23 NOVEMBER 1944
Captain Gerard F. Wientjes, pilot of "Playmate Two One", departed Pitoe Strip, Morotai at 0620 to cover B-25 strikes on an airstrip near Cebu City, Cebu Island, arriving at his rendezvous point at 1200. He circled for 50 minutes with fighter cover when he sighted a B-25 in distress. A part of one wing had been shot away and the ship crashed into the sea, hitting the water at 235 MPH. Captain Wientjes landed at 1300 and effected the rescue of Lieutenant John Butler, Lieutenant C. B. Kennedy, Staff Sergeant J. Fortes, and Sergeant J. K. DeSpencer. All survivors were members of the 71st Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Group. Three members of of the crew, two of whom were wounded, went down with the ship. The survivors were clinging to an un-inflated life raft. All crew members were in good shape with the exception on Staff Sergeant Foties, who had been wounded in the hip by shrapnel. Captain Wientjes took off from the point at 1304 and landed in Murcielages Bay at 1400 to investigate the presence of additional survivors. However, none were found. The rescue plane took off at 1450 and 1500 received a message that a raft had been sighted at 07°18'N, 119°50'E. Captain Wientjes arrived at the coordinates at 1740, searched 100 Sq. miles, but no sighting was made. At 1810, he departed for his base arriving at 0010. Total time in the air on this mission was 18 hours and 50 minutes.

MISSION: Cover strikes on Cebu - timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History:

0620:	Take-off Pitoe Strip, Morotai.
1050:	Arrived at rendezvous point.
1135:	Devil 1 arrived at rendezvous point.
1200:	Over orbit point.
1250:	Sighted B-25 crew which had been forced down after raid.
1300:	Landed at 9°55'N, 123°48'E and picked up the following survivors: Lt John Butler (P); Lt G.B. Kennedy (CP); S/Sgt J. Fortes; Sgt J.N. DeSpencer. All survivors were members of the 71st Bombardment Sq, 38th Bombardment Gp. The B-25 crew had been forced to land when the left wing was shot off in action. Three men, two of whom were wounded, went down with the ship. The rescue was effected approximately seven minutes after the ship was forced down. The survivors were clinging to the raft which hadn't been inflated. S/Sgt Fortes had been wounded by shrapnel in the hip and leg.
1305:	Took off, searching area for survivors. Negative.
1400:	Landed at Mercielagos Bay. 2 survivors from crew rescued 3 days ago in Dipolog. Told Australian that we would be back in three days for them. Closest Japs in fort at Misanis.
1450:	Took off, Mercielagos bay.
1500:	Received message to go to 7°18'N, 119°50'E, where a raft had been sighted. Replied we were proceeding.
1741:	Arrived at reported point, position of raft, and started search. We searched 100 square miles using visibility as 1 mile.
1819:	Departed for home base.
2200:	Radioed position at 2000 and ETA,
0010:	Landed, Morotai.
	Download the actual mission report taken from the microfilm