08 APRIL 1945
First Lieutenant Robert T. "Bob" Davis, pilot of "Playmate Three Seven," (awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for this mission per G.O. 54 dated 16 July 1945) departed Puerto Princessa (Palawan) at 0427 setting course for Tarakan, Borneo. At 0800 when about 30 miles from Tarakan, he was joined by his fighter escort of two P-38's. At 0817, a P-38 sighted the dinghy and led the Catalina to the survivors. At 0836, while crossing the Southern tip of Tarakan at 1000 feet, all hell broke loose as the Japs opened up on the rescue ship directly above them. The first salvo struck "Playmate Three Seven", rocking it severely and throwing it temporarily out of control. A large hole was blown in the starboard wing, one 40mm shell exploded in the blister and other damage was sustained. Lieutenant Davis immediately carried out violent evasive action as he dived to the deck, leveling off at 100 feet. First Lieutenant Craig, the Navigator, surveyed the damage and informed Lieutenant Davis that the ship was still air and sea worthy and that Sergeant August V. Roznovsky had been wounded in the face and Sergeant Fred B. Bernard sustained flak wounds of the chest and legs. Both men were wounded while at their gun stations in the blister. Lieutenant Craig, with the help of Sergeant Roznovsky, carried Sergeant Bernard to the crew compartment where Sergeant Roznovsky dressed his wounds. By this time, Lieutenant Davis had landed and taxied up to the survivors who were assisted aboard by Lieutenant Craig and Sergeant Roznovsky. Lieutenant Davis had cut the port engine as he drifted up to the dinghy, bringing it under his port wing. While the last two survivors were being hauled aboard, he started the engine and roared down the bay for take-off.

The rescue required three minutes, during which time additional hits were scored by the Japs. Sergeant Roznovsky collapsed from loss of blood and was carried into the crew quarters where Lieutenant Craig dressed his wounds and administered morphine to him. The radio operator, Corporal Edward C. Baumgartner, remained at his station throughout the encounter, transmitting urgent signals "in the blind" to Palawan, despite the fact the Japs had jammed all C/W frequencies. Lieutenant Davis exhibited great skill and courage in landing his damaged craft under heavy enemy fire. While taking the survivors aboard, a 40mm shell passed through the aft section of the blister, just missing Lieutenant Craig. Another 40mm shell damaged the tail assembly, severing the elevator trim tab and damaging the vertical stabilizer. In spite of the extensive damage, take-off was successful and the Catalina headed for the nearest base, Zamboanga, arriving at 1135, two hours and twenty minutes after leaving Tarakan. The wounded men and survivors were transferred to waiting ambulances and taken to the hospital where transfusion of whole blood and plasma were given to Sergeant Roznovsky.

 Lieutenant Berg, pilot of the ill fated B-25 stated that while at an altitude of 600 feet in a strafing run over Tarakan Field, 7 April 1945, his ship was extensively damaged when a 40mm shell exploded in the right engine nacelle setting it on fire. The fire rapidly burned through the edge of the nacelle, enveloping the right wing in a sheet of flame. Damage to the hydraulic system prevented him from jettisoning his bombs or lowering his flaps. However, he descended in a long glide landing safely on the water with the nose high. The turret was ripped from its moorings and crashed against the armor plate of the co-pilot's seat. All men in the forward compartment escaped through the top hatch and those in the rear escaped through the left waist window. The tail gunner sustained a minor scalp wound and the radio operator sprained his ankle. The life raft was inflated and launched from outside the ship. The crew climbed aboard and paddled away from the ship, which went down almost immediately. The remaining B-25's of the formation circled the survivors until 1320, spotted enemy gun positions and dropped their 250 pound demolition bombs with telling accuracy.

