Indonesia Frees U.S. Soldier Of Fortune

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29909, 24 August 1962, Page 11

Indonesia Frees U.S. Soldier Of Fortune

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright)

WASHINGTON, August 23

The American soldier of fortune, Alan Lawrence Pope, released from an Indonesian prison, where he was serving a life term, is now back in the United States He was freed on July 2 The 33-year-old airman was shot down and captured in 1958 while allegedly piloting a bombing and strafing mission for rebels against the Indonesian Government.

At his 1960 Djakarta trial, he was sentenced to death for “assisting an enemy of Indonesia in war time.” Pope’s punishment was changed to life imprisonment on October 22. 1961. when the Indonesian President, Dr Soekarno. commuted the death sentence on all rebels

The State Department spokesman, Mr Joseph Reap, said today that Pope had requested that his return to the United States be kept secret

He had wanted to rejoin his family and rest without undue publicity Both Pope’s mother in Miami. Florida, and his wife. Yvonne .said last night that Pope was in New York, but they did not know where he was staying. At his trial. Pope admitted that he had flown for the rebels, but denied killing any Indonesians He said he had flown only one offensive mission. while the other flights involved only test and patrol duty The Indonesian Army alleged that Pope was responsible for rebel raids on ships, ports and other installations, and said he had received 10.000 dollars for each mission

Pope claimed he had flown without pay, and that he had joined the rebels to fight communism after being told that Communists led the Indonesian Government