Unsung Heroes of the Jungle As the plane descended, billowing smoke trailed behind it. Burmese villagers watched as the aircraft plummeted through the thick jungle canopy. The odds of any survivors seemed slim. Yet, against all probability, the plane crashed into a small clearing amidst the dense foliage. Blood trickled down the pilot’s forehead, and darkness closed in. The villagers rescued the still-living pilot from the wreckage and their thatched-roof village became his sanctuary. Japanese soldiers prowled the jungle, and the threat of discovery hung over them as a constant menace. But the villagers were resolute, they would shield the pilot from the enemy at all costs. As they tended to the wounded airman, he slowly regained his strength. However, he soon realized he was stranded behind enemy lines, with little hope of escape on his own. The villagers, undeterred by danger, convinced him they could protect him if the Japanese ever reached their village. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. The villagers remained steadfast in their determination to protect the airman. Eventually, allied troops rescued the pilot, guiding him through enemy territory back to safety. He would forever attribute his survival to these unsung heroes of the jungle, ordinary people who defied the odds and showed extraordinary courage. Read the full story of Wing Commander Roger Henry Tupper, RCAF- Air Operation Over Burma at: http://www.wartimeheritage.com/storyarchive2/story_tupper_operation_over_burma.htm

Image depicting the Burmese villagers