waiting for a rescue that came too late. The last entry was made on Jan. 1, 1943, and what happened afterward and how long the last man lived will probably never be known.
Daily Entries on Door:
(Left column)
Crashed 1:30 Tues - 10 of Nov. - 1942
Tues-10 17 men alive
Wed-11 16 men alive
Thurs-12 4 men started for help
Fri-13
Sat-14 Tried to put up balloon
Sun-15 Cracker and cheese
Mon-16 4 men started for help-due South leaves eight men left
Tues-17 Small piece cheese
Wed-18 Chocolate bar
Thurs-19 Found one chocolate bar
Fri-20 1/3 can tomato juice
Sat-21 1/3 can tomato juice
Sun-22 Drank last 1/3 can of tomato juice
Mon-23 Last cigarette-even butts
Tues-24 First day-no rain
Wed-25 2nd day-no rain
Thurs-26 Rain today-also clear in morning
Fri-27 Bucket full water this morn-still got our chin up.
Sat-28 Clearest day we have had
Sun-29 Nice clear day. Boy we're getting weak still have our hope
Mon-30 Still going strong on imaginary meals
December Tues-1 My summer is here - went to spring today
Wed-2 Just slid by but Boy it rained
Thurs-3 Kinda cold and cloudy today-still plenty hungry-Boy a cig. would do good
Fri-4 Same ole thing-clear this morn
Sat-5 Boy nothing happened-just waiting
Sun-6 Had service today. Still lots of hope
Mon-7 Year ago today the war started-Boy we didn't think of this then
Tues-8 Nice day - still living on thru this
Wed-9 Cloudy. God is looking out for our water supply
Thurs-10 Just thirty days ago. We can take it but would be nice if someone came
(Right column)
Fri-11 Cold rainy day. We would like to start out before Christmas
Sat-12 Fairly nice day-still plenty of water
Sun-13 Beautiful morning everyone has high hopes
Mon-14 Waiting
Tues-15 Waiting
Wed-16 New water place today
Thurs-17 Running out of imaginary meals. Boys shouldn't be long in coming now. Six more shopping days
Fri-18 Nice and warm this morning. Rained in the afternoon
Sat-19 Pretty cold last night. Cold this morning too. Water pretty low. Five more days till Xmas
Sun-20
Mon-21 Plenty of water
Tues-22 Rained all three days
Wed-23 Thinking about home and Christmas. Still hoping
Thurs-24 Tonite is Christmas eve. God make them happy at home
Fri-25 Christmas Day
Sat-26
Sun-27 Rain every day
Mon-28
Tues-29
Wed-30 Johnnie died today
Thurs-31
Fri-1 New Year's Day
Pat
Mart
Ted
(on lower left of door)
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
I'm an aviation history enthusiast with a deep understanding of World War II and its related events. I've extensively studied the historical accounts, personal narratives, and official records of the era. My knowledge extends to the military operations, aircraft, and the experiences of individuals involved in the war.
World War II
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved most of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The major causes of World War II were numerous and include the impact of Treaty of Versailles following WWI, the worldwide economic depression, German and Japanese militarism, the rise of fascist leaders like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and the failure of appeasem*nt policies by western powers towards aggression by Germany and Japan [[1]]. Other factors also played a role, such as the Soviet Union's push for expansion [[2]].
C-47 "The Flying Dutchman" Crash
The C-47, nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman" (S/N 41-18564), crashed into the side of Mount Obree on Nov. 10, 1942, while carrying U.S. Army troops from Port Moresby to Pongani, New Guinea. The crash resulted in the death of seven of the 23 onboard and the destruction of most of the food it carried. The survivors faced incredible hardships and difficulties in the mountains and jungle while attempting to find help. The crash site was discovered 18 months later in July 1944, and a rescue party found the eight crash survivors dead. The last entry on the door of the aircraft was made on Jan. 1, 1943, and what happened afterward and how long the last man lived will probably never be known [[3]].
Daily Entries on Door
The door of the aircraft had daily entries, documenting the experiences and struggles of the survivors. The entries provide a poignant insight into the physical and emotional challenges faced by the survivors as they awaited rescue. The last entry was made on Jan. 1, 1943, and it remains a tragic reminder of the ordeal endured by those who were waiting for a rescue that came too late [[3]].
Conclusion
The story of the C-47 "The Flying Dutchman" crash and the experiences of the survivors serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost and the resilience displayed during the tumultuous times of World War II. It stands as a testament to the courage and endurance of those who faced unimaginable challenges in the midst of war [[3]].
