10 SEPTEMBER 1944
First Lieutenant Harry C. Remington Jr., pilot of "Daylight One Nine", while covering a B-24 strike on Palau Island, received a message at 1245, from a B-24 pilot that he had sighted a life raft approximately 125 miles due South of Lieutenant Remington's position. Lieutenant Remington proceeded to the designated coordinate but could not find the B-24, however, he was in radio contact with him and advised him to turn on his IFF. Lieutenant Remington's radar operator picked up the B-24 and led them directly to the survivors, 75 miles Southeast of his position. Lieutenant Remington landed on a calm sea at 1330, taxied up to the survivors and prepared to take them aboard. Four men were severely injured in the crash. The engineer sustained a complete fracture of the right ankle, three fractured ribs, cuts and bruises about the head and face with a severe laceration of his right ear. The ambulant survivors were taken aboard the rescue plane first. The Surgical Technician then administered first aid to the engineer, dressed his wound and splinted his leg in the raft. The man weighed 220 pounds and was hoisted into the plane with a great deal of difficulty. When all were aboard the life raft was deflated and salvaged. The rescue crew were given hot food and drinks and the injured morphine to relieve pain. The pilot of the doomed B-24 stated that while on his fourth bombing raid over Palau Island, his ship was struck by anti-aircraft fire just after he had released his bombs on the objective. The electrical system was destroyed putting all of his radio equipment and two engines out of commission. He was flying right wing position of the rear flight, fell rapidly behind his formation and was unable to attract their attention. He gradually lost altitude and was forced to land his disabled craft in the open sea, 125 miles South of Palau Island. The craft submerged ten minutes after the landing. Six members of the crew were apparently killed in the crash and went down with the ship. The survivors were able to salvage sufficient water, food and equipment to sustain them for several days and when sighted were under full sail for Biak Island, 300 miles to the South. The pilot stated that on 2 September they sighted a PBY two miles to the West, but as it proceeded on its Southward course, their hopes of early rescue were dimmed. However, when Daylight 19 arrived they were supremely grateful and solemnly said, "God bless the PBY".

Read Engineer Don Brown's journal entry on that day!

RESCUED MEN:  4 members of B-24 crew

AIRCRAFT TYPE:  OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO:  44-33??? 
CALLSIGN:  "Daylight 19" 
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. Harry C. Remington; (Engineer) Tech Sergeant Donald W. Brown