RUTHLESS JAPANESE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 64, 17 March 1942, Page 5

RUTHLESS JAPANESE

! “NOT HUMAN, BUT BEASTS” ATTACK ON COMMERCIAL AIRLINER (Recd. 9.45 p.m.) Perth, March 16. The story of an inhuman, ruthless attack by Japanese pilots on a Douglas commercial airliner which was evacuating 12 persons near Broome on the day that town was raided by the Japanese was told by a Dutch Airlines pilot, VV. Smirnoff, who is at present at Perth Hospital with four bullet wounds. He said the plane was attacked 60 miles north ol Broome and crashed in flames on a beach. Four passengers died either from wounds or privauon. 'three Japanese fighters attacked his defenceless plane. Smirnoff was shot through both arms but managed to land tne plane on the beach, where it burst into flames. “Despite our terrible plight those Japanese fiends went on machinegunning us and finally left us to die. A woman was twice badly wounded. Our mechanic had a shocking wouna in a knee. 1 had four bullets through my left arm and one through my right leg. Both the woman and a flymgoincer ol the Dutch air force, the latter also severely wounded, died, i sent three men to look for water. They were away eight hours, but returned without any. Next day a Japanese flying-boat passed over and dropped five bombs on us. Another party which was sent for water searched for 24 hours but came back without any. A mechanic died on the third day, by which time we were nearly all finished. However, we managed to distil some water from sea-water. I then sent a party of four to try to find help. They were away 72 hours when, to our great joy, a R.A.A.F. plane flew over and dropped food, medicine, water and cigarettes, and also a message saying a rescue party was on the way. We were taken to Beagle Bay Mission and were made very comfortable. “It is my view of the Japanese airmen that they are not human; they are beasts.”