The survivors vigorously paddling their clumsy craft set a course for the Western shore of the bay about five miles distant where the now friendly jungle appeared to be a haven of safety. Upon reaching the middle of the bay, they encountered a 15 to 20 knot wind, a strong tide, which in spite of continued paddling, pushed them ever towards the Jap gun positions on the tip of Tarakan Island. By nightfall they were but two miles away and drifting ever closer to apparent disaster. Through the long night, they towed incessantly and at daybreak, to their great dismay, were but a few hundred yards from the Jap positions. They could see Jap soldiers on shore and were sure they would be taken prisoner. However, as the sun rose higher and higher, they concluded that they were being left out there as bait for the rescue ship which they knew would be coming soon. Their hopes were raised when two B-25's appeared on the horizon at 0700 and covered then until the rescue ship arrived at 0855, accompanied by two P-38's.

The escape of the six survivors from the disabled and bomb loaded B-25 is an excellent example of the value of a thorough knowledge and training in ditching procedures for all aircraft crews. The rescued crew was most grateful to Lt Davis and his gallant crew for their timely rescue from capture by the "Sacred sons of Nippon." Damage sustained by the Catalina was as follows: One large hole in the starboard wing, one broken wing spar and several ribs, broken elevator cable, smashed blister, broken elevator trim tab, hole in the starboard wing tank, damaged vertical stabilizer and 110 other bullet and flak holes.

Words are inadequate to describe the valor and courage displayed by the gallant crew of "Playmate Three Seven" on the morning of 8 April 1945, when they nearly sacrificed their lives to effect the rescue of six fellow airmen from under the withering fire of Japanese guns. As a result of their devotion to duty, another page is added to the glorious history of the Rescue Service. To see more photos about this mission: | Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | photo 4 | Photo 5 | photo 6 | To read the Navigator's description of what happened, click HERE.
MISSION: timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History

0427:	Airborne Puerto Princessa - set course for Tarakan.
0817:	P-38 reports sighting dinghy near Tarakan airstrip.
0855:	Arrived Tarakan, P-38 leading Playmate 37 to dinghy.
0856:	Hit by flak barrage of 40mm and 50 cal MG, Sgt Bernard heavily wounded in leg and chest. S/Sgt Roznovsky wounded in face, severing 2 arteries, bleeding profusely. 4 foot hole in right wing, right gas tank punctured stabilizer trim tab shot away, port blister smashed, evasive action carried out.
0902:	Landed under heavy 40mm and 50 cal fire from shore, picked up ditched crew.
0905:	Airborn - still under fire, set course for Palawan.
0930:	Decided to proceed to Zamboanga due to profuse and yet unstanched bleeding of S/Sgt Roznovsky. Morphine administered to Sgt. Bernard.
1133:	Zamboanga contacted. Ambulance requested.
1225:	Landed, Zamboanga. Remarks: The survivors were from the 70th Bomb Sq, 42nd Bomb Grp. Lt. P.L. Berg, P.; Lt. I.B. Scott, CP;  Lt. Malnitsky, N; Sgrt S. Kuzma, E; Cpl C.H. Keller, R; S/Sgt Holmes, G.
	Special commendation is merited by S/Sgt Roznovsky in that although wounded and bleeding badly, assisted Lt. Craig in pulling the survivors into the aircraft, after which he attended Sgt Bernard's wounds before accepting any medical assistance for himself. Although himself incapacitated through loss of blood, he directed F/O Leonard in the administration of morphine to Sgt Bernard. Sgt Bernard is also meritorious of particular commendation in that although heavily wounded he stood by his gun until his wounds no longer permitted him to stand.
	Download the actual mission report taken from the microfilm

AIRCRAFT TYPE: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33883 (CV-338)**
CALLSIGN: "Playmate 37"
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. Robert T. Davis, (Co-Pilot) Flight Officer John F. Leonard, (Navigator) 1st Lt. Laurence B. Craig, (Engineer) Sergeant Daniel F. Troyer, (Radio) Corporal Edward C. Baumgartner, (Radar) Sergeant Fred B. Bernard, (Surgical Tech) Staff Sergeant August V. Roznovsky