COMBAT (FIGHTER) REPORT OF CAPTAIN VAN AUKEN
HEADQUARTERS SQDN 49th PURSUIT GROUP

16th AIR RAID DARWIN,    02222     13th JUNE 1942

Whilst on patrol, Captain VAN AUKEN received notification of approaching enemy formation.

He climbed to 28,000 feet and observed bombers approaching at 23,000 feet over DARWIN.

On their return in a westerly direction, he attacked them; this was in the area immediately south of MELVILLE ISLAND.

He fired a burst at a bomber and on the approach of ZEROS, went into a dive and came up again under a bomber, fired another burst but did not observe the result.

At this stage he received a burst in his machine from the Zeros and immediately dived to 10,000' where he levelled out. The Zeros again attacked him and he received cannon bursts in one of his wings. He again dived to 300 feet and upon levelling out was fiercely attacked by Zeros. He climbed to 800 feet when the intense heat of the plane forced him to bale out. He was show at whilst parachuting.

He parachuted into the water, reached the shore on the southern most point of MELVILLE ISLAND and walked approximately 5 miles when he contacted three natives.

RESCUE

The three natives brought him in a canoe from MELVILLE ISLAND to SHOAL BAY. One native remained with Captain VAN AUKEN while the other two walked into H.Q. R.A.A.F. N.W AREA. They guided a party of R.A.A.F. personnel in truck and ambulance to the spot.

Captain VAN AUKEN was convoyed to KAHLIN HOSPITAL DARWIN where he was treated for burns on the legs.

The natives received adequate reward for their services.

J.F. MAHONEY P/O
Unit Intelligence Officer.
15.6.52

"Sea Journey in Canoe with Rescued Pilot -
Blacks Rewarded"
from AXEL OLSEN, "Argus" War Correspondent
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.)
Tuesday 16 June 1942 - page 3

SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA, Mon: Three aborigines, Jaberoo, Johnny, and Diamond played the star role in rescue of a pilot whose plane was forced down in a battle with Japanese raiders. They were on an island off the coast when they saw the plane crash. After locating the plane they tracked the pilot, who had landed in the sea and waded through mangrove mud flats to the shore.

By sign language the pilot signified to the blacks that he wanted to go to the mainland. They gave him coconut and water and offered him yams, but he did not eat these.

The pilot, who was badly burned, was placed in a native canoe, and the blacks set out to paddle across the open sea. They stopped the first night on an island halfway across, and after paddling all next day reached the mainland. Although they had been without water all day Diamond and Johnny began to walk to an air force station with a note from the pilot saying he wanted help. They walked 5 hours through trackless bush, and were wandering along a road when a truck picked them up. Johnny explained that he wanted "big fella white man take him all along Air Force," and the driver brought them to the Air Force station.

When they arrived Diamond was wearing only a pair of child's white bloomers patterned in blue with toy trumpets and bugles. Johnny had a loin cloth made from calico that had originally been the wrapping of a parcel sent to the troops.

With Diamond as guide a rescue party was sent out in an ambulance. They found the pilot lying on the beach attended by Jamberoo. He was brought back to hospital.

Diamond, Johnny, and Jaberoo were rewarded with 25lb of flour and more cigarettes and tobacco than they had ever dreamed of. Their only comment was a wide-eyed "Good tucker."

"U.S. Flier Fought 45 Planes Alone"
Van Auken of Bergenfield, N.J., Tells of Battle over the Sea off Australia
Zeros Shattered Plane

Natives Rescued Badly Burned Major from Island and Found Ambulance for Him

The New York Times
Wednesday, July 22, 1942 - page 6
by Bryon Darnton - wireless to the New York Times

SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA, July 20 (Delayed) — Major Robert D. Van Auken of Bergenfield, N.J., left today by hospital plane for South Australia to recuperate from wounds he received in air combat.

Single-handed Major Van Auken attacked twenty-seven Japanese bombers, escorted by eighteen Zeros and lived to tell the tale.

The American force has long preached offensive tactics but pushing an offensive against such odds is not advocated.

