THE iron bird maneuvered in the overcast sky. Bearing the Philippine code the aircraft was ready to land at Mapanget Airbase (now Sam Ratulangi Airport), Manado, North Sulawesi. At the end of the base tens of trucks and a heavy earth-leveler made a barricade. A few moments later the aircraft perched upon a concrete base.

That day, February 23, 1958, at 2pm, I rushed to open the door of the aircraft. The lingering smell from bombing assaulted my