Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption (64 page)

6 Nauru preparations: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interviews, August 25, 27, 2004, March 9, 2005, August 18, 2006, January 23 and April 21, 2007; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Louis Zamperini, diary, April 17, 19, 1943.

7 “We only hope”: Louis Zamperini, diary, April 15, 1943.

8 Nauru raid: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interviews, August 25, 27, 2004, March 9, 2005, August 18, 2006, January 23 and April 21, 2007; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Louis Zamperini, diary, April 20–22, 1943, and memoranda; Charles McMurtry, “Liberator, Hit 594 Times, Wings Home Safely,” Richmond News Leader, May 14, 1943; “Catonsvil e Air Gunner Has 95 Raids to Credit,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; Russel Al en Phil ips, letter to Cecy Perry, May 1, 1943; “Shapleigh Youth, Injured, Credited with Downing Zero,” undated article from papers of Stanley Pil sbury, NPN; Cleveland, pp. 257, 349–50; Howard and Whitley, pp. 137–38; Charles P. Arnot, “Bombardier Zamperini Saves Lives in Shel -Riddled Plane,” Oakland Tribune, May 4, 1943; Charles P. Arnot, “Japanese Phosphate Plants Are Blown Up,” Honolulu Advertiser, May 1, 1943; “Gen. Landon, Bomber Commander, Tel s the Story of Nauru Attack,” May 5, 1943, from papers of Louis Zamperini, NPN; “Two Southland Officers Classified as Heroes in South Pacific Dispatches,” Long Beach Press-Telegram, May 4, 1943; Charles P. Arnot, “Lt. Phil ips on Another ‘Thril er,’ ” May 4, 1943, from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; “Brave Flying Son of Pickett Chaplain Bears Charmed Life,” May 1943, article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; “Yank Pilot, Son of Pickett Chaplain, Saves Crewmen,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; Charles P. Arnot, “Lieut. Phil ips Escapes Death on Pacific Raid,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; “His Toughest Fight: Lou Zamperini, Former Track Star, Aids Five Wounded as Plane Limps Home,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; Charles P. Arnot, “Track Star in Heroic Role,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; Charles P. Arnot, “Raid on Nauru Told in Detail by Eyewitness,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; “Lou Zamperini Plays Great Role on Bombing Trip,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN; Louis Zamperini, interview by George Hodak, Hol ywood, Calif., June 1988, AAFLA; Charles P. Arnot, “Zamperini, S.C. Track Star, in Epic Air Adventure,” Los Angeles Herald Express, May 4, 1943; Charles P. Arnot, “Track Star Zamperini Hero in Jap Air Fight,” Los Angeles Herald Express, May 4, 1943.

9 “a volcano-like mass”: Charles P. Arnot, “Raid on Nauru Told in Detail by Eyewitness,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN.

10 Eight hundred rounds per minute: “Pistol Packin’ Warplanes,” Popular Mechanics, April 1944, p. 2.

11 If he’d just: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interview, August 26, 2004.

12 “Ow!”: Ibid.

13 One more pass: Louis Zamperini, diary, April 1943, memoranda page.

14 I have to kill: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interview, August 26, 2004.

15 Japanese never retrieved phosphates: Jane Resture, “Nauru: A Short History,” http://www.janeresture.com/nauru_history/index.htm (accessed September 13, 2009).

16 Pil sbury’s injuries: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interview, August 26, 2004; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Louis Zamperini, diary, April 20–22, 1943, and memoranda page.

17 Manual alternatives to flaps, gear: Flight Manual: B-24D, pp. 71–75.

18 standard landing speed: Charlie Tilghman, B-24 pilot, Commemorative Air Force, telephone interview, February 14, 2007; B-24 Liberator Pilot Training Manual.

19 B-24 without brakes needed 10,000 feet: Charlie Tilghman, B-24 pilot, Commemorative Air Force, telephone interview, February 14, 2007.

20 “al torn to pieces” Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interview, August 26, 2004.

21 Parachute idea: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interview, August 26, 2004; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Louis Zamperini, diary, April 1943, memoranda page.

22 Belle of Texas: Cleveland, pp. 183, 464; 11th Bomb Group (H), The Gray Geese (Paducah, Ky.: Turner Publishing, 1996), p. 73.

23 594 holes: Charles McMurtry, “Liberator, Hit 594 Times, Wings Home Safely,” Richmond News Leader, May 14, 1943.

24 “He didn’t make it”: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interview, March 9, 2005.

25 Brooks family informed: “Sergt. H. V. Brooks Served in Pacific,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN.