In recognition of his bravery Major Van Auken received a Silver Star "for gallantry in action." The medal, still in the presentation box was in the Major's toilet article kit hanging at the head of his bed when this correspondent visited his field hospital at this advanced base yesterday.

Major Van Auken was badly burned in his exploit. He lost all the skin of his right leg from ankle to a line four inches above the knee and on the left leg from ankle to knee [wearing shorts?]. The fact that he will wholly recover is additional testimony to the efficiency of sulfa drugs on burns.

He is mighty cheerful about the whole thing. He is especially so because a near-by squadron is supplying cigars and an occasional bottle of beer, which is hard to get at this isolated outpost.

Flier Describes adventure
The major's story follows:
"The flight took place June 13. Another pursuit pilot and myself took off at about 11 o'clock. We had received information that the enemy had been sighted, giving his position. We started climbing, but the other pilot had trouble with his place, so I went up alone.

"I saw the Japs making a pass over the target, and saw them drop their bombs. Then I took after them and finally forty miles out caught up with them. They were at about 27,000 feet altitude.

"I looked back and no P-40's were catching up with me -- they were six to ten minutes behind -- and instead of waiting for reinforcements I thought I would take a chance at making a pass at the Japs. A couple of Zeros tried to head me off, but I got past them and came up under one of the bombers. Just as I reached firing position the plane started to stall, but I succeeded in pulling her up and got a burst into one bomber and saw pieces of her falling off.

Tried to Catch Up With Japs
"After firing I dropped down a few feet and went over to the other side of the Jap formation about three miles away. I flew parallel with them a while trying to catch up.

"Suddenly I heard a lot of noise and my plane jerked. Zeros were after me and they had torn a piece from my right aileron and put a three-inch hole in a wing.

"I didn't stop to look behind me, but headed for a nearby idland. Some more Zeros got on me then and shot me up some more, so I dived, but when I looked back they were on my tail again, shooting at me, and my plane caught fire.

Shot Plane to Pieces
"I pulled her nose up to roll her on her back so I could drop out and just then, with my wings in a vertical position they shot the plane to pieces. I half lost consciousness, my arms were hanging from the cockpit and they cut my shirtsleeves to ribbons with bullets.

"The wind had pulled me from the cockpit and I came to and pulled the rip-cord. One of the Zeros circled the chute, firing at me, but did not score any hits and I landed 150 feet from land an in five feet of water.

"I dropped into the water so the Japs would think I was dead. After they had gone I walked ashore and sat down to think things over. My legs were pretty painful then, the salt water making them sting and I decided I needed medical attention quick. As I certainly could not get it there, I decided I had better start walking.

"My purpose was to find Aborigines who would help me get home. After I had walked five miles I found an Aborigine was following me. He let me see him and waved his arms crosswide and I did the same. Then he bowed ceremoniously to the ground and I also bowed.

Ate Kangaroo Meat
"That seemed to satisfy him and he approached me in a friendly fashion and escorted me to his camp. Then he rounded up two other boys and they gave me wallaby (kangaroo) meat and water and about 4 p.m. the four of us started out in a native dugout with a sail.

"Late that night we went ashore to await daylight -- that is, the Aborigines went ashore but my legs were too stiff to move so I stayed in the dugout. It was cold and impossible to sleep.

"The next morning we resumed the journey and that day I saw fights between P-40's and Zeros high over the water. The Aborigines -- Diamond, Joblow and John -- went ashore and got me some cocoanut milk, which was very good. Late in the afternoon we landed where we thought it might be possible to get some transportation, which was absolutely necessary as I was unable to walk.

"My right knee was twice normal size and was turning blue and I was sure gangrene had set in.

Ambulance Arrives
"I gave a note to one of the Aborigines and told him to seek out a white man, but about an hour later he came back and called, "'No find him white man.' I sent him out again and told him not to come back until he found he found someone. About midnight an ambulance drove up the trail.

"One of the strange things about the whole experience is that if I had stayed on the beach when I first got ashore I never would have gotten out alive. There is a heavy tide at that spot which sweeps inland for several miles over the mangrove swamps and I wouldn't have been able to get clear of that area if I hadn't started walking right away."