A two-mile swim to shore with a school of sharks tagging along was a recent experience of Sgt. Leroy Kanada of Wenatchee, and a companion, members of the 13th army air force in the Far East, according to an Associated Press story released today.
Kanada's companion was none other than Sabu, the former "elephant boy" of the movies, now Sgt. Sabu Dastagir of the AAF. The AP story was written by Fred Hampson, war correspondent with the 13th army air force. It follows:
THIRTEENTH ARMY AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS, Far East (AP)- Sabu is a ball turret gunner now.
The former "Elephant Boy" of the movies- Sgt. Sabu Dastagir- mans a set of twin-fifty caliber guns in one of the 13th army air force's Liberators attached to the famous Lone Ranger bomber groups.
He has piled up about 30 missions all the way from Borneo to the Philippines.
The young Hindu whose nimble antics and flashing-smile made him a screen favorite, is popular with his pals in the Lone Ranger outfit. On his cot in a tent, the floor of which is coral, his gear piled all about him, you would never dream that he still holds a fat contract with a Hollywood studio.
Oddly, Sabu has had his closest call during off-duty boating. "It was worse than the flak over Balikpapan," he said.
Sabu and fellow gunners Sgt. Leroy Kanada, Wenatchee, Wash., and S/Sgt. George S. Swing, Glendale, Calif., built a sail boat out of an old belly tank recently.
Sabu and Kanada were carried two miles to sea on the maiden voyage. They attracted a school of sharks just at the time a wave swamped the boat. They swam ashore with the sharks, more curious than hungry, tagging after them.
Sabu is credited with one "smoker." During a Borneo raid, he got one burst into a Zero. It was smoking when it disappeared in a cloud.
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