Film captures WWII drama of US pilot

"Peace has always been the eternal welfare chased by all mankind," said Shane Liu, director of Take Me Home, a documentary film about a dramatic event that happened between Chinese guerrillas and a US pilot in World War II.

Produced by China Daily USA, China International Culture Exchange Center, People's Publishing House and Shenzhen Dapeng Brother Media Ltd, the documentary tells the true story of Chinese guerrillas' rescue of Lt Donald W. Kerr, a US pilot shot down over wartime Hong Kong. The film was premiered in New York in New York on Sept 21.

The story took place in 1944, the later stages of World War II, when Japan still controlled a large part of China and the Pacific region, including Hong Kong.

Kerr was a P-40 fighter pilot in the Chinese-American Composite Wing (CACW) of the United States Army Air Force. On Feb 11, 1944, Kerr carried out a fighter-bombing mission against Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport, which had become a Japanese airbase.

After taking off from Guilin in South China in his single engine P-40, Kerr's flight was intercepted by Japanese aircraft.

Kerr shot down one enemy plane but then his plane was hit by incendiary bullets and caught fire.

With no choice, Kerr parachuted out and landed in Kwun Yam Shan in Hong Kong, under hazardous conditions, his face, wrist and leg burned and lacerated.

Just when he was about to give up hope, a local guerrilla organization, East River Column led by the Chinese Communist Party, overcame difficulties and rescued him, escorting him back to Guilin base, which took 48 days.

"China and the US were allies in fighting against fascist forces during WWII," Liu said. "Lt Donald W. Kerr and the guerrillas are just outstanding representatives."

Liu said, since China's president Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the US starting tomorrow, "It is my pleasure to present my work to you at this historic moment."

Producer Deng Liping, chairman of Dapeng Brother Media Ltd, has a special connection to the story. Both his father and mother are veterans of the East River Column and his father, Deng Bin, actually took part in Kerr's rescue.

Deng said he has forged a deep friendship with Kerr's descendants. "This probably is the best comfort for my lost parents," said Deng. "Our parents were friends, lived and died together, and we cherish the connection forged by the last generation."

Besides the documentary, the book The Great Escape, telling the story of Kerr's rescue, and two other documentary films by Liu - Fei Sha and Scientist in a Beret - were also featured at the press conference.

"All three of my works pass positive thoughts to the audience," Liu said. "I really hope through my work, the friendship between the people of China and the US can be enhanced and we can work hand-in-hand in the future."

Hong Xiao in New York contributed to this story.