The pictures and narrative on this page have been copied from the "Two Rivers Reporter", Two Rivers, WI
newspaper clippings sent to the author in 1955.
Permission to post the pictures and stories has been granted by The Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter.
To visit their web page, click here.
SHOT DOWN - Lt. (j.g.) W. J. O'Heren, of Decatur, Ill., was piloting the Navy plane which was shot down in the first serious incident reported in the Tachen island evacuation. The Navy said the plane had "mis-navigated" and probably flown over Chinese mainland. Pilot and two crewmen were picked up by Nationalist China ship. (AP wirephoto)
Wandering U. S. Plane Downed, No One Lost
Not Considered 'Hostile Incident,' Naval Officer Says
TAIPEI, Formosa (AP) -----Communist antiaircraft batteries today shot down a U.S. Navy AD Skyraider in the first serious incident reported in the Tachen Islands evacuation of Chinese Nationalists.
The Navy said the carrier-based plane had "misnavigated" and possibly had flown over the Red Chinese mainland. The pilot ditched four miles west of the Tachens. He and two crew members were picked up by a Nationalist ship. They suffered only minor cuts and bruises.
An officer aboard the amphibious flagship USS Estes said the Navy does not consider the incident "a hostile act" because "the AD apparently made too wide a turn and was off-limits."
The pilot was Lt. (J. G.) W. J. O'Heren of Decature, Ill., and Coronado, Calif. His crewmen were Chief Aviation Technician A. J. Chelewski of Casper, Wyo., and Imperial Beach, Calif., and Aviation Machinist Mate R. E. Drennan of San Diego.
In Keelung, a North Formosa port, four U. S. ships disgorged more than half of the 15,000 civilians being evacuted from the Tachens, 200 miles to the north. They were the first to arrive since the U. S. 7th Fleet moved in to cover the operation.
Although the Reds made no direct move to interfere with the evacuation, it was plain they were manning their guns around the clock.
The attack transport USS Lenawee was the first American ship to dock. Its sister ship, the USS Henrice, was due later.
Refugees spilled ashore on the docks. Their faces mirrored home-sickness for the two bleak islands which the Red Chinese covet.
U. S. sailors shephered them ashore. They carried 40 sick and wounded Nationalists off the ship in stretchers.
American and Nationalist volunteers greeted the refugees. They handed out food, tea, soap, towels and wash basins.
Wednesday, February 9, 1955. Two Rivers Reporter
Two Rivers, WI 
TACHEN ISLAND EVACUATION UNDER WAY---
This is a general view of the evacuation operation on the
North Tachen Island, showing landing craft on the beach with others standing by in the bay. In the foreground are American and Chinese
military personnel participating in the operation.
(AP Wirephoto via radio from Taipei)
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Thursday, February 10, 1955. Two Rivers Reporter
Two Rivers, WI 
EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS IN FULL SWING---
Chinese civilians, many of them carring their worldly
possessions, move down a hillside to the shore of a North Tachen island
to be picked up by American landing craft and taken to ships standing offshore for transportation to Formosa, base of Nationalist China.
(AP Wirephoto via radio from Taipei) |