Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I don't normally like to read books about war, but something about this story intrigued me: During WWII, a group of 24 soldiers and WACs, based in Hollandia, New Guinea, decided to take a day-long pleasure cruise, a flight to an area of New Guinea dubbed Hidden Valley and Shangri-La for its natural beauty and its isolation. They would only do a fly-by, where they could view it all from above. But just as they approached the region, something went horribly wrong and the plane crashed into the mountainside, then burst into flames. Among those who managed to survive was a WAC, Margaret Hastings, who happened to be from Owego, NY, not far from Syracuse, my hometown.
It's a captivating story on its own, but Zuckoff did an exhaustive amount of research, and also included excerpts from diaries of those involved, to try to recreate the events that unfolded as accurately as possible.
Margaret had severe burns on her feet but somehow managed to walk miles and miles, down the mountain and through thick brush and rugged terrain, as did Ken Decker, another survivor, while suffering from burns on the back of his body and a gaping head wound. The survivors had no food and no medical supplies to try to treat their injuries. But they knew they needed to try to get to an area where they could possibly be seen by any rescue teams looking for them, so they kept moving.
There had been rumors about the inhabitants of Shangri-La -- giant, cannibalistic primitives – which posed another dangerous, frightening threat as the survivors made their way through the jungle. What would happen if they encountered these “savages”?
Even after they are eventually spotted by a rescue team flying overhead, it is another month before a plan can be devised to get them out of the jungle, since no plane has ever landed there and there is no area that is suitable enough to act as a runway for any aircraft. There are many options discussed – some of them pretty wild, including the method ultimately used – before they're finally able to leave.
Incredibly fascinating, our capacity for survival under the direst of circumstances.
It's a captivating story on its own, but Zuckoff did an exhaustive amount of research, and also included excerpts from diaries of those involved, to try to recreate the events that unfolded as accurately as possible.
Margaret had severe burns on her feet but somehow managed to walk miles and miles, down the mountain and through thick brush and rugged terrain, as did Ken Decker, another survivor, while suffering from burns on the back of his body and a gaping head wound. The survivors had no food and no medical supplies to try to treat their injuries. But they knew they needed to try to get to an area where they could possibly be seen by any rescue teams looking for them, so they kept moving.
There had been rumors about the inhabitants of Shangri-La -- giant, cannibalistic primitives – which posed another dangerous, frightening threat as the survivors made their way through the jungle. What would happen if they encountered these “savages”?
Even after they are eventually spotted by a rescue team flying overhead, it is another month before a plan can be devised to get them out of the jungle, since no plane has ever landed there and there is no area that is suitable enough to act as a runway for any aircraft. There are many options discussed – some of them pretty wild, including the method ultimately used – before they're finally able to leave.
Incredibly fascinating, our capacity for survival under the direst of circumstances.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.