MISSION REPORT - RESCUES - 01
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20 DECEMBER 1944
 First Lieutenant Denzil L. Kathman, pilot of "Playmate Four One", departed Morotai at 0708 with orders to cover strikes at Negros and San Ragoe. Arrived at orbit point at 1250 where fighter cover was waiting. He remained there until 1330 when he departed for Dipolog, arriving at 1430. He landed and discharged supplies. Took off at 1447 and searched area for Snafu, no sightings were made. Received message to proceed to Sindanga Bay and search for two P-47 pilots reported down. At 1520, he sighted a white man on Blanca Point, landed and took him aboard. The survivor, Lieutenant John G. Wolium, P-47 pilot, 41st Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group was in good shape. Lieutenant Kathman was unable to locate the other Snafu in Sindangan Bay. He checked the landing strip at Labo and returned to his base at 2100.
TIMELINE: documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History:

0708:

Take-off

0817:

Spotted floating barrel.

0930:

Saw 2 boxes.

1003:

4 Planes seen by observer 05°05'N, 124°15'E Bogeys

1035:

Contacted ground station, no message.

1103:

Belly tank in water.

1110:

Yellow seaweed looks like raft.

1125:

Contacted Rainbow #1 and #2.

1225:

Zorina 1B sent Snafu, received message from Rainbow 12. Beaver down.

1240:

Contacted Rainbow #1 and #2.

1250:

Sighted cover at orbit point, started circling.

1330:

Left orbit point, fighters left us.

1340:

Saw white man at (09°30'N, 122°30'E). He waved to us to continue on flight

1410:

Sighted convoy of 25 unidentified vessels.

1418:

Contacted Nick.

1430:

Landed Dipolog - dropped supplies.

1447:

Take off and searching local area for Snafu. Natives saw him fall but could not find him.

1515:

Received message of 2 Snafus at Sindangan Bay.

1520:

Landed at Blanca Pt to pick up Snafu: P-47 Pilot, Woliung, John G., 2nd Lt. 0826818, 41st Fighter Sq., 35th Fighter Gp.

1548:

Take-off, water very rough.

1600:

Searched Sindangan Bay for Snafus.

1635:

Convoy proved to be friendly (message at 1545)

1940:

Radio Operator's receiver snafued.

2000:

Contacted ground station.

2005:

Bogey in area-circled outside of area.

2100:

Landed at home base.

RESCUED P-47 PILOT:  41st Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group - 2nd Lt. John G. Woliung

AIRCRAFT TYPE: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33874  (CV-324)**
CALLSIGN:  "Playmate 41" 
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. Denzil L. Kathman, (Co-Pilot) 2nd Lt. William V. Kissell, (Navigator) 2nd Lt. Warner, (Engineer) Private First Class John H. Rowe Jr. (Radio) Staff Sergeant Zewer (Radar) Staff Sergeant Albert A. Kurto (Surgical Tech) Staff Sergeant John M. Yates, (Obs) 2nd Lt. Katz

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 The narrative of these rescues was compiled and published in April 1946 from logbooks of pilots, notes, letters, and other
information by secretary Marina G. de Guzman in Pampanga, Philippines.

  * Aircraft produced at Canadian Vickers Ldt, Cartierville, Quebec, Canada
 ** Canadian Vickers contract number that was unique to each aircraft produced by at the Cartierville, Quebec plan
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