Hello Indy survivors and their families.My name is Richard Le Francis, jr. and my father saw the flares of the Indy survivors that first night of that horrible and sad ordeal.Here is the story as he told it: He was flying badly injured from the Battle of Okinawa in a c-54, one of which was one of MacArthur's generals (who had an ailment). My father saw the lights and asked the general(who was in the jump seat) what he thought it was. The general responded that it obviously was some naval engagement and that he should notify ComNavMariannas...which he did. The duty officer there said he knew of no action in that (roughly described) area but went ahead and filed the report. My father thought it odd but he was intensly interested in saving the wounded and didn't think much about it until the headlines about the Indy after he flew the first occupation troops (11th airborne) into Atsugi after the surrender.He then got together with his navigator and they determined that they saw the Indy(or something there). He went to army intel and they told him to forget it. He then went to the FBI.He soon found himself outcast to Kwajalin where Jack Ryan offered him a spot in the 509th Bomb Group.

I have lived in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for 35 years and found it ironic that a survivor (Mr. Fergusen) may have lived near my father who lived by Hayden Lake.

I am the director of the Pappy Boyington Field Museum and can be contacted there at www.themuseums.us