073 - The General's Great Escape

The Treacherous Flight into Australia

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These were treacherous times for the Allied Forces in the South Pacific. The US Navy had been declawed with the destruction of its Battleships at Pearl; the Australian Forces that had been entangled far off in North Africa, offered little support. What MacArthur and his men had to do, they had to do alone.

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As MacArthur and his family sped through the Philippine Sea with a small squadron of 4 PT Boats, the US Army Air Corps was making arrangements for his safe passage over New Guinea and to the safe harbor of Darwin, Australia.

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The task of readying planes fell on US Army Air Force Lieutenant General Brett. His Air Corps stationed in the Southern Philippines had a full complement of B-17s, but most had seen much action in the Dutch East Indies and were in poor condition. Lt. General Brett turned to Navy Vice Admiral Herbert Leary. Leary promptly refused, not willing to short his supply for General MacArthur, who he’d had several feuds with prior to the evacuation.

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Lt. General Brett was forced to send four of his old B-17s from Australia. Two had to turn back due to engine trouble, another accidentally dropped most of its fuel and crash landed in the Celebes Sea. The one bomber that reached the US Air Base had no brakes and a faulty engine.

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After these problems, the Air Corps asked for the Navy’s help again. This time, Vice Admiral sent 3 B-17s. When only two B-17s reached Del Monte Field, their commander promptly ordered MacArthur’s party to only take essential items. Jean MacArthur, the General’s wife, took only her coat and scarf; each plane only carried a single blanket to be shared among their separate crews.

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The trip was dark and cold, with freezing winds whipping through the parachute doors. The six-hour trip to Darwin was diverted when news of Japanese attacks on Darwin forced a detour. The bombers flew another three hours west to Batchelor Field. When Mrs. MacArthur was told of another half-day trip to Southern Australia, she urged her husband to travel only by ground.

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General MacArthur followed his wife’s orders, arranging for a truck convoy to take the party to a nearby train station, where they would make a comfortable trip to the General’s new headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.

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