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Story
August 27, 1942
The Camas Hot Springs Exchange
Hot Springs, Camas, Sanders County, Montana
What is this article about?
Fighter pilot George E. Thelen recounts surviving nine hours adrift in the north Pacific after his plane was shot down during the Aleutian campaign on June 3; rescued by Coast Guard after signaling for help.
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State Fighter Pilot Tells of Spending 9 Hours Adrift At Sea
An American fighter pilot, George E. Thelen, who visited his parents in Billings recently, related to friends how he spent nine hours drifting in the icy waters of the north Pacific after his plane had been shot down in the battle of the Aleutian islands.
Thelen's plane was shot down June 3 in the first American contact with the enemy in the Aleutian campaign. One member of the crew was wounded by machine gun fire.
Members of the crew patched up the bullet holes in the amphibian type plane to keep it afloat and then waited from 2:30 to 6 p. m., when they sighted another plane overhead.
"We lay low until we identified the craft as American," Thelen said, "and then we sent up smoke signals!"
"They signaled back that they'd seen us and would go look for help. A while later they were back with word that they'd contacted a coast guard boat. At 11:30 that night the coast guard picked us up."
Thelen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George J. Thelen of Billings.
An American fighter pilot, George E. Thelen, who visited his parents in Billings recently, related to friends how he spent nine hours drifting in the icy waters of the north Pacific after his plane had been shot down in the battle of the Aleutian islands.
Thelen's plane was shot down June 3 in the first American contact with the enemy in the Aleutian campaign. One member of the crew was wounded by machine gun fire.
Members of the crew patched up the bullet holes in the amphibian type plane to keep it afloat and then waited from 2:30 to 6 p. m., when they sighted another plane overhead.
"We lay low until we identified the craft as American," Thelen said, "and then we sent up smoke signals!"
"They signaled back that they'd seen us and would go look for help. A while later they were back with word that they'd contacted a coast guard boat. At 11:30 that night the coast guard picked us up."
Thelen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George J. Thelen of Billings.
What sub-type of article is it?
Military Action
Survival
Personal Triumph
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Survival
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Fighter Pilot
Adrift At Sea
Aleutian Islands
Plane Shot Down
Coast Guard Rescue
What entities or persons were involved?
George E. Thelen
Where did it happen?
North Pacific, Aleutian Islands
Story Details
Key Persons
George E. Thelen
Location
North Pacific, Aleutian Islands
Event Date
June 3
Story Details
American fighter pilot George E. Thelen's plane was shot down in the Aleutian campaign; crew patched it to stay afloat, signaled an American plane for help, and was rescued by Coast Guard after nine hours adrift.