London Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 21, 1942, London, Middlesex                                I Mentell Story  13 Days adrift survivors  Torp doing rescued after search by Raf Navy by Brice Burke stars and stripes staff writer \ port in Britain dec. 20�? torpedoed american servicemen who Rifted for Days in the wintry North Atlantic until a 55,000-mile search by lanes  the Raf brought their sue told their stories Here today. Among the 73 survivors  the Seel. Torpedoed in the Atlantic nov. Were seven sergeant pilots  their a to operations with the eighth in Force and other american soldiers. The stories  the Torp doing and sub quent search described one  the most dramatic and efficiently conducted rescues j the entire War. The rescued pilots told How As they a led along in lifeboats after the torpedo to Raf planes flew within sight several is. But for Days failed to spot them Nee a searching aircraft flew directly  their boat but missed them in a avy rain. One boat lost 13 Days four lifeboats containing survivors Ere found by the Raf and these were watched and aided by the planes until Days later the last boat was picked p by a Royal Navy destroyer. The manding officer  the group  pilots d it. Melvin g. Lindsay Phoenix Riz. Was in the last boat and a com Nied his men who reported for duty Day. The airmen had suffered few ill effects by had plenty to eat sufficient water d Raf planes even dropped cigarettes  the air. The search and  so eff Nutly conducted that every survivor  e torpedoed vessel was saved. The fliers who were picked up at sea a Climax to the tense fortnight search Ere Sid e. Petty Ozona Tex. Martin d. Ain. Chicago 111. James Patterson Philadelphia a. Horace Holik san Antomo. Lex George Meyer new York pity Fred c. Ogier Jacksonville fla., d Robert e. S. Levine los Angeles Tal. Recovering in port three other members  the party hich sailed trom the ., bound for non in the air Over Europe and Africa t pilots George e. Myers Centralia a Jack h. Mcfarland san Antonio ex., and 2nd it. Terrell e. Yon Tallassee fla., also were rescued and Are covering at an English port. These men Ere the first to be located by the Rescue is. Another american officer 2nd it. Seph h. Clark Algonac Mich.,  Ani Ngenng unit was in the same boat As i Lindsay and is recuperating in an my Hospital Here. Ranging from 21 to 24 years  age be new pilots fresh from a training ool in Florida chatted and joked it their harrowing experience but at Tutin a paid High tribute to the i Tea so p s Crew members and to the 1 s and sailors whose Brilliant sleuthing jus,  Square Miles  water it ened their Rescue. I he boys gave special Praise to. The 61 Nhi ? be Crew for their skill in my the Small boats and for navigate with Only a Compass and the continued  Page 2 kinds he been dead�?T25 years p North Africa dec. 20 Lac 0 Harold b. Willis Weston scadriii111  the famed Lafayette Rench in 1 last War it visited the ate div a re Len Region Headquarters and in a. Ernecl he was listed As a me u. E leg  s Golden Book. His Vina a pm ascribed at Sidi be Abbes As 18 n ?1 Rance a Aerial combat to1- a sergeant Pilot in the in behind i  that Day he was shot in German lines. For two a Finalle As Fricia by listed As dead. My us m Ca from a German prison d rectum he urine to Switzerland Hen i. Front Region Haj colonel commanding the 0u d like 1llarters asked him if he Illis said a ski Nan a removed col. And i 11 a my Only claim to deed that sent America into War a.   amp my vow an no it my /apv.v.v. R. Associated press photos these pictures just released by the Navy department Shew How the japs struck at  Naval Power at Pearl Harbor that first december sunday in 1941. In photo above an explosion sends a Cloud  smoke and flame High above a naval air station. At left the 31,800-ton battleship West Virginia Burns As a boat comes alongside rescuing seamen. Other photos Page 8. A a a a a mss amp a a fortress airmen win docs transport pilots decorated 0uld like l a this said ski name removed col. Me it and i is my Only claim to the lie a May soon he entitled to be cd a Willie. S is now air Liaison officer the Aliis i now air liar died general staff.84 medals Are conferred  flyers in North Africa Allied h.q., North Africa dec. 20 apr three distinguished flying crosses two Saver stars and 79 other awards have been conferred  12th air Force members for outstanding work in the North african Campaign. Commanders and enlisted men received the awards which were conferred by Gen. Doolittle  behalf  