13 JANUARY 1945
First Lieutenant Al Barnes, pilot of "Playmate Three Six" departed Middleburg Island at 0643 and proceeded to rendezvous point, Auee Island arriving at 1145 and orbiting until the strike was completed. One B-25 radioed that he was damaged but could make Morotai. PBY to stand by for emergency. At 1200, Lieutenant Barnes received a message that another B-25 had been hit by ack ack, knocking out his starboard engine and causing the right wheel to drop from the nacelle. The pilot proceeded to complete his mission, however, dropping his bombs on the target and notifying the rescue ship to follow him as he could have to ditch his ship 25 miles North of Manoi Island, NE of Kendari at 04°50' N, 123°45' E. The rescue ship followed him down and effected the rescue of three survivors at 1250. The three remaining crewmembers went down with the ship. None of the survivors was injured and are listed as follows: 1Lt Phillip Killian, 1Lt Ely Scherl, and 2Lt William Lem, members of the 75th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group. They were returned to Sansapor, landing at 1800.

RESCUED B-25 CREWMEMBERS: 1st Lt. Phillip Killian, 1st Lt. Ely Scherl, and 2nd Lt. William Lem, members of the 75th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group