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A Plane Crash, Rescue, and Recovery
A Close Call in Africa
Richard L. Hoim
In September 1964, I reported to CIA
Headquarters following two-year tour a
as a Directorate of Operations (DO)
officer involved in paramilitary work in
Laos and Thailand. I was assigned to a
country desk in the DOs Africa Divi
sion, and Isigned up for part-time
French language training in preparation
for my assignment. Through my
next
language training, I came into contact
with one of the divisions most senior
We talked a lot about officers, who had served Leopoldville
in
in the Republic of the Congo. We talked
the rebeffion going lot about the rebellion in the
a going on
on Congo and
in the Congo and the fact that our senior
officer in Stanleyville and his two com
the fact that our
munications officers were prisoners of
senior officer in the Simba rebels.
Stanleyville and his
two communications
Background: Political Turmoil
officers Hmong
were The
auth~r and a resistance
in Laos in mid-1962. Photo courtesy of the
fighter
prisoners of the Simba After itgained independence from Bel
author.
rebels. gium in 1960, the Congo became the
scene of intense political intrigue that
led quickly to rebellion and conflict.
9~ Given its abundant resources and its
prompti~g determination from the
strategic location, the United States
United
~tates and its allies to provide all
support possible to Tshombe and his
and the USSR and their camps had been
watching carefully as the Congo tried to governn~ent. It just that simple, and
was
nation.
itwas a
~cenario played out elsewhere in
set its course as an independent the world repeatedly during the first
Both tried influence
to events to
decades ~f the Cold War.
strengthen their interests, but neither
side seemed to realize that there was a
dynamic to this particular tribal conflict
that resisted influence from outside A New Assignment
Sources.
One
mo~rning in mid-October, I
the division chiefs office.
was
The Simbas, ragtag bunch of illiterate
a called to
dissidents, certainly were not Commu After no~ting that US policymakers were
nists, but they posed a threat to the extremely concerned about the threat
pro-Western government in Leopold the Simbas posed to the central govern
ville led by Moise Tshombe. Thus, they ment, h~ disclosed that US planes would
Richard L. Hoim served in the Direc
gained the support of the Soviet Union, be transporting Belgian paratroopers to
torate of Operations.
China, and their client states, thereby Stanley~ille in the next month to liberate
17
Close Call in Africa
CONGO (LEOPOLDVILLE), LATE 1964 TO EARLY 1965
18
Close Call in Africa
the city and to free the Simbas especially the rich and the educated, had on us by the policymakers. Dave con
hostages. fled to the bush during the Simba occu curred, and Headquarters approved my
yet convinced it I left
Leopoidville for Bunia
pation and were not
proposa~.
After that, theAgency would need was safe to return. The population, circa 12~ February 1965.
someone on ground in Stanleyville
the normally estimated at 150,000, was
to provide intelligence. The division nowhere near that now.
chief surprised me by saying that, proba Arriving in Bunia
bly in December, he wanted me to take As the Simba threat receded, I began try
on that assignment on a temporary ing of our agents, but
to recontact some Bunia lies on a high plateau in the far
basis. I accepted and began preparing with I moved back and forth
no success. northeastern portion of the Congo. (The
by reading relevant operational files as between Leopoldville and Stanleyville Congo Lras known as Zaire from 1971 to
well as a couple of books about tribal during January 1965. In early February, the border with
1997.) Bunia is near
conflicts in Central Africa. I also con
Headquarters relented and allowed Dave hours drive
tinued my French
Ugand~, about an over rough
language training. to make one visit to Stanleyville with me,
terrain,~from Lake Albert. It had been
in the hope that this would help facilitate
liberate~I by a mercenary column on 30
recontacting agents. November 1964, six days after the Bel
Getting Started gian p4atroopers liberated Stanleyville.
We discovered, however, that it was too When I arrived, most large towns in the
At dawn on 24 November 1964, the soon to expect to meet with either our northeast were in government hands and
Belgian operation Red former agents or with many of Daves safe, but an unknown number of armed
paratroop
Dragon was launched, and the entire other contacts in Stanleyville. Time after Simbas~ roaming the countryside often
city of Stanleyville was liberated in a few time, up empty trying
we came to locate wreaked havoc. The mercenaries hired
hours with minimal losses. The three someone; usually, the agents house or by Tsh~mbes government simply did not
CIA officers were unharmed. Dave, the apartment was unoccupied. Sometimes, have th~e
manpower or resources to chase
senior officer, soon returned to Head someone was there, but not the individ down the Simba units. The northeast
ual sought. Our northeastern Congo Congo~was in great turmoil.