Gen. Eisenhower. Docs were awarded to col. Paul l. Williams los Angeles Cal. Col. John r. Hawkins san Antonio Tex. And capt. Robert m. Ritchie Morrison 111. Col. Williams was cited for a a organization  a troop carrying command and More particularly for organization and leading  an extremely dangerous Mission to drop paratroops Over an extreme Forward area nov. 29. And successful completion  this  col. Hawkins dec citation was a a for meritorious achievement while participating in Aerial flight and exceptionally meritorious service in a position  great responsibility As commanding officer  a fighter group upon its arrival at an Airport near Oran nov. 8. Col. Hawkins displayed expert professional knowledge sound judgment and unusual  for Aerial photos capt. Ritchie received the dec a a for extraordinary achievement As Pilot  a photographic reconnaissance plane  a Mission Over Bizerte Tunis dec. 7 when to get urgently needed photographs he spiralled Down through heavy Cloud braving heavy ground fire and returned Home despite the attack  a Messer Schmitt which disabled the starboard  the air medal with Oak Leaf Cluster was awarded to 2nd it. Carl w. Payne. Columbus o., 1st it. Charles c. Ken worthy jr., Shenandoah la. And maj. Harrison r. Thyng Pittsfield n.h., for courage and ability in operations near Oran nov. 8. Silver stars were Given col. Lauris continued  Page 2  Hal tracks weather fire at Africa front8th air Force announces awards for bravery in raids four eighth air Force flyers one  whom died from wounds in action have been awarded distinguished flying crosses for heroism. Forty awards  the air medal and 11  the Oak Leaf Cluster also were announced by head i quarters eighth air Force. Those to receive the flying Cross were 2nd it. Louis b. Brigalia san Francisco j Cal. Capt. Robert c. Williams Flint Mich. 2nd it. Emmette w. Ford Siloam Springs Ark. And 2nd it. Warren George jr., Palestine Tex. The award to it. Brigalia was posthumous. He was mortally wounded by enemy anti aircraft fire shortly after j bombing his target nevertheless he stayed at his guns and later crawled Back to try to close bomb Bay doors by \ hand after the electric mechanism  safely Back capt. Williams ship was attacked and set  fire several members  the Crew wounded. His dec was for courage and skill in mane vering the plane and Landing it safely at a Friendly base. It. Ford Bombardier  a fortress was cited for bravery in extinguishing a fire which broke out in his fortress during a raid. He burned his hands severely. It. George was co Pilot  a fortress which was hit nine times by explosive Cannon shells during a raid. A a displaying great courage a the citation read a he rendered invaluable Aid to the Pilot in returning the damaged air plane to a Friendly  a sgt. Joe Bowles Roanoke va., and a sgt. Reginald g. Harris Houston Tex., receive both the air medal and Oak Leaf Cluster for a a exceptionally meritorious achievement a while serving As gunners  the fortress  1st it. William j. Casey red Bank n.j., which got seven enemy aircraft in 12 minutes. Two other gunners  the Casey planes sgt. Wilson c. Elliot Knoxville tenn., and a sgt. Continued  Page 2 used in counter attacks  t tunisian hillsides men describe fight with  Armoured Force. Tunisia dec. 20 up a Hal track armoured cars rumbling around the tunisian Hillside in counter attacks tactically rare for this Type vehicle drove right into the midst  at least 50 German infantrymen. From every Side machine gun bullets whined from less than 30-Yard Range. The men drove behind rocks for shelter while others leaped rashly into the open with rifles and Tommy guns. A few minutes later the american unit held the position. All the germans were dead  in flight. Brief hitter clashes  this Type Are commonplace in the african armoured warfare where the front line is an Ever changing series  patrol probes at enemy  busiest units the armoured unit engaged in this incident was one  the busiest american groups  the entire front during the Days when american armoured units held defensive positions Northeast  Medvez Al Bab covering the Allied withdrawal. During several Days  close Range fighting a is men believe they killed at least 1,500 German infantrymen. Thirty six  their own original 49 men Are ready this moment for More action. The unit was led by quiet soft spoken continued  Page 2 big Battle is imminent in Tuni Skarain lets up both sides Rush reinforcements 8th army speeds  the main Battle for Tunisia appeared to be imminent last night As the weather