20 JULY 1945
Early in the morning of 19 July, a message was received in Rescue Headquarters stating that a Dutch P-40 pilot had ditched his plane about 25 miles from the position of the survivor. However, shortly after take-off, a message was received from ATC at Biak stating that their Catalina was over the survivor and would effect the rescue. Playmate Six One returned to base.

At 1930, 19 July, another message was received from ATC at Biak stating that their Catalina upon arriving over the survivor discovered that their plane was inoperative for water landings and would return to base without effecting the rescue of the pilot. On 20 July at 0550, "Playmate Six One" and Cadillac 1 (P-38) departed for the position of the survivor and located him at 0730 near the position given. However, the water proved to be too rough for the Catalina to land, therefore, a B-17 carrying an airborne life boat was dispatched to the scene, arriving at 1142. After one practice run, the lifeboat was dropped landing about 75 yards downwind from the survivor, who immediately paddled to the craft and boarded it. The survivor cut loose the parachute and investigated the boat. The B-17 circled the survivor until 1315 then departed for Morotai. During the day, the pilot succeded in getting the motors started and heading for middleburg. The following morning a rescue plane was dispatched to the vicinity of the survivor and found that he had sailed about 50 miles during the past 20 hours. When sighted, the life boat was dead in the water.

The lone survivor waved to the aircrew indicating that his boat was Snafu. A message was sent to Middleburg requesting that a surface craft be dispatched to pick up the survivor and tow the life boat into Middleburg. This was accomplished without delay. On 21 July 1945, a B-17 was dispatched to Middleburg and returned with the boat to Morotai.

The use of the airborne lifeboat is a valuable adjunct to the rescue facilities of this command.  However, considerable difficulty has been encountered in starting the motors and keeping them cool enough to run for any period of time. These motors are air-cooled and will presumably operate efficiently in cold climates. However, for use in the tropics, a water or liquid cooling system would no doubt, produce better operational results. The boat itself is an excellent type and will apparently withstand any type of sea. The equipment aboard is adequate for all emergencies.

AIRCRAFT: B-17H     
USAAF SERNO: 43-39491
CALLSIGN: "Jukebox 62"   
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. Hamden L. Forkner; (Co-Pilot) Lt. Geary; (Navigator) Lt. Rocawich; (Engineer) Tech Sergeant Fordham; (Radio) T/Sgt Grindle; (Radar) Sgt Eastman; (Gunner) Sgt Shulse; (Gunner) Sgt Milligan; (Gunner) Sgt Russell.