03 JANUARY 1945
First Lieutenant John R. Dickinson, pilot "Playmate Three Nine", departed Middleburg Island at 0555 and proceeded on his course to Ceram. He picked up his fighter escort on the Eastern tip of Poano Island and proceeded to Ling, Southwest coast of Ceram, orbiting there 0930 to 0945 and then to a point ten miles East of Namlea, Ceram, where he orbited from 1015 to 1047 and observed the results of the bombing and strafing of the beach area from Namlea to Muaso Bay by B-25's. Moderate to intense but inaccurate anti-aircraft fire was observed. At 1305, Lieutenant Dickinson received a call reporting a man sighted in a life raft three miles North of Cape Sarong. Lieutenant Dickinson arrived in the area at 1339 and sighted the survivor at 1343. He landed and effected the rescue of the survivor at 1403 [see photo] and took off in a rough sea at 1408.

The survivor, pilot officer W.A. Lucas, 37 Squadron, RAAF, stated that while strafing Sarong his ship was so severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire that he was forced to ditch his plane three miles off the target. He landed his ship in four foot swells, escaped unhurt, and inflated his life raft. He was rescued about one hour after ditching his ship and was returned to his base at Middleburg Island at 1455.

RESCUED RAAF pilot:   Pilot/Officer W.A. Lucas, 37 Squadron, RAAF

AIRCRAFT: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33882 (CV-336)**  
CALLSIGN:  "Playmate 39"
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. John R. Dickinson; (Co-pilot) 1st Lt. Frank Rauschkolb
FLIGHT LENGTH: 8 hours 55 minutes