quarters, where he helped prepare me we
for the job ahead. As it turned out, he network was still a shambles. Our goal
persuaded the powers that be to let him remained to collect whatever intelli Bunias1 airport is a few kilometers
accompany me to help get me off to a gence we could from agents about our southeast of the town. The C-46 in
running start. On 26 December, we left the presence, activities, and supply lines which had arrived unloaded some sup
for Brussels, where we would consult of the Simba units. plies f~r small group of men sta
our
briefly with CIA officers. tioned in Bunia, which included a couple
and
After the trip to Stanleyville in early of
Cul~an pilots, two mechanics, a radio
officer.
Our next stop Leopoidville,
was we February, we discussed the possibility of operator, and a logistics
immediately began making arrange expanding my area of operations. Spe
ments for a flight to Stanleyville. At that cifically, I proposed a short visit to The to~wn was largely deserted and
point, Headquarters switched signals Bunia, on the Congos eastern border seemed likely to remain so until the
and advised that Dave would not be per with Uganda. We had a couple of north~ast had been completely cleansed
mitted to return to Stanleyville.
like this directive, but there
He did agents who were originally from Bunia of
Sim1ba presence and influence. Our
and still had family there. One had and in the only
not was
group
~ orked, ate, slept
nothing he could do. been one of our best assets. When fear local hptel. We all felt the strangeness of
drove them from Stanleyville, I rea being in a ghost town.
When I arrived in Stanleyville, I found a soned, perhaps they had retreated to
deserted city. Virtually every European either Bunia or Uganda. And perhaps I The Simbas were out there, but we knew
had been evacuated, and almost none could make contact with them in Bunia. nothir~g about their real strength orinten
had returned. The majority was
vast In addition, I might be able to collect tions. Indeed, that was one of the priori
still in Leopoidville or in Europe. More information from people in the area to ties of my visitto find out where they
over, many of the Congolese population, satisfy some of the requirements levied were and what they were going to do.
19
Close Call in Africa
The two T-28 aircraft, which were staged
from Bunia, would have been reason
enough for the Simbas to be hostile, bur
sofar nothing had happened. There
were neither mercenary nor Congolese
Army elements in Bunia, but some were
nearby. Although we had some handguns
and a few Uzi automatics, if a Simba
group had attacked us, things would have
been difficult.
Meanwhile, I still hoped to re-establish
contact with a couple of agents who
possibly were in Bunia. I had what
passed for addresseshouse numbers
on ill-defined streetsand I set about
trying to check them out.
Within a day or two, I was able to recon
T-28s in Bunia. Photo courtesy of the author.
tact one agent, who had fled Stanleyville
as the Simba forces arrived. He was plan
The T-28 has behind the I fly on the T-28 piloted by Juan
ning to return to Stanleyville within the two seats, one was to
week, and we arranged to meet there later other, under the same canopy. It has a Peron, sitting behind him.
in the month. I was reassured to hear range of about 300 miles150 out and
him say that the area around Bunia was 150 back. Because the northeast quarter Peron had learned to fly light planes
safe and that Simba control in general of the Congo is the size of France, their while in his teens, and he became a
was falling apart. Based on my debriefing range was insufficient to cover all of that cropduster for a small rice-growing
of him, I wrote three reports the next region from Bunia. But they were able company in Cuba. In March 1960,
morning and sent them to Leopoidville. to cover areas north, west, and south of about a year afrer Castro overthrew
Bunia. They did not fly in Uganda. Batista, Peron was sent to Miami to pick
up a new plane. Foreseeing what Cas
tros rule would mean for Cuba, Perons
An Aerial I had done lot of this type of flying in
a
Survey father instructed him stay in the to
Laos, and was confident that I would get
United States, and Peron did so. In
a good idea of what, if anything, was
A few days later, my communications 1963, he accepted employment with an
officer drove the
going on along the Sudanese border. air
me out to airport. The proprietary company organized by
Security was an issue, but as far as we
chief of the air unit had agreed that this the Agency and was sent to the Congo
knew the Simbas did have weaponry
not
would be a good time for me to get a after receiving training in the World War
that would bring down a plane. That
look at the terrain, road network, and Il-vintage T-6 fighter. After arriving in
was not the case in Laos, where we had
level of activity visible from the air in the Congo in November 1963, he
lost aircraft to ground fire.
the area north of Bunia
along the border trained in the T-28 and the C-46.
