These Missing Airmen?

Have You Heard of These Missing Airmen?

Inquiries From the United States

WE have had two inquiries from the United States in respect of US air men who became missing on air operations in the South-West Pacific during the Pacific war.

In the last year the United States Gov ernment maintained Army search units in this area whose task it is to trace any missing or crashed planes. In this work they have had the co-operation of Aus tralian service personnel, local Adminis tration officers and natives. It appears unlikely, therefore, that any information apart from through official channels will be forthcoming—particularly as during the war, the civilian population was evacuated from the areas in which the men were lost.

However, if any readers can throw any light on the disappearance of these men they are asked to communicate with the people directly concerned.

Lieut. J. W. Petit

THE first inquiry comes from Mrs. C.

W. Petit. She wishes to trace her son, Lieutenant Jack Warden Petit, who has been missing since October 20, 1943, in the Vella La Vella area in the Solomons. He was last seen over the Vella La Vella landing field on that date trying to land at the height of a storm, but as he was turning to come in the storm grew worse and he did not make the base.

No trace of Lieutenant Petit or his plane has been found in the vicinity and it is thought that he may have tried to reach Munda base, which was also being used at the time, and to have flown some distance before coming down.

In the hope of obtaining some infor mation about her son, Mrs. Petit has had leaflets printed for distribution and in these the following details are given: His United States “dog tag” is No. 014413. He was born March 4, 1921. His height is TO inches and in 1941 he weighed 150 lb. He has blue eyes, light brown hair, ruddy complexion and a kindly smile. He has a vaccination scar on left arm. small scar on left leg above the knee and small scar below the knee and several moles on his back. He attended Kent State College before entering the service. If he is suffering from loss of memory he may respond to the follow ing: His mother’s name, Hattie, from Canton; that of his sister, Dorothy; of his dad, Comillion, who was sick; of his little dog, Nig: Bob Pat terson, a college pal; of Barbara, of Cleveland; checkers with John Bauer, or Jean and Fred; or hunting with Luke. He is also fond of card games.

Lieutenant Petit wasi officially “pre sumed dead” by the US Government at

the end of 1944. Mrs. Petit writes that she cannot give up hope, however, and chat as there is little she can do from such a distance she would appreciate any help from missionaries or other resi dents of the area. Her address is 2423- 11th Street NW, Canton 3, Ohio, USA.

Lieut. Francis G. Peattie

OUR second inquiry comes from Mr.

Gordon Peattie, of New York. Actu ally this letter was written to the late Mrs. Gladys Baker and was passed on to us by the executors of her estate, with a request that it be published.

The letter, addressed to Mrs. Baker, is as follows: The December 8 edition of “The New York Times,” which described your return to Witu Island, mentioned your familiarity with the New Britain area. In this latter connection, it is hoped that your acquaintance with the region and its natives may permit you to furnish us with some information regarding a BIT Flying Fortress (12430), which crashed somewhere be tween Rabaul and Jaquinot Bay on the night of

June 25, 1943. (The plane, based at Dobodura Airstrip, New Guinea, was attacking Rabaul.) The bombardier of the plane, First-Lieut.

Francis G. Peattie (0727655), was my brother; hence the interest of my parents and myself in obtaining facts concerning the fate of the plane and its crew.

Only scanty information has been received from the Government, and that is based on the statement of the navigator of the plane, who was badly hurt, and who inspected the crashed plane three days after its crash. Then he was captured by natives and turned over to the Japanese. We will appreciate receiving any in formation you might possibly have learned or can learn through your contacts.

Mr. Gordon Peattie’s address is 20

South Cedar Street, Beacon' New York,

Usa.