Lieutenant Donald W. Kerr was a fighter pilot in the US Army's 14th Air Force. On Feb 11, 1944, he took part in an air raid on Hong Kong, flying a P-40 fighter plane. His plane was shot down over Kowloon, but he managed to parachute safely to ground, and hide himself before the Japanese soldiers reached the area.
Later he was found by members of the East River Column, local guerillas fighting the Japanese. They brought him to safety, traveling across the New Territories, into southern China, and finally delivering him to the BAAG.
Donald's son Dave Kerr has kindly allowed us to show extracts from his father's journal, describing his escape: http://gwulo.com/node/18844
Then in 2014 Dave invited me to join him to meet some of the villagers who'd helped save his father: http://gwulo.com/node/22320
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More on Donald Kerr
In June 2015, The China Daily published an article about the story, with some interesting photos: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015victoryanniv/2015-06/05/content_… (thanks to IDJ for the link)
In November 2015, Kerr's story was included in a local exhibition about WW2: http://gwulo.com/node/29689
And More on Donald Kerr
Mentioned in brief in the China Mail dated 23 January 1946 here The plane a P-51 (?)
Missing Air Crew Report for Donald Kerr
(retyped by Dave Kerr from microfilmed original, with additional notations)
Missing Air Crew Report
S E C R E T
WAR DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS ARMY AIR FORCES
WASHINGTON
MISSING AIR CREW REPORT
1. Ehrtong Field, Kweilin, China 14th Air Force
3rd Fighter Group (Prov) 32nd Fighter Squadron (Prov)
2. Point of Departure: Ehrtong Field, Kweilin. Course: SE 120°to
Waiyung then S to target – N.W. target run; Right turn N.E. from
target; Left turn N.W. ----Homing. Intended Destination: Kaitak
Airdrome and return. Type Mission: Bomber Escort.
3. Weather: CAVU
4. Date: 11 February, 1944. Time: 1320. Location: Canton, China.
5. Aircraft was believed lost due to enemy aircraft.
6. Aircraft: P-40-N-10CU 42-105917
7. Engine: V-1810-81 43-108095
8. Weapons: Br. Auto. Ca. .50 Basic Fixed AC HG
Nos. 878388, 878460, 878433, 878507, 878442, 876462.
9. The persons listed below were reported as Battle Casualty
10. Number of persons aboard Aircraft: 1 Crew; 0 Pass. 1 Total.
Pilot—KERR, DONALD W., First Lieutenant 0-791121
11. Persons believed to have last knowledge of aircraft:
1. TENG, Li-CHUN CAF 2nd Lt. X-621 Probably Last Sighted
2. TURNER, WM. L. AAF Major 0-481146 Probably Last Sighted
12. Investigation and search being made for personnel.
13. Aircraft last seen over Kaitak, target for the mission.
14. Statement of Second Lieutenant TENG, LI-CHUN inclosed.
15. Extensive check being made through Chinese Net, and B.A.A.G. No
information available as yet.
Date: 15 February, 1944
(signed) JAMES T. BULL
Captain, Air Corps,
Group Operations Officer.
(prov) = provisional (not a permanent Army organization)
CAVU = Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited (perfect weather)
CAF = Chinese Air Force, AAF = Army Air Force
B.A.A.G. = British Army Aid Group
Major WILLIAM L. TURNER followed a zero on the tail of a P-40
which may have been piloted by Lt. KERR which was last seen at tree
top level at position near a town place indicated on Carte Inter-
national by name of Fokang, 23° 57'N, 113° 30'E. This information together with information from Lt. TENG reported to A-2, 68th Com-
posite Wing, who in turn passed information on to to B.A.A.G for closer investigation by their agents.
(signed)
EDWARD B. HOPWOOD, 9-911264
First Lieutenant, Air Corps,
Ass't Gp Opns Officer
Ass't Gp Opns Officer = Assistant Group Operations Officer
Note: this account by Major Turner conflicts with Lt Kerr's description of parachuting from 16,000 feet over KaiTak Air Base. Major Turner was probably observing another P-40.
STATEMENT OF 2ND LT. TENG, LI-CHUN
I flew with Lt. KERR as his wingman escorting B-25's on bomb-
ing mission. I saw Three (3) or Four (4) Zeros zooming ahead of us
just when we approached our target. Lt. KERR gave me a signal for
attention, then I saw him attack the enemy aircraft. Another zero
came in my sights and I fired.
Our leader from 23rd Fighter Group, 74th Squadron turned back
to attack and came so close to me I pulled up, then went down to
follow him, at this time I saw a P-40 smoking (black smoke) and descending in a flat glide which I thought was Lt. KERR, but which I
was not sure was his ship. I didn't notice enemy ships in pursuit
of this P-40. The P-40 in question that went out of my sight over
Kowloon harbor. My leader called in to follow him and when I joined
the formation I found in our element the two ships were missing, one
was Lt. KERR and the other the 74th Fighter Squadron pilot. I tried
to find Lt. KERR's position, so I flew by three (3) P-40's flying
single, but I could not locate Lt. KERR and I then realized that I was the last pilot in the flight.
(not signed)
TENG, LI-CHUN
2nde Lt., C.A.W.
"A TRUE COPY"
(signed)
EDWARD B HOPWOOD
1st Lt., Air Corps