with Sudan. We suspected some arms
and ammo for the Simbas were being The Cubans, Juan Peron and Juan headed north the
As planned, we along
infiltrated via that border. The two T Tunon, were young but
experienced, Sudanese border. After about half an
28s made daily flights out of Bunia look and both were good pilots. I went over hour, Peron spotted three trucks near a
ing for military targersalmosr any maps with them and explained which junction of two unpaved roads. They
thing that moved on the roads. That areas I wanted to cover, if possible. My had evidently heard the planes and were
day, they had been scheduled to cover tasking was second priority; military tar pulling in under some trees. Peron
the area I was interested in. gets, if we found any, would come first. decided to attack and destroy the trucks.
20
Close Call in Africa
My eyelids were
singed shut, and I
could not open them.
He also spotted what he thought was a
I could hear and smell
to get My seat harness
out. remained
power plantto be destroyed as well. It snugly fa~stened. My hands hurt a iot,
was right at the intersection, and the fire, and I knew I had and I coi~ild not use either one. Some
trucks were about 100 yards from it. It
to get out of the plane. how, I m~anaged to push open the
was not clear to me that these were mili release with one of my elbows and,
loft
tary targets, but it did not
circled around and started
matter.
a strafing run
We
9~ with a
outhindered
of effort, I started to climb
severely by the fact that I
with machineguns, our only weaponry. really could not use my hands and I still
had the parachute hanging behind me.
lose ourselves in the bush and make our
We made two more runs; I could not tell
way to safety, however long it might take.
if we had hit anything. After we leveled The fire was a great motivator. I half
I worried that I did not have an escape-
off and resumed cruising, it was clear climbed~ half stumbled out of the cock
and-evasion kit with a radio. Juan
immediately that the weather had pit, and I fell off the wing on the right
opened the canopy and there was a rush
changed. Heavy clouds and rain were rear side~ Instinctively, I had moved
of air. To get a better look at the clearing,
moving toward us. Juan said we should away frcm the fire. Juan helped me
I reached up and raised the sunvisor on
return to Bunia.
helmet.
move
av~ay from the burning plane as it
my flight exploded.
We were going too fast, but there was
Approaching Disaster
nothing Juan could do. Our first touch
In Dire Straits
caused us to bounce. We touched again
At that time,flying in the middle of and started skidding along the rough
Africapresented many challenges. We needed toget as far away from the
clearing. Juan saw flames under the left
Weather forecasting help was almost
wing. I was hunched over, seatbelt and plane as possible before dark in case any
nonexistent. You knew there Simbas came to check things out. I
they would go, brac
was a
harness as tight as
storm coming when you saw one. Navi could b~trely walk, however, and I
ing myself for the end of our slide. The was
gational aids were few and far between. slide, probably several hundred yards, extrem~ly weak. Juan could I not carry
seemed last me far. We and stopped, tried to
to along time. Suddenly, ver~~
We managed to skirt the storm, but think. Bad burns meant infection, dehy
we came to an abrupt stop.
Peron told me that we had been dration, and swelling. I was wearing
knocked off course. We flew on. Nei The impact caused me to lurch forward contact lenses, and I asked
to help Juan
ther pilot saw anything familiar, and and then back, and my head jerked up. remove~them because my hands would
soon Peron said, We have to go down. At the same instant, a splash of flaming not
wo~k. Impossible. I could not get
We dont know where we are, and fuel is aviation fuel was thrown across the rear my eye~ open. They would have to stay
getting low. Id rather take it in while I cockpit from the left wing. I caught it shut u9til we could find help.
can choose a clearing. And it will be in the face, left front mostly, left shoul
dark soon. Juan Tunon decided to stay der, and both hands as well as a bit on
It started raining. After staggering for
up a while longer, however, and the two the tops of both legs. The splash missed only 30~ minutes or so, we stopped under
pilots wished each other luck. the front cockpit and Juan was unhurt. some trees next to a small stream. It
Not immediately realizing what had rained most of the night, and we just sat
Juan Peron picked out a clearing. He happened to me and eager to get out of there.
rearing an adverse impact on my
made his last turn, and we started losing the T-28 now burning on its left side, circulation, Juan made me move about
altitude. You have a weapon? he asked, Juan leaped out of the cockpit, jumped periodically. The pain got worse, and I
as we glided in just short of stalling out. I
felt the Walther 9mm in my pocket and
off the wing, and ran. passed
ther
~ut
for short intervals. We nei
nor heard any sign of patrols
sar
responded, Yes, and Ill keep it with I was stunned and in considerable pain. moving in the area. We had absolutely
me. His question highlighted the fact My eyelids had been singed shut, and I no idea where we were.
