Duck Mission:
the first team ...
[excerpts from:]
1.
On August 17 the Duck Team proceeded by air to Weihsien, China and after reconnaissance from, their plane located the Civilian Assembly Camp and jumped to begin their mission.
...
Accordingly the B-24 dropped down to about 450 feet and the Duck team bailed out.
[click on the B-24] ...
The names of the men composing the Duck team and their functions in the mission are given below in the order in which they jumped from the plane:
1. Major Stanley A. Staiger, team leader.
2. Sgt. Tadash T. Nagaki, Japanese interpreter.
3. Ensign James W. Moore USNR, S.I.
4. T/5 Peter C. Orlich, radio operator.
5. Eddie Wang, Chinese interpreter from F.A.B.
6. Lst Lt. James J. Hannon, AGAS.
7. T/4 Raymond N. Hanchulak, medic.
Major Stanley A. Staiger, team leader.
... sketched by William A. Smith © just after the liberation of Weihsien Camp ...
Liberator Ensign Jim Moore and Major Stanley Staiger.
Ray Hanckulak, Stanley Staiger, Tag Nagaki, Jim Moore.
Tsingtao, 1945.
Sgt Raymond Hanckulak and Sgt. Tad Nagaki.
Tsingtao, 1945
Peter Orlich, radio operator on Weihsien rescue mission.
Liberator Ensign Jim Moore
(formerly a student at Chefoo school)
Ensign Jim Moore being awarded soldiers medal for liberating Weihsien.
CITATION
Ensign James W. MOORE, 4450465, USNR, Navy of the United States, is awarded the Soldier's Medal for heroic actions and services performed during the period 17 August to 29 August 1945. As a member of a humanitarian team formed at the request of the Commanding General, United States Forces, China Theater, for the purpose of of locating and repatriating Allied personnel interned in Japanese Prisons in the vicinity of WEIHSIEN, SHANTUNG province, China, this officer was flown deep into enemy territory where he parachuted into the midst of heavily fortified and garrisoned installations. At this time there was no assurance that the American personnel would not receive hostile treatment from the Japanese, yet Ensign MOORE readily accepted these dangers to bring aid to the many Allied prisoners and to assist their early repatriation. By his willingness to risk his life in a gallant effort to bring comfort and assistance to Allied Prisoners of War, this officer performed a service which reflects the highest credit upon himself and upon the Armed Forces of the United States.
Tad Nagaki, Ray Hanckulak getting the soldiers medal
Weihsien Liberator James Hannon
[excerpts ...] :
... "Held in a series of German Prison Camps, he escaped from Oflag 64, Schubin, Poland in 1945, made his way across Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, rescued in Cluj, Romania, returned home, asked to go to Pacific Theater by General George Marshall, worked behind Japanese Lines rescuing downed pilots and liberated 1500 Allied Japanese Prisoners." ...
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[excerpt from Eddie Wang's biography] :
" ... On August 16, 1945 … we left Kunming for Xi'an (in the Shaanxi province) where the North China echelon of the O.S.S. was situated.
Early in the morning of August 17, 1945 we took off on board a B-24 for our special OSS-mission of the day: Weihsien.
The liberation work started.
The orders were given by General Wedemeyer, Commander in Chief for China to liberate all the concentration camps held by the Japs in China.
YES! ― we were all informed by the American Secret Services that the Japs could potentially kill all the prisoners they detained.
That is the reason why ... " (etc.) ... [click here]
Armored Angel ...
The Armored Angel was a WWII B-24 Bomber. The art work on the side of the plane was inspired by renowned Pin-Up artist Alberto Vargas. Several other planes also had this same image on their nose cones as well, these include “Heavenly Body” “Georgia Peach” “Lil Gypsy” & Queen of Hearts”
The Tank carries both the name and image of the Armored Angel B-24
The front fender is marked with numerous bomb markers each represents a successful mission and safe return of the plane and its crew. This paint job is dedicated to all the men that served aboard the Armored Angel.
Famous Mission
August 17th 1945, 7 paratroopers under direction of the Office of Strategic Services (Forerunner of the CIA) lept from the Armored Angel to free 1400 prisoners from the Japanese Weihsien Concentration Camp. All 7 members of this famous “Duck” mission received the “Soldiers Medal for Heroism.
History of female sensuality in artwork
The females who cast their face into the wind as ship's figureheads, the "Flying Ladies" of classic automobiles, the women adorning WWII bombers and fighters and the beautiful ladies of the cemetery all serve a similar purpose. Each escorts a passage or a transition into the unknown, offering comfort in the face of mortality and a promise of rebirth, continuity, renewal and salvation.
Owner
Scott Robb
Cincinnati Ohio
Artwork
Artrigs
Piqua Ohio
... and many years later:
Mary Previte found them all ...
Mary Previte and Major Stanley Staiger,
Reno, NV, 1998 , celebrating Staiger’s 81st birthday.
Carol Orlich, widow of liberator Peter Orlich, at Long Island, New York luncheon of China-Burma-Indian Veterans Association, 1998.
Mary Previte was the guest speaker, honoring the memory of Peter Orlich.
Jim Hannon and Mary Previte, Palm Springs, California.
[excerpts ...] :
... "Held in a series of German Prison Camps, he escaped from Oflag 64, Schubin, Poland in 1945, made his way across Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, rescued in Cluj, Romania, returned home, asked to go to Pacific Theater by General George Marshall, worked behind Japanese Lines rescuing downed pilots and liberated 1500 Allied Japanese Prisoners." ...
Mary Previte, Tad Nagaki, Emily Bryant, Alliance, Nebraska, 1998.
[excerpt ...] :
"The Nisei bought an awful hunk of America with their blood, said American General Joseph Stilwell, who commanded U.S. forces in the China-Burma-India Theater. "You're damn right those Nisei boys have a place in the American heart forever!"
Mary Previte and Jim Moore
August 2000 at China Burma India Veterans’ Assn’ national reunion, Houston, Texas
Navy Ensign Jim Moore tensed with the rush of adrenalin as the B-24 flew above the Chinese fields. The seven-man, American rescue team raced against the clock to prevent the last minute massacre of Allied prisoners -- he shuddered -- the massacre of his school, his teachers by diehard Japanese guards.
Moore had not faced combat before, but today he ... [click here]
© --- by coutesy of the NEW JERSEY NETWORK, ---
N.J. General Assembly,
Reunion with Jim Moore, May 1998
You'll see that near the end, the images break up, The cameraman told my legislative staff that he was weeping so much that he couldn't focus his camera. Use what you can. I don't think you need to post the ending when Jim Moore makes complimentary remarks about the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Let me mention that Jim Moore had been an agent of the FBI before going to China. The FBI creates a culture of passionate loyalty among its members. The surprise reunion was arranged by Assemblyman Peter Barnes, a retired member of the FBI Think of this: The retired FBI agents association paid to fly Jim Moore and his wife from Dallas, Texas, to New Jersey for this reunion.
One of the women on the platform with me is State Senator Barbara Buono. The other woman is the Clerk of the General Assembly and it was Assemblyman Peter Barnes who organized this reunion with Jim Moore and me.
Mary Taylor Previte.
