Volunteered for 52-man special detail to establish and maintain Emergency Landing Field at San Jose, Mindoro.   Our Detail left Manila Dec. 13, 1941 on the Inter-Island Steamer Palawan with several thousand gallons of 100 octane gasoline.   Arrived at San Jose safely after avoiding blockade by Japanese.

After the fall of Bataan and Corregidor our remaining supply of gasoline was destroyed to keep it out of enemy hands.   Most of our men escaped in three outrigger canoes traveling 175 miles via Tablas and Panay Islands across the ocean to Cuyo Island in the Sulu Sea.   Most of us were captured on Cuyo on May 20, 1942 and were taken to Manila by Japanese Navy.

The 175 mile trip across the ocean was a harrowing experience with some of the men suffering from dehydration, sea sickness, malaria, dengue fever, tropical sores and coral poisoning.   At one point both of my legs were black and blue and I thought they would have to be amputated.   Some of the men were in the local hospital at time of capture.   We were not in good physical condition.

Prison camps I was in were Pasay Schoolhouse, Bilibid Prison, over 2 years at Clark Field Camp 10C, and Cabanatuan, Philippines.   Left Manila Bay on the Nissyo Maru on July 17, 1944 arriving at Moji (Kyushu), Japan on August 6, 1944.   Worked in Yawata Steel Mills.  Held prisoner at Fukuoka #3.

Liberated September 13, 1945.   The English aircraft carrier HMS Speaker transported us to Okinawa from Nagasaki.   We flew by B-24 to Clark Air Base, Philippines and then took a cargo plane to 29th Replacement Depot near Manila.   A Dutch motor transport "Klip Fontaine" brought us to the United States at Tacoma, Washington (Ft. Lewis) Oct. 9, 1945.

As far as I know there are only 7 men alive out of the 52-man Mindoro Detail.   They are Louis Kolger (our first sergeant), Crayton Burns, James K. Jones, Calvin Hogg, Kenneth Calvit, Holly Hendrixson, and myself.

Took GI Bill graduating from University of New Hampshire with a B.S. Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1952.   Re-entered the U.S. Air Force in 1955.   Retired with Permanent Disability in 1966 as Staff sergeant.

Married Irene M. Demag 1971.   Have daughter Daphne Ann born 1973.   I am 79 years old now (Jan. 4, 2002) and in fairly good health.

In 1998 I was Vice Presedent of the 27th Bomb Group (L) Association.   The reunion was held at Mobile, Alabama with Erwin R. Johnson as President.

In 2000 I was President of the 27th Bomb Group (L) Association.   The reunion was held at Fort Walton Beach, Florida with Milton K. Young as Vice President.

Wesley H. Wells

A book of our experiences has already been written and compiled by Frank McGlothlin in 1984 in his book Barksdale to Bataan.   However, I feel that each of the above named men on our detail have a variety of unique experiences to share and hope we can have their input.

Ours is a different story since most of the POW's were on Bataan and Corregidor and the Death March.