that we were going down in what was could not open them. I could hear and
likely to be Simba-controlled territory~ I smell fire, and knew I had to get out of When daylight finally came, I could at
was confident that we would land and the plane. I heard Juan shouting at me least discern that much. Juan used his
21
Close Call in Africa
knife to cut charred skin hanging from
several of my fingers. There were
already bugs on some of my burns. We
decided that Juan should leave me by
the stream (so I could drink water
regularly)and try to find help. We both
knew that our chances were far greater if
Juan, moving on his own, could find
help and then get back to me. By the
time he left, I was in great pain, which
took me in and out of consciousness.
He took my Walther with him.
In ever-increasing circles, Juan started to
explore the area around the crash site,
looking for anything that would help us
start to locate ourselves. Sometime
around midday, Juan saw some natives
Faustino. Photo courtesy of the author. Cuban pilot Juan Tunon. Photo courtesy of
and tried to approach them, but they
the author.
fled. Juan walked in the direction they
had gone and came upon a cluster of
about 15 huts. For the northeastern
Juan explained our situation, and Faus The Other T-28
Congo, that qualified as a village. There safety.
tino agreed to help us get to
were people there, mostly women and
According to Faustino, the nearest gov A villager had reported another plane
children. No one spoke French, English,
ernment post was Paulis, more than 280 down nearby, and Juan Peron and Faus
or Spanish, and Juan was having trouble
kilometers away. tino had checked out the site on the way
making himself understood. The women to Juan
me. Tunon was nowhere to
get
were wary. While waiting for Juan, I can remember be found. The plane had not burned,
stumbling into and out of the stream and Juan Peron was able to retrieve
Suddenly, a group of unarmed men several times. I had to drink lots of some maps. Without knowing our
appeared and came toward Juan cau water, and lying in the stream gave some present location, however, the maps
tiously. Juan addressed them in English, relief from the bees that seemed to be all were not of much use. Tunon had taken
and he relieved receive shocked
says he
was to a response, over me. Juan was his weapon.
also in English. Juan learned that the vil when they found me. I was lying about
lage chief, named Faustino, had been 20 meters from the stream. You were Based on its location and the condition
educated by British missionaries, who covered with bees, and you looked like a of the plane, and the fact that there had
taught him English. These people were monster, Juan said. In pain and barely been no fire, Juan believed that Tunon
Azaride, a tribal group scattered across his final
conscious, I did not realize at first that stalled out on approach. With
central Africa in the Congo, the Sudan, he had come back. It had been almost out air speed the T-28 dropped like a
and the Central African Republic. They 24 hours since we crash-landed. The rock. The trees, some over 100 feet tall,
had real for governments or bor and Juan fashioned a crude served cushion the planes drop.
no use
villagers to
ders. They knew little and probably stretcher from tree limbs and began
cared less about Tshombe and his govern the walk back the Tunon again. Months
to villagea painful was never seen
ment. The Simbas, however, had killed later, missionary reports confirmed that
journey for me.
Faustinos brother, who was a paramount he had been captured, killed, and eaten
leader of the Azande tribe, and Faustino by the Simbas, who believed that if you
hated the rebels. What a stroke of good eatthe flesh and vital organs of your
luck for us. enemy you gain strength. Tunon had
had jungle warfare and escape and
22
ClOse Call in Africa
evasion training before coming to the my burns just after the crash while I lay followed behind, making sure that noth
Congo; many thought he would have on the
ground awaiting Juans return. ing could come on them from the rear.
had a good chance of getting out. Except for my hands, they were easily Juan and Faustino rode tandem or
dealt with. Whoever it was systemati walked in the middle. Juan had given
cally dug out every bug he could see. Faustino~my Walther 9mm, while Juan
In a Friendly Village The effort had predictable results on the carried a.45 automatic. Neither Balde
extensor tendons of my fingers. Many nor Chri~tie was armed. When the
We had crashed in the late afternoon on were cut and no longer function. (I am situation required a decision, Faustino
