APRIL 1945 - SQUADRON HISTORY
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      During the month of April 1945 flights were scheduled from Morotai, Zamboanga and Palawan. Missions were to cover strikes and effect rescues in Philippine Islands, and Borneo areas. Close coordination with the two detachments was maintained by bi-weekly courier flights. At the close of the month the two detachments comprised following personnel and aircraft:

Detachment "A", Palawan 17 officers, 56 EM, 4 airplanes
Detachment "B", Zamboanga  13 officers, 50 EM, 4 airplanes

      On 8 April 1945, while on a rescue mission, S/Sgt August V. Roznovsky, 6289095, surgical technician, and Sgt Fred B. Bernard, 33279634, radar observer, were wounded by enemy AA fire. [See Purple Heart Citation] Both men from Detachment "A" Palawan, were hospitalized. S/Sgt Roznovsky returned to duty 14 April 1945. Sgt Bernard returned 24 April 1945. [Attached mission report gives full details. Aircraft OA-10A SerNo 44-33883 was badly damaged during this mission. She never flew again, and was written off 22 June 1944, per INDIVIDUAL AIRCRAFT RECORD CARD3]
      Ten (10) officers and twenty one (21) enlisted men were returned to the United States under the provisions of WD Circular 373, 1944. "Return of Air Crew Personnel to the United States." All of these personnel had flown over 600 combat hours in this theatre.
      On 17 April 1945 our airplane C-47B, 43-47995 took off from Biak at 2030, destination Morotai. Due to malfunction of the radio and adverse weather conditions the pilot attempted to return to
Biak
. Lack of fuel necessitated ditching, time: 0430, 18 April 1945; location: 0°37'N 137°30'E, 133 miles northeast of Biak. All personnel boarded life rafts, and were picked up at 2130, 18 April 1945 by hospital ship Maetsuycker, with no casualties. The ship proceeded on its course to Manila, arriving there 24 April 1945. All men were returned to Morotai via our own aircraft on 28 April 1945. Read Mission Report.
(Read 13th Emergency Rescue Group report) Personnel involved were:

1st Lt   Robert L. Rohlfing, 753246
2nd Lt  James E. Beavers,  0-2065031
2nd Lt  Warner A. Britton,  0-834363
2nd Lt  Arthur G. Carothers, Jr.,  0-831127
2nd Lt  Willie J. LaBonte,  0-815509
2nd Lt  Donald F. McKeon,  0-693867
2nd Lt  Henry M. Wollum,  0-711290
2nd Lt  Levern M. Mellstrom,  0-711763
Sgt   Onis W. Brim,  6658000
Sgt   Maurice Greenfogel,  32874753
Cpl   Ernest Ludwig,  32862381
Cpl   Joseph M. Quinn,  32911045

     At Palawan, 28 April 1945, attack by Jap aircraft damaged one OA-10 and destroyed another on the strip. No injuries to personnel. Airplane, 44-33881 was destroyed, the other is repairable. [Per INDIVIDUAL AIRCRAFT   RECORD CARD3 she was salvaged 13 May 1945]
       Five new OA-10A's were assigned to the Squadron. The usual inspections, conversions and testing kept the engineering section busy.
     Copies of General Orders showing awards and decorations granted our men during the month are attached as supporting documents.
     Total rescues for April: 96  Copies of pertinent mission reports attached. 75 combat missions and 652:50 combat hours flown.


01 April - Evacuated 1 seriously ill patient
02 April - Evacuated 5 patients
07 April - Rescued 3 crewmembers from the 42dn Bomb Group
08 April - Rescued 6 crewmembers from the 70th Bomb Sq. (Distinguished Service Cross awarded to 1st Lt. Bob Davis for this mission)
12 April - Evacuated 12 soldiers from Jolo Island to Zamboanga
13 April - Rescued 6 crewmembers of a Marine PBJ (B-25) crew
14 April - Evacuated 13 soldiers from Jolo Island to Zamboanga
15 April - Rescued 3 crewmembers from Balabac Lighthouse
16 April - Evacuated 8 soldiers from Tawi Tawi Island
17 April - Ditching of the Squadron C-47 (43-47995) northeast of Biak Island
18 April - Rescued 2 crewmembers from the USS Robinson (Destroyer)
20 April - Evacuated 1 soldier from Jolo Island to Zamboanga
23 April - Rescued 6 crewmembers of B-25 crew that ditched on Eldad Reef
30 April - Rescued 1 crewmember from the 70th Fighter Sq., 18th Fighter Gp.

 

GENERAL ORDERS No. 4761, HQ, Far East Air Forces,   (04 April 1945)
GENERAL ORDERS No. 401,    HQ, Far East Air Forces,   (09 April 1945)
GENERAL ORDERS No. 5161 HQ, Far East Air Forces,   (11 April 1945)
GENERAL ORDERS No. 5221 HQ, Far East Air Forces,   (12 April 1945)
GENERAL ORDERS No. 5711 HQ, Far East Air Forces,   (19 April 1945)


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This report was copied verbatim from the "Official" Squadron History that was obtained via microfilm from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The text that is in brackets [ ], I added to clarify the information. It is not Official. Some documents are original and some are reproductions.

1 Official Squadron rosters, orders, or documents obtained from the microfilm - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
2
APO numbers from "Numbered Army & Air Force Post Office Locations" - 7th Edition - by Russ Carter
3 From Individual Aircraft Record Cards - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

           


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