Goni Mixed Medicine and Sea

craft to Save Our Allies

By F.P.A.

THERE is nothing remarkable about the appearance of Goni, the Medical Tul Tul, or “Doctor Boy,” of Carterets— an atoll group some 40 miles north-east of Buka Island—but he can. when oc casion demands, do a job of work. The story of how he piloted a party of casta way American airmen, from Carterets to Choisuel Island in the British Solomons, in a light canoe and through stormy seas in monsoon weather, is worth telling.

I re-met Goni in February, 1944, when I had gone to Carterets in an American PT boat from the Green Is l and (Nissan) base. He greeted me casually, as though there had not been an interval of years, and a war, since our last meeting. Yes, everything was alright, he said, no Jap anese had landed on the group during the war, but a party of shot-down Americans had arrived there in rubber dinghies about a year before and they had been looked after by the natives. they had rested, he (Goni) had repaired one of the larger canoes and had piloted them to the British Solomons, where they had con tacted friends. They had paid him well for the job and had returned him by plane to the group. That was all—then he added as an afterthought, “Masta, me no got tobak.”

Here is the other side of the story, which shows that Goni rendered a real service to the Allied Forces in assisting to restore, urgently required, trained air men to their jobs at a very critical period.

On February 9, 1943, at 3 a.m., the 817, My Lovin' Dove,” in charge of Capt.

T. W. Classen of the American Air Force, left Guadalcanal on a mission to the north-east, and when, near Nauru Island, was tackled by eight Zeros. Though the Fortress shot down four Zeros, and eluded the others, all her crew were wounded in the 90-minute fight. The Plane was se verely crippled and forced to come down in the sea, where she quickly sank.

The crew had time to clear away the two rubber dinghies and collect some em ergency rations and water before "Mv Lovin’ Dove” sank from sight. They tied the two dinghies together and prepared to make the best of things and what with high seas, rain squalls and no means of propulsion they decided to leave the matter in the hands of the winds, the currents and the Gods! There followed fifteen and a half days of exposure and discomfort, meanwhile their wounds — though not serious—were becoming ex tremely painful. Also they had become very hungry and considerably weakened, on the diet of an occasionally caught fish and sea birds.

Then, on the morning of the sixteenth day they came to the Carterets. and, somehow, scrambled ashore and threw themselves thankfully on the beach. They had drifted an estimated 643 miles since they had taken to the rubber dinghies.

Their approach had not been unob served, and, before long the natives made contact and welcomed them. The natives rendered the airmen every possible assis tance —housing and feeding them and at tending to their wounds. As the food situation on the atoll was not good, the natives distributed their guests among the various islands and shared what they had. One native even “operated” on one of the gunners and removed a bullet from his heel!

Then the Fortress crew found, to then surprise, that another American —sole survivor of a shot-down Navy “Grumman”

Avenger plane—had been on the atoll for nearly six months. He had drifted in a rubber dinghy for 16 days before reach ing the Carterets in rather bad shapi from exposure, lack of food, and a bad wound in the right leg. He had been well cared for by the natives, and been fed and had his wound dressed until he was able to walk again.

AFTER recouperating and regaining their strength the airmen decided that some of their number should at tempt a canoe trip to the British Solo mons to seek aid, and, if successful in running the gauntlet of Jap planes, ships, etc., to send a rescue plane back for the remainder of the party. The first at empi by four Americans was unsuccessful as the canoe capsized not far off shore, and the occupants swam and waded back to the beach. It was then decided to try and enlist a native to accompany them and skipper the canoe.

To this end Goni offered his services, so a larger canoe was obtained and repaired, and a mat sail was manufactured to meet the needs of this craft. All was ready at the end of March when Captain Clas sen, three other airmen, and Goni set out for the British Solomons, away to the south. Their route lay straight down past the heavily garrisoned and efficiently patrolled Jap-held islands of Buka and Bougainville. It was a desperate venture, but they hoped for the best. They took bananas and coconuts as food and for drinking.

Proceeding down the east coast of Buka and Bougainville they encountered heavy winds, rough seas and much rain, and, though mighty uncomfortable, the heavy weather was probably their salvation as the wind and sea was behind them and the rain squalls assisted in hiding them from view. Goni hoisted the big mat sail, gripped his big steering paddle and wedged himself firmly in the stern sheets. The others hung on and baled constantly.

After three and a half days sail they reached the northern end of Choiseul Island in the British Solomons.

The party saw no Jap ships en route but several times they were sighted by enemy planes, though only one of them came down to investigate. It flew low over them—twice —and then unexpectedly flew on. The party was immensely relieved!

They also came close to Kieta—brought there by wind and current —but a rain squall hid them as they went past. With out Goni they could not have made it as he had handled the canoe with skill and courage during the most trying times of the voyage.

Having arrived at the northern end of Choiseul in the evening, they rested up until noon next day, and made necessary repairs to canoe and rigging. After pro ceeding another 15 miles southward, and spending another night, the party .con tacted friendly natives and replenished their larder. The British Solomons natives now transferred them to another and larger canoe and took them to a rendezvous with an Australian Coast- Watcher.

The Coast-Watcher took them to his camp and gave them food and medical at tention until, as a result of radio arrange

ments, an American plane came and picked them up at Boe Boe Harbour, 30 miles to the south, and they reached their original starting point—Henderson Field —on April 13, just 63 days after leav ing it!

On April 15 a PBY was despatched to Carterets to pick up the remaining six Americans. Goni was returned with this plane, together with a cargo of rice, tobac co, beans and print, and he was a happj man! At 3 a.m. on the next day the PBY took off from Carterets lagoon bringing the rest of the party to Guadalcanal after being 66 days away from their base.

The Americans were well aware, and very appreciative, of the care and hospi tality received from the Carteret natives during their enforced stay on the atoll.

It was a time when food was short and these young men had healthy appetites during their convalescence. The natives shared what they had with them. The knowledge and assistance of Goni made possible the canoe trip and the subse quent rescue of all.

QUITE recently a letter has come from Lieut-Colonel T. W. Classen—the former Captain Classen—written from USA just prior to his departure for Oc cupied Germany in charge of a squadron of B29’s. He says that, after the inter vening years, he still has a lively sense of gratitude, and feeling of indebtedness, to the natives of the atoll for their assis tance to the castaways. And he feels he owes a special debt to Goni, through whose courage and skill the rescue of all was made possible.