17 February. Juan made contact with not complaining. I still have fingers that made it.
Faustinos village on the 18th, and it was work, and I can still play tennis, so I will
late afternoon on that
day when I was always be grateful to that individual.) In Bunia, meanwhile, the chief of the air
carried into the village. The trip there unit, Big Bill Wyrozemski, sounded
had been awful. Each movement of the When my wounds had been thoroughly the alert when we did not return on the
crude stretcher caused me pain as what cleaned, someone applied a grease or 17th. E4rly on 18 February, planes were
salve-like substance all of my
ever scabbing had taken place broke onto out look4ng for us. Juan remembers see
burns. It turned bluish black, hardened, ing search planes 18 and 19 February
open again. on
and became of protective coating and
a sort a co~iple of times after that. With
When we
got to the
village, it was obvi overmy burns. Essentially, it prevented out a sui~vival kit and a radio, however,
ous that I would need help. The village both infection and dehydrationthe he could not make any contact or signal
had no doctor and no medicines. The greatest dangers for someone who has his
posit~on. He did have a flare, but,
village had and Faustino suffered severe burns. There is little each
men a meeting,
that this saved my
tirr~e he heard the planes overhead,
proposed the plan that was ultimately question treatment his group was traveling in heavily
adopted. While they would help, they life. I was determined to hang on until wooded areas that precluded any
had protect themselves as well.
to Juan got to Paulis and returned with to send up the flare.
attempt
Accordingly, I would be hidden in the help. But I was to be testedseverely
bush outside the village, and someone and soon. Bill kne~v the areas we had hoped to sur
from the village would stay with me at vey, but he knew nothing about the
all times. Faustino and two others storm that had blown us off course. The
would guide Juan to Paulis to seek help Seeking Help search c~ntinued for several days. Nee
and return for me. I seem to remember dle in a haystack. Hope dimmed.
trying to make clear that if the villagers Juan, Faustino, and two other men,
Balde and Christie, took off the morn As far Juan could determine, the crash
helped my government would help as
us,
and protect them. ing of 19
chute with the
February. Juan left my para site
from
and~the village were
Sudanese border. Each
15 or 20 miles
villagers and told them to th? day,
I carried into the bush away from
was spread it out on the ground when a heli Juan aril company moved for as long as
the village and taken to a crude hut that copter came for me. Juan knew nothing they co~ld. Twice, they were able to use
would protect me from rain. A small about the area, so he deferred to Faus canoes to cover substantial distances
fire seemed to with
keep out bugs. No one
wanted a Simba patrol to discover me
tinos judgment. Faustino was intelligent mi~nimal physical effort. Bicycles
loaded on the back, they floated or pad
and resourceful and, in the end, we
anywhere near the village. All would dled
would both owe our lives to him.
eas1ily for hours at a time. Juan said
suffer if that happened. he felt more vulnerable on the rivers
During the trip, some of which was on because~ they would have little warning
Someone for my burns. I bicycles, the sharp-eyed Balde went of
remember
came to care
washed with warm ahead. He was responsible for spotting
possi~le danger.
being
water and someone cleaning my burns any danger, avoiding it, and warning the A few times, they rode
through huge,
with a knife. The bees
were gone, but others. He periodically left safety deserted plantations where it was easy to
smaller worm-like bugs had gotten into signals on the trail or road. Christie find food and water without much fear
23
Close Cal! in Africa
ately began firing questions at Juan
about my condition and whereabouts,
and Juan explained everything that had
happened. He praised Faustino, Balde,
and Christie, who were standing off to
one side.
One of the air officers went over to per
sonally thank all three. We will be help
ing you as well, he told them. Juan
emphasized that my condition was poor
and urged that helicopter take off at
a
once to return to the village to pick
me up.
The only helicopters at Paulis were Bel
gian, so there was a flurry of cables back
and forth to Leopoidville to get permis
sion to use them. The Belgian air com
mand quickly gave approval.
Washington was informed that I was
Cuban pilot Juan Peron (on left) and Big Bill Wyrozemski. Photo courtesy of the author.
alive but badly hurt.
for their safety. The few remaining Making Contact
To the Rescue
natives hated and feared the Simbas and
were willing to help. They usually slept Late in the afternoon on 24 February,
in the bush, although there were a few
Within two hours, preparations for the
Juans group came upon an outpost chopper rescue under way.
mission were
times found empty huts that they
they manned by Belgians and mercenaries,
able to use. The Simbas were inac Faustino, Balde, and Christie would fly
were
about 20 miles east of Paulis. As soon as
rain, when
in the helicopter, and Juan would fly in
tive night or in the
at they the men atthe outpost understood who
thought their magic would not work. the back of an accompanying T-28. The
the four visitors were, they became
original plan also had Juan in the chop
excited. By then, hope of our survival per, but the Cuban pilots persuaded him
Contacts with local villagers along their was They knew about our crash
faint.