Chapter 10: The Stinking Six

1 Funafuti bombing: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interviews, August 25, 27, 2004, March 9, 2005, August 18, 2006, January 23 and April 21, 2007; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Louis Zamperini, diary, April 21–23, 1943; John Joseph Deasy, telephone interview, April 4, 2005; Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005; Jesse Stay, telephone interviews, July 23, 2004, and March 16, 2005; Frank Rosynek, “Not Everybody Wore Wings,” unpublished memoir; Frank Rosynek, email interview, June 15, 2005; Russel Al en Phil ips, letter to Cecy Perry, May 1, 1943; Cleveland, p. 346; Britt, pp. 36–37; Howard and Whitley, pp. 138–44; Jesse Stay, “Twenty-nine Months in the Pacific,”

unpublished memoir; Louis Zamperini, interview by George Hodak, Hol ywood, Calif., June 1988, AAFLA.

2 “I looked around”: John Joseph Deasy, telephone interview, April 4, 2005.

3 Man runs into ocean: Howard and Whitley, p. 140.

4 Ladd saves natives: Howard and Whitley, p. 139; Philip Scearce, email interview, July 11, 2008.

5 “This feels like it, boys”: Howard and Whitley, p. 140.

6 “like animals crying”: Ibid., p. 143.

7 “I wasn’t only scared”: Cleveland, p. 258.

8 Phil’s fear: Russel Al en Phil ips, letter to Reverend Russel Phil ips, May 2, 1943.

9 “seemed like a railroad carload”: Frank Rosynek, “Not Everybody Wore Wings,” unpublished memoir.

10 “like the whole island”: Cleveland, p. 346.

11 Fourteen Japanese bombers: Britt, pp. 36–37.

12 “the Stinking Six”: Frank Rosynek, email interview, June 15, 2005.

13 Doctor works on Pil sbury: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interviews, August 25, 27, 2004, March 9, 2005, August 18, 2006, January 23 and April 21, 2007.

14 “hamburgered”: Stanley Pil sbury, telephone interviews, August 25, 27, 2004, March 9, 2005, August 18, 2006, January 23 and April 21, 2007.

15 Lambert’s ninety-five missions: “Catonsvil e Air Gunner Has 95 Raids to Credit,” undated article from Phil ips scrapbook, NPN.

16 Palmyra, depression, Kualoa: Louis Zamperini, diary, April–May 1943.

17 Francis McNamara: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997.

18 Green Hornet: Cleveland, p. 159; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997.

19 Phil meets Smith: George Smith, letter to Cecy Perry, June 19, 1943.

20 Corpening’s plane: Missing Air Crew Report 4945, May 26, 1943 (National Archives Microfiche Publication M13801, Fiche 1767); Missing Air Crew Reports of the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1942–1947; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, RG 92; NACP.

Chapter 11: “ Nobody’s Going to Live Through This”

1 Louie on May 27, 1943: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

2 “There was only one ship”: Louis Zamperini, diary, May 27, 1943.

3 If we’re not back in a week: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

4 Search preparations: John Joseph Deasy, telephone interview, April 4, 2005; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Missing Aircraft Report 4945, Missing Air Crew Reports of the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1942–1947; Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, RG 92; NACP; “42nd Bombardment Squadron: Addendum to Squadron History,” September 11, 1945, AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.

5 Preparing for takeoff: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997.

6 Planes side by side: Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005.

7 Phil tel s Deasy to go ahead: Kelsey Phil ips, “A Life Story,” unpublished memoir.

8 Searching: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997.

9 Phil and Cuppernel switch seats: Kelsey Phil ips, “A Life Story,” unpublished memoir; Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

10 Engine dies, wrong engine feathered: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

11 “Prepare to crash”: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997.

12 Plane fal s: Ibid.

13 Nobody’s going to live through this: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

14 Louie and Phil’s experiences in crash: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997; “42nd Bombardment Squadron: Addendum to Squadron History,” September 11, 1945, AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.; Robert Trumbul , “Zamperini, Olympic Miler, Is Safe After Epic Ordeal,” NYT, September 9, 1945; Kelsey Phil ips, “A Life Story,” unpublished memoir; Louis Zamperini, interview by George Hodak, Hol ywood, Calif., June 1988, AAFLA; Sandra Provan, “LP Man’s Part of Olympics,” La Porte Herald-Argus, February 18, 1988.

