American Valor Quarterly Issue 9 - Summer 2012 | Page 24

from the stricken planes and gas dump.
The bombers began another turn as I
searched for a sound plane to save. I
dusted myself off and stood up, but I
could see only one intact plane. The
ammunition was cooking off in the
burning P-40s, causing bullets and shell
casings to whiz about.

Col. Morehead at the “Wings of Victory” Airshow at Hamilton Field in 1990. He wsa joined by such
legends as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders and Medal of Honor recipients.

and they kept falling down around us.
On February 19, 1942, the Japanese
lauched a massive air attack on Darwin,
to be followed by a month of heavy
bombing of the area. Our radar and
flight control wasn’t worth a hoot. We
were vectored over an island 20 miles off
the north shore of Australia. A group of
bombers was off to our right. I’m sure
after the bombing run in high altitude with
sticky oxygen masks, they were going to
a comfortable altitude. Everything was
defeat at that time—they were roaring
down.

out and headed back to see if I could
find another sound ship to disperse, but
looking up, I could see I would never
have time, so I jumped into a shallow
ditch.
The bombs were straddling me only feet
away. One to my left just off the