to fly in a T-28; none of them had any
way were limited almost exclusively to and would certainly help, but they could confidence in the Belgians flying
other Azande. Faustino would speak do nothing until morning. banana. Juans description of my con
with elders or chiefs, and food was pro dition concerned the air ops chief in
so
vided and safe areas for sleeping were The morning Juan, Faustino, and
next Paulis that he requested a C-130 be sent
pointed out.
their twocompanions made a one-hour immediately from Leopoidville to be
truck ride into Paulis. They went standing by when I was brought into
Only a few times did Balde warn them directly to the airfield, where there was a Paulis. With all preparations made and
of traffic, which they then avoided by small contingent similar to the one at approvals Leopoldville in hand, the
from
hiding in the bush alongside the road or Bunia. Several planes were positioned at two aircraft took off just before noon on
trail. Juan felt that they had been cover Paulis, and the support crews and pilots the 25theight days after we had
ing 35 to 40 kilometers each day. They were living there. There were also a cou crashed.
had not
yet any sign of the Simbas.
seen ple of Agency air operations officers
By the end of the fifth day, Juan began there who had direct radio communica Heading east and north, the two aircraft
to believe they would make it to Paulis. tions with Leopoldville. They immedi flew for 45 minutes with Juan and
24
Close Call in Africa
any sort of consciousness were dimin
ishing. Days passed in a fog. I did not
know about the arrivaland crash of the
Belgian helicopter.
The Belgian air command
immediately
authori~ed flight pick up
a second to
their and me early on the 26th. A
pi~ots
C-130 l~iad arrived from Leopoldville
with a doctor. It would be standing by.
With tl~e location of the
village now
known and with experienced and
an
unhurt Belgian pilot on the ground, all
were confident that the next effort
would s~ucceed, and it did. The second
helicopter, ar~ied personnel
also with
aboard ~nd accompani~d by a T-28
fighter, landed at the village to pick up
the of the first chppper and
Belgian rescue helicopter. I~ii courtesy of the author. crec~i me.
Whatever it was that the village doc
tor put on my burns had hardened
ha~
Faustino straining to pick up some land were frustrated and disappointed. Juan enough~ form a coating over my
to
mark that would put them on course. and the pilot of his T-28 headed back to burns. That was good, although no one
They flew over small towns that they Paulis. there at the time realized it. The bluish-
had passed while bicycles
riding their black color looked ominous.
and knew they were headed in the right Meanwhile, my condition had been
direction. Faustino finally saw a village, steadily deteriorating. I had only fleet I was chopper, and we left
put into the
an intersection of two roads, a river ing moments of consciousness, and each for Paulis, where I was immediately
bridge, and familiar sights, even from seemed more painful than the last. I
transfci~red from the helicopter into the
the air, that led him village.
to their had learned the Swahili word for water,
C-130 ~or the long flight to Leopoldville
Overhead, Juan was cheering and shout mai, and that was all I could think of. and a h~bspiral.
ing into his headset. They could see a Certainly, I was given water so that
parachute being spread out on the proves someone was there. I could not
ground, but the clearing looked small eat, and what I did manage to get down
I had A Debt of Gratitude
and the chopper pilot was hesitant. came up almost immediately.
There was no way to signal the villagers strange, even bizarre, delusions. I
to change it and nothing that much bet imagined myself on a giant rollercoaster I fear that the rushed departure and
ter in sight. The pilot decided to land. careening up and down its track. Going concern for my
precarious state pre
down was awful because there were cluded adequate thanks to Faustino and
Moments later, Juan was shocked as he intense flames, and the pain would be the vill~gers for what they had done.
watched the helicopter crash on landing. excruciating until the rollercoaster came Despir~ what I owe them, I have never
One of the rotor blades had struck a back of the flames and up again. A
out had tli~ chance to meet with or thank
heavy tree limb and the craft rolled over. tall, menacing African stood by the those ~ho did so much to save my life.
No one was hurt, but the chopper was tracks and jabbed at me with his spear The A~ency, however, arranged to air
The used his each time I passed. This would go on drop planeload of medicines, tools,
badly damaged. pilot a
and and and for the village. It well
emergency radio to communicate
with on on.
clc~thing was
the T-28 flying overhead. He reported received and understood to be, as
the accident and asked that a second I was fighting to save my life, although I intend~d, a gesture of our thanks for
chopper be sent in to pick us all up. All did nor know it at the time. Periods of what tF~ey did for me.