Chapter 12: Downed

1 Crash aftermath: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997; “42nd Bombardment Squadron: Addendum to Squadron History,” September 11, 1945, AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.; Robert Trumbul , “Zamperini, Olympic Miler, Is Safe After Epic Ordeal,” NYT, September 9, 1945; Kelsey Phil ips, “A Life Story,” unpublished memoir; Louis Zamperini, interview by George Hodak, Hol ywood, Calif., June 1988, AAFLA; Sandra Provan, “LP Man’s Part of Olympics,” La Porte Herald-Argus, February 18, 1988.

2 “I’m glad it was you”: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

3 Phil didn’t have bracelet, silver dol ar: Ibid.

4 Contents of rafts: Ibid.

5 Contents of 1944 rafts: Emergency Procedure: B-24, pp. 26–27.

6 “Gibson Girl,” Delano Sunstil : Louis Meulstee, “Gibson Girl,” Wireless for the Warrior, http://home.hccnet.nl/l.meulstee/gibsongirl/gibsongirl.html (accessed August 8, 2005); Craven and Cate, pp. 486, 491.

7 “We’re going to die!”: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

8 Hours after crash: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; “42nd Bombardment Squadron: Addendum to Squadron History,” September 11, 1945, AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.; “Mr. Phil ips on CBS, Our Hero, Mr. Phil ips,” undated article from papers of Karen Loomis, NPN; Gene Stowe, “He Shared Raft with Olympian,” South Bend Herald Tribune, March 2, 1998.

9 Phil shaking, sharks rubbing against rafts: Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997.

Chapter 13: Missing at Sea

1 Events on Palmyra: John Joseph Deasy, telephone interview, April 4, 2005; Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005.

2 Search: John Joseph Deasy, telephone interview, April 4, 2005; Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005; “42nd Bombardment Squadron history,” AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.

3 “we kept hoping”: Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005.

4 Chocolate incident: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview. For the sake of Mac and his family, Louie would not tel of the chocolate incident for many years, instead saying either that the chocolate had been eaten early in the journey or that it had been lost to the sea. Phil, too, would protect Mac, saying that the chocolate was lost in the sea.

5 B-25 flies over: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997; “42nd Bombardment Squadron: Addendum to Squadron History,” September 11, 1945, AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.; Robert Trumbul , “Zamperini, Olympic Miler, Is Safe After Epic Ordeal,” NYT, September 9, 1945; Louis Zamperini, POW diary (entered when Louie began keeping diary, after October 1943). In later years, Zamperini would speak of the B-24 flying over before the B-25, but in al of his early accounts, including the history he gave to his squadron upon repatriation and the diary he kept as a POW, he stated that the B-25 flew over first. In a 2008 interview, he confirmed that his early accounts were correct.

6 B-24 flies over: See note above, about B-25 flying over; also: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview; Russel Al en Phil ips, television interview, CBS, La Porte, Ind., January 1997; John Joseph Deasy, telephone interview, April 4, 2005; Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005; “42nd Bombardment Squadron: Addendum to Squadron History,” September 11, 1945, AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.; Robert Trumbul ,

“Zamperini, Olympic Miler, Is Safe After Epic Ordeal,” NYT, September 9, 1945; Louis Zamperini, POW diary, May 30, 1943 entry (entered when Louie began keeping diary, after October 1943).

7 “If we ever looked”: Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005.

8 Smitty sightings: 42nd squadron activity log, May 30, 1943, AFHRA, Maxwel AFB, Ala.

9 “Cuppernel , Phil ips, Zamperini”: Cleveland, p. 159.

10 Mac snaps: Louis Zamperini, telephone interview.

11 Louie prays: Ibid.

12 Letters home, Zamperinis see Cuppernel s: Russel Al en Phil ips, letter to Reverend Russel Phil ips, May 15, 1943; Russel Al en Phil ips, letter to Cecy Perry, May 15, 1943; Peter Zamperini, letter to Louis Zamperini, June 3, 1943; Payton Jordan, telephone interviews, August 13, 16, 2004; Louis Zamperini, letter to Payton Jordan, May 27, 1943.

13 “I sure hope”: Reverend Russel Phil ips, letter to Martha Heustis, May 6, 1943.

14 Search ends: Lester Herman Scearce, Jr., telephone interview, March 11, 2005.

15 Krey visits cottage: Jack Krey, telephone interview, August 18, 2005.

16 Telegram to Kelsey Phil ips: telegram, Adjutant General to Kelsey Phil ips, June 4, 1943.

17 Zamperinis react: Sylvia Flammer, telephone interviews, October 25, 27, 2004; Peter Zamperini, telephone interviews, October 15, 17, 19, 22, 2004.