07 JANUARY 1945
Captain Clarence L. "Solie" Solander, pilot "Playmate Four Two", departed Morotai at 0505 for Sulu Sea. At 1110 he arrived at his rendezvous point, Capaya, Sulu Islands, where he contacted his escorting B-24 and set a course for Brooks Point on the Southeastern coast of Palawan Island at 08°45'N, 118°10'E. At 1250, Captain Solander sighted seven white men signaling from the beach. He landed at 1255, taxied inshore and took the seven survivors aboard. Six of the survivors were American soldiers and had been prisoners of the Japs since 1942. They had escaped from the Puerto Princessa Prison Camp during the 14th of December massacre. After obtaining information from guerillas concerning the disposition of Jap troops on Palawan, Captain Solander took off at 1335 and searched the coast for three more escaped prisoners reported to be in the vicinity. However, his search was negative and he departed for Morotai at 1345, arriving at 2005. The following men were rescued: Pfc Edwin A. Petry, USA, Cpl Wm J. Balalus, USA, Corporal Rufus W. Smith, USMC, Cpl Ernest J. Koblas, USA, Pfc Eugene Neilson, USA, Captain Alberto D. Pachea, USA, and Thomas F. Louden, civilian.

The five soldiers and one Marine had been made prisoners of war following the fall of Bataan and Corregedor in May 1942. They were confined to a prisoner of war camp near Manila and later transferred with a group of 300 to Puerta Princessa, Palawan 1943. Later, 150 of these men were transferred to another prison camp leaving 150 Americans at Puerto Princessa who were employed in building roads and airstrips in that vicinity. Early in December 1944, our bombers began to range over Palawan, bombing the airstrip and installations in the vicinity of Puerto Princessa. The prisoners reported that the Japs had mortal fear of our four engine bombers and following each strike, the prisoners received more abuse than before.  The aged Patriarch, Mr. Louden, had been a prisoner of war of the Japs but eventually escaped to the Guerilla Headquarters in the mountains West of Puerto Princessa.

On the 14th of December 1944, the Japs called an air alert and herded all prisoners into protecting trenches. During the suppose alert, trucks drove into the enclosure and pumped gasoline onto the prisoners in their trenches and immediately ignited it. The holocaust which ensued was a horrible example of the inhumane and diabolical treatment of prisoners of war. Those who were not immediately killed by the incineration, scattered throughout the prison area but were mowed down by Jap machine guns stationed in and around the prison camp. However, several men managed to elude the murderous fire and escaped into the jungle. The Japs hunted them for days and recaptured all but nine who were eventually picked up by friendly natives and guided to Guerilla Headquarters in the mountains. There they were introduced to Mr. Louden who in spite of his 73 years, led them 75 miles across the mountains of Palawan to Brooks Point where Captain Solander effected their rescue. The three remaining escaped prisoners had not reached the point of contact and not knowing when they would arrive, Captain Solander made arrangements for their rescue at at future date and departed. When they arrived at Morotai and saw the hundreds of bombers and fighters assembled on the vast airbase, they were speechless with wonderment and pride as they quietly compared it with our small but heroic Air Force in the days of Bataan and Corregedor in 1942. When they were told that this base was but one of hundreds established throughout the Pacific, their amazement was profound and they fervently stated, "We knew America would come through."

MISSION: Special search Sulu Sea -  timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History:

0505:	Take off
1100:	Established radio contact with cover, Deadeye 1.
1110:	Arrived rendezvous point, Cagayan Sulu Island.
1115:	Sighted B-24, apparently was not Deadeye 1 as he left area on 080° heading.
1135:	Contacted Deadeye 1; both set course for Brooke's Point, Palawan
1250:	Sighted 6 white men on beach at 08°45'N, 117°49'E.
1255:	Landed and took men aboard. Six soldiers and one civilian.
1335:	Took off and searched coast for three more men. Unsuccessful.
1345:	Set course for base.
2005:	Landed.
Remarks:	Following men were rescued: Pfc Edwin A. Petry, 39226323, 7th Material Sq.; Cpl Rufus W. Smith, 299737, USMC; Cpl William A. Balchus, 7021049, 60th CA (AA); Pfc Ernest J. Kobles, 6575869, 59th CA; Cpl Alberto D. Pacheco, 26842523, 200th CAC (AA); Pfc Eugene Nielson, 19010856, 59th CAC1; Thomas F. Loudin, Civilian. The above five named soldiers and one marine were all captured by the Japs on either Corregidor or Bataan, ending up at Puerta Princessa. They escaped from that place during the massacre of 14 December 1944 and made their way south. There are 3 other US survivors on their way to the point of pick up. They will probably be there (08°45'N, 117°59'E) tomorrow. INTELLIGENCE: 50 Jap soldiers on Apo Island, south Palawan (08°17'N, 117°12'E). 200 Jap marines on Balabak Island at town of Balabak (07°59'N, 117°03'E). Bombing may have done indescrimately on all building as civilians have been evacuated. There are a few small caliber AA guns. 90 Jap marines are on same island, at Cape Melville (07°50'N, 116°59'E). Report of 29 Nov 44 states 29 Jap acft destroyed on ground at Puerta Princessa, Eye witnesses say actually 60 were destroyed.