cleared and both sides continued to Rush heavy reinforcements to the front. To the East the British eighth army continued to pursue Rommel a afrika Korps at record Speed Westward across the desert and according to Algiers radio had reached a Point Only eight Miles East  Sirte half Way up the coast Between Al Asheila and Tripoli. The african situation was assuming More and More the character  a single front Rome radio admitted in commenting upon Rommel a withdrawal toward Tunisia. This was regarded As a tacit admission that the eighth army was giving the badly battered Axis forces no rest As they shortened the Gap Between the Allied armies in Libya and Tunisia. In Tunisia increased patrol activity was reported apparently the prelude to attacks  a bigger scale than have been seen recently but there was no official word from Allied Headquarters beyond the saturday communique which told  Aerial successes including bombing attacks  Bizerte Harbor Sousse and  in sealanders sprung trap the Brilliant flanking movement which originally promised so much when Rommel s rearguard was Cut off in the Battle  Maratin was carried out by a new zealand division it was Learned in Cairo. As the new sealanders and a Force  All arms swept around the enemy a rear the British main Force with Armor closed in from the other Side placing the Panzer division in imminent danger  capture  serious mauling. The enemy showed his ability to react quickly under changing conditions by breaking into Small units and escaping through Small gaps in the new lines. The enemy a losses despite the apparent escape were higher than was at first supposed. More than 20 tanks were destroyed. Included in the loot were 30 captured guns and 500 prisoners. Allied losses throughout the entire engagement were relatively Light. Advanced Allied units continued to harass Tail units  the retreating  action quickens evidence that air activity had quickened was seen yesterday in Large scale attacks by Allied fighter bombers which were attacking the enemy As far West As Seurat strafing vehicle and transport columns. The attacking Force met Only half hearted resistance from enemy fighters. Numerous hits were scored   positions and machine gun personnel. I Unis and la Goulette were again heavily assaulted and the railway marshalling Yards were treated to a violent Maul continued  Page 2 Giraud rescued by Clarks sub Allied he North Africa dec. 20 apr Gen. Henri Giraud narrowly escaped death in a daring escape from France by submarine and plane and joined Gen. Eisenhower Only a few hours before the Allied landings in North Africa  nov. 8. The submarine was the same which landed maj. Gen. Mark w. Clark at West Algiers for a secret Parley prior to the Allied landings. The feat was disclosed with Gen. Eisenhower s commendation  capt. J. Wright Washington a  Navy officer who took charge  the operation using a British submarine. The submarine entered a land locked French Harbor submerged and surfaced 1,000 Yards off the Shore. Gen. Giraud came off in a rowing boat in a rough sea and fell Between it and the submarine when attempting to Transfer but was saved when seized by the coat Collar and dragged aboard the undersea Craft. Later he was transferred to a seaplanes forts Libs hit n azi Ai drome heavy american bombers flying fortresses and liberators smashed at an enemy air Park and Ai drome outside Paris yesterday afternoon and clashing Over Europe with Strong nazi fighter forces. The target was at Romilly sur Seine 75 Miles Southeast  Paris. I he bombers were escorted by Allied j fighter planes while other hundreds  Raf Saaf Dominion and Allied fighters made diversionary sweeps against the French coast and nearby Points. Preliminary intelligence reports from i the american bomber Crews told  bitter opposition from enemy fighters and  six  Bombers shot Down the largest number yet lost  the Daylight smashes against enemy held Europe. A joint announcement from Tousa anti the British air ministry said the quot bombers were attacked by formations  enemy fighters Many  which were destroyed but the exact number cannot be Given until full reports Are  the communique reported that a a the weather was excellent and Good results were  the number  bombers which the communique lists As missing May be indicative  the size  the raid. Rarely Are More than two  three fortresses  liberators shot Down during one Allied raid frequently none. Losses  this raid Are believed to be the highest number Ever reported in a 1 single action by  Planes Over Europe