25
Close Call in Africa
I had burns covering
35 percent of my
body, and my. weight
I learned later that Faustino gained nosis for me to shift from
really lousy
had dropped from
much prestige from his adventure. He to hemight just make it. The doctor
returned several times to Paulis, where 165 pounds to 98. reported the changes to the pilot, who
he was given weapons and ammunition decided to fly straight through to Texas,
The initial odds on
for the defense of his village. He soon and we arrived in San Antonio late on a
joined a group of Spanish mercenaries my survival were
Saturday evening.
operating in the area of the village and about 30-70 percent
received training, a weapon, and a uni
form. Juan has a picture of Faustino in Gradually the odds The Very Best Care
his uniform, and he looks like a fighter began to shift in my
whom one would want to avoid.1 arrived, examined
favor. As soon as I I was by a
young Army plastic surgeon assigned to
There tragic postscript the
rescue
was one
effort. Several months after the
to
~9 the US Armys Surgical
(SRU). The SRU was
Research Unit
the heart of the
February crash, Big Bill was trans
National Burn Center at Brooke Army
ferred to Albertville on the Congos Meanwhile, doctors Louvainium The considered the
at Hospital. center was
eastern border. Shortly after his arrival, Hospital in Leopoidville were taking best burn treatment facility in the
he was concerned about a possible rebel stock of my condition. An American United States, if not the whole world.
force moving toward Albertville from doctor took one look, saw no hope, and
the west, and Bill got approval from left the his conclu I had burns
room. He reported about 35 percent
covering
Leopoidville to make short reconnais
a sion to a senior Embassy officer who was of my body, and my weight had dropped
of the He had been
sance area.
standing outside my room. A second from 165 pounds to 98 pounds. The ini
instructed not to go alone, but no one doctor approached. He was an older tial odds 30-70, and
on my survival were
else readily available. Returning to
was
Belgian doctor with much experience in I was sent straight to intensive care.
Albertville, he was killed when his Land the Congo. He realized that after 11
Rover hit head on by Congolese in the bush without I needed
was a
days care Gradually, the odds began to shift in my
Army truck speeding the wrong side
on immediate treatment. He put IVs into favor. Early on, the doctors decided
of the narrow road. Juan piloted the both my ankles and then flooded me that my left eye had to be removed, and
transport plane that brought Bills body with antibiotics and nutrients. It was a it eventually was. (The cornea of my
back to Leopoldville.2 jolt I sorely needed, and it helped other eye had been scarred, but a subse
prepare me for the long flight to the quent corneal transplant would enable
National Burn Center. me to regain my vision.) Once my
High-Level Support charred skin had been removed, I was
Less than 24 hours later, the Air Force ready for the first in a long series of skin
When news reached Headquarters of 707 arrived to take me to Texas. The transplants.
my rescue and arrival at Paulis, Dick team took all my vital signs and carefully
Helms, then the Deputy Director for assessed my condition. We were cross The hospital played host to a steady
Plans (DDP, now the DO), went ing the Atlantic headed for the northeast stream of visiting doctors and other
straight to DCI John McCone and told tip of Brazil for refueling. About mid medical personnel interested in learning
him that the only hope of saving my life way across, according to the pilot who about the treatments used there. Many
would be get to me to the National Burn related this to my father, my condition of the visitors came from abroad. An
Center in San Antonio, Texas. McCone and vital signs improved slightly. No Ethiopian doctor observed that the
called Secretary of Defense Robert one knew why. I believe it was the result black substance used on my burns look
McNamara, who immediately autho Belgian doctor had
of all that the like an age-old tribal remedy used in
rized the use of a US Air Force 707 jet pumped into me during my short stay in rural areas of Africa. He had heard that
liner for this mission. It would carry a Leopoidville. He is another individual one of its ingredients was boiled snake.
burn team composed of a doctor, to whom I would like one day to say Several months later, two Air Force doc
nurses, and corpsmen to care for me. thanks. The changes caused the prog tors were sent to Africa to investigate
26
Close Call in Africa
The Agency gave at
least one
person per
week roundtrip air
the substance. They evidently found During the year while I waited for my
tickets to San Antonio
that it did include snake oil, plus tree eye to recover to the point where it
bark and herbs. Some of the herbs to visit me. could u~dergo surgery, I was visited by a
could be identified. steady stream of family members,
not
That gave me
friends, and Agency coileagues. Many
a welcome link of them~would read to me from newspa
pers and magazines. In December 1965,
Visitorsand a Transfer to reality.
Dick H~lmswho had moved up to be
During the more than two months I 9~ the
Dep~ury
gence~visited
Director of Central Intelli
me. He asked about my
spent at Brooke, I had numerous visi
tors in addition to members of my fam
conditk~n and what I wanted to do
ily. The
Agency gave one personat least soon as possible. My general goal was to when I ~ould go back to work. Many
make some progress each day so that I other senior Agency officials also visited
per week roundtrip air tickets to San
Antonio to visit me. That gave me a would be that much closer to going back me. 04e encouraged me to sign on
welcome link One of my to work. with CF~ina Operations in the Far East
to reality.
Division. When I decided to do so, he
Agency visitors was Dave, who brought
date in the Congo. quickly made arrangements for a Chi
me up to on events With that goal in mind, after my first
nese instructor to visit me twice a week
By the spring of 1965, the Simba rebel
operation began physical therapy. My
I
all but crushed. to start teaching me Mandarin Chinese.
lion was
prescribed routine included pushing and
pulling on my fingers and working on
My time at the burn center served to Following my transplant surgery, it took
straightening my bent left elbow. The
stabilize my condition and to accom severali~nonths until my vision reached
sessions lasted an hour. For my elbow, it
plish the initial skin grafts. My next stop the 20/40 level. I would not make it
took six months and one operation to
would be Walter Reed Hospital in Wash back to 20/20, but my vision was pretty
give me the almost 100-percent flexibil normal.1
ington, DC. There were some drawbacks,
have today. The therapists carefully
ity I
however. One was that now I could see
When I arrived Walter Reed, I explained what they were doing and how I k~oked. There I
at was was nothing or
learn that I had been put in why. During my time with them, I doctors could do about that,
surprised to the so I
learned a lot about my hands. Despite
a private room in the VIP ward nor decided1 I would not worry about it.
offi their best effort, however, my manual
mally reserved for senior military
cers. This was to be the start of what, in dexterity remains limited, and I lost my
medical is called the reconstruc jump shot.
terms,
Alls Well That Ends Well
tion period.
To See
In the spring of 1967, after a recovery
Waiting Again able
period of 28 months, I was to
The Long Road
report t~ China Operations. The divi
One reason Walter Reed had been sion chief welcomed me back by taking
Walter Reed has state-of-the-art care in
selected for me was strength and rep
the me to li~nch with the DCI and several of
virtually every field of medicine. My
utation of its eye clinic. My doctor was the Agencys senior officers.
doctor, a young lieutenant colonel,
reputedly was the best plastic surgeon at
one of the nations leading surgeons for
corneal transplants. Recognizing the
the hospital. He was particularly adept
of the
One
fin~al observation. The Congo epi
at hand surgery, one of my greatest
importance operation, however, sode and its aftermath served rein to
needs. We were to become close
the Agency had insisted that it be per force tn~T belief that the CIA in general,
friends. formed by the best surgeon in the and the~ DOmy own directoratein
United States. That was Dr. Harry particu~ar, is made up of bright, sensi
My biggest frustration was time itself. I King, and he lived in Washington; he tive, and wonderful people. I was lucky
wanted to complete my recovery as operated on my eye. to be a hart of it.
27
Close Call in Africa
NOTES
1. Juan Peron rested for a while in
Leopoidville and then resumed flying
until the operation was terminated
several months later. Many thought
he would hang it up after his narrow
escape, but Juan never considered
stopping. With a zest for flying, over
the next three decades he flew for
companies in the Canary Islands,
Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Miami.
2. Bill Wyrozemski was a Polish Army
officer when World War II began, and
he soon realized that defeat was immi
nent. Determined not to end up in a
German concentration camp, he shed
his uniform and made his way to
Istanbul. Once there, he signed onto
a ship headed to England, where he
reported to the Polish Embassy in
London. Fiercely loyal to Poland, he
wanted to fight against the Germans.
Bill claimed he had been a pilot in the
Polish Air Force. (He apparently had
flown a small plane in younger days.)
He joined other Poles and flew a Spit
fire in the Battle of Britain. After the
war, Bill made his way to the United
States and gained employment with
CIA, where he involved with the
was
U-2 program. After 18 years as a con
tract officer in Agency air operations,
Bills eyesight weakene I and he could
no longer fly. There was a need for air
ops officers on the ground in the
Congo, however, and soon he was in
Africa.
28
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