16 SEPTEMBER 1944
First Lieutenant Jarvis T. "Yag" Yagla, pilot of "Daylight Special", was orbiting near Morotai Island, standing by for distress calls in that area. At 1425, a radio message was received ordering him to proceed to Cape Lolabata, Northern Halmaheras, and search for a Hellcat pilot who had ditched his plane in Lolabata Bay. While enroute to his coordinates, Lieutenant Yagla received another message that a second pilot had ditched his damaged plane in the sea, one mile off Lolabata. Upon approaching the first pilot, Lieutenant Yagla noted the survivor was being approached by Navy PT boats and so proceeded to the second "Snafu" down in the sea, one mile off Lolabata. The PBY was landed in a rough sea, taxied to the survivor, took him aboard and departed hastily, since the surviving pilot and PBY were under fire from enemy shore batteries. As the PBY approached, the Japs concentrated their fire on it, but fortunately no hits were registered. A dual purpose gun opened up on them one shell exploding in the sea 100 feet astern the taxiing rescue ship. The rescued pilot, who was unhurt, was disrobed, wrapped in blankets, given hot drinks and returned to Middleburg Island . Lieutenant Yagla attempted to cover the PT boats in their rescue but was driven off by enemy fire. However, the rescue was ultimately effected. Lieutenant Yagla and his co-pilot, First Lieutenant George A. Barnes deserve the highest praise for their daring and dangerous rescue. [see a photo of the crew together]

*** The PT boat Commander (Lieutenant Arthur Murray Preston) was awarded the Medal of Honor [Read Citation] for this rescue. Lieutenant Jarvis T. Yagla was awarded the Silver Star for this mission. Navigator, Peter Y. Taylor, Co-pilot George "Al" Barnes, Corporal Theodore Fialkowski, Sergeant Woodrow Hayes, Technical Sergeant Robert S. Jones, and Sergeant James B. Standridge, Jr. were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. (per G.O. No. 118, Far East Air Forces, 19 January 1945.) See a letter from Murray Preston to Chuck Tully in 1961.

It is to be noted that takeoff from Middleburg was delayed two hours awaiting message by courier to be delivered at Red Beach. This aircraft and crew acted as Air Sea Rescue Unit covering "Interlude" operation on "D" day plus one. In addition, it was assigned courier plane for "D" day plus one.

MISSION: Support Operation Interlude - timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History:

1205:	Daylight Special 2 took off from Middleburg to relieve Daylight Special One at orbiting point for "Interlude" operation.
1420:	Daylight Special 2 reached area and checked in with "Wall Street." Daylight Special 1 was contacted on VHF and gave necessary instructions to Daylight 2. 1425 Wall Street instructed Daylight 2 to assist the two PT boats in the rescue operation that Daylight Special 1 had been working on until relieved.
1427:	"Wall Street" directed Daylight Special Two to proceed to Lolobata Cape and effect immediate rescue of second Snafu. This Snafu had been covering the original one before being shot down. Daylight Special Two proceeded as ordered at 1435 without fighter cover. Fire from Ack Ack and shore batteries was encountered from 1435 until  1525. The following gun positions are as accurate as can be expected. Reference Australian aeronautical Map # NA 5. From Cape Toenoeo to Cape Fatjikara scattered Ack Ack and dual purpose guns. From Cape Lolobata around the rim of Wasile Bay to Dodaga - well scattered Ack Ack (Fighters had done thorough job in here.) From Doro South West to Kaoe scattered Ack Ack. It is to be noted that Daylight Special 2 was indicating 125 knots until it reached ditching coordinates. 1445 sighted one fighter circling rubber raft.4's leaving target
1450:	Lieutenant Yagla landed 100 feet from raft. Sea marker was observed. Because a hasty takeoff was essential, Lieutenant Yagla wisely refrained from cutting the engines. This necessitated three passes at the raft before actual rescue was effected. The take-off accompanied us to a point abeam Lolobata. Daylight Special 2 drew fire from shore batteries throughout the whole operation. Lieutenant Barnes ably acted as communications officer between "Wall Street" and Daylight Special 2, and directed the rescue. The rescued flier was in excellent condition. He was rescued after having been in the water only 30 minutes. Indications of shock were almost completely lacking. Evidently his stron condition, and the very effective cover that the Navy Fighter provided did much to dispel too much natural fear. The flier was disrobed immediately, dried thoroughly and provided with dry clothes, something to drink, and the usual abundance of comforts usually afforded a man snatched from the jaws of death. The whole crew, led by the surgical technicial, did the honors. The pilot had been flying an F-6-F Navy fighter. His name - Ensign Paul Woodrow Lindskog, VF-60, CUE 27.
1515:	Daylight Special 2 circled off Boeli Bay safely out of range of enemy fire. It was noted that the P.T. boats were proceeding on course to the strait. Daylight Special 2 called "Wall Street" for further instructions and was directed to accompany P.T. boats. Enemy fire was too severe and we had to come back out.eived message B-24 circling raft, at 4°50'N - 135°20'E
1600:	P.T. boats encountered heavy fire and were forced to retreat. They asked for fighter cover.
1700:	P.T. boats Martine 489 and 363 skippered by Lt. A.M. Treston and Lt. J.G. Boyd made it through the strait after fighters had worked on the shore batteries. Daylight Special 2 was standing by in the area to carry rescued flyer to hospital if necessary.essage B-24 circling raft, at 4°50'N - 135°20'E
1800:	P.T. boats immerged from the strait and dismissed their cover. Daylight Special 2 had unsatisfactory contact with "Wall Street" from this time forth. 1830: Daylight Special 2 circled Red Beach and tried persistently to obtain instructions on what to do with Courier Captain J. M. Rollo of Task Force Headquarters and the rescued pilot without resultsessage B-24 circling raft, at 4°50'N - 135°20'E
1905:	Lieutenant Barnes landed and anchored 300 yards off Red Beach. A passing Navy craft carried Lieutenant Barnes and Ensign Lindskog (the rescued pilot ahore.)

RESCUED MAN: 1 Navy "Hellcat" pilot - Ensign Paul W. "Woody" Lindskog. [Read his story of this mission]

AIRCRAFT TYPE: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33882  (CV-336)**
CALLSIGN:  "Daylight Special" 
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. Jarvis T. Yagla; (Co-Pilot) 1st Lt. George A. Barnes; (Navigator) 2nd Lt. Peter Y. "PBY" Taylor; (Engineer) Tech Sergeant Robert S. Jones; (Radio) Private First Class Theodore Fialkowski; (Radio) Sergeant James B. Standridge; (Surgical Tech) Sergeant Woodrow H. Hayes; (Ph) Sergeant Dirla