Aircraft History
Had the 25th Liaison Squadron logo: "Guinea Short Lines" and Kangaroo picture on one side of the nose.

Mission History
Three L-5's of the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 25th Liaison Squadron (Guinea Short Lines), based at Gusap were sent to locate and attempt a rescue of a pilot, Nelson Flack who crashed P-40N 42-104984. Salternik spotted the burning P-40, and spotted an open field to land, about a mile from the crash site. As he was about to land, he discovered it was covered in tall kunai grass, that flipped over his plane, broke its propeller, but left him unhurt from the crash.

Australian Commando Parachuted In
The next morning, L-5's from Gusap returned, dropped supplies and equipment, and told the two men on the ground to stay put.  A 2/7th Commando Company Australian commando, Lt Hector Hestbridge volunteered to be parachuted into the site via another L-5.  The jump was Hestbridge's first time parachuting, and the flight only his second in an airplane. Linking up with Salitrnik, they found Flack the next day, and the three men spent the next two days preppairing an airstrip for an L-5 to land.

Two more L-5's Lands
The next day, February 22, 1944 S/Sgt James Nichols landed, but the rough strip damaged his L-5 42-98085 beyond repair. Another L-5 pilot was SGT Thomas Stallone successfully landed at the clearing, but was unable to take off carrying any additional passengers.  He took off solo and and was forced to fly away.

Jungle Trek & Rescue
The 71st TRS decided no more planes could be risked, and the four men on the ground, lead by Hestbridge would have to walk 35 miles in dense jungle towards where they could rendezvous with an Australian patrol.  Returning L-5's were unable to locate the group on the ground once they set off, and after several days, all the men on the ground were declared 'Missing In Action', and the search abandoned. After ten days in the jungle, on March 3rd, the group ran out of food, forcing them to scrounge nuts and fish from the jungle and streams.

On March 10th they finally met a friendly Australian patrol, that were following Japanese troops who were also searching for the men. They were taken to a shelter and then evacuated back to Gusap Airfield in a RAAF Walrus, all had malaria, and had lost 20-35 pounds each. Afterwards, the Henstridge was awarded an American Distinguished Service Cross, and the two L-5 pilots, Salternik and Nichols were awarded the Silver Star for their parts in saving P-40 pilot Nelson Flack. Flack got a Purple Heart for his injuries, and an Air Medal for the confirmed kill over a Tony that mission.

Post War Visit
In 1946, a RAAF Searcher Team visited the wreckage on May 18, 1946, noting the fabric was burned away during grass fires. 

References
John Douglas rediscovered the crash site in 2004. The article "Skeletons in the Grass - An Epic WWII Rescue" (Ghost Wings Magazine Issue 12 by John Douglas & Justin Taylan) also tells the story of this incident.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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