24 NOVEMBER 1944
First Lieutenant Eric A. Lakes, pilot of "Playmate Two Two", departed Pitoe Strip at 1620 with orders to search for a life raft sighted just East of Langoan on the Eastern coast of the Northern Celebes. Lieutenant Lakes was advised that the tower had picked up weak signals, apparently coming from a "Gibson Girl" and gave the position as 10°10'N, 125°20'E. Lieutenant Lakes turned on his radar and went directly to the "Gibson Girl" arriving at 1752. He landed and picked up two RAAF Officers, F/C F. K. Carrick and F/C L.H. Kirkman, 30th Fighter Squadron, 77th Wing, 10 Operational Group, who stated that they crash landed their Beaufighter after both engines were shot out over Langoan Strip on the morning of 24 November, and had been in their raft only a short time. Both survivors were in good condition and were returned to the base at Morotai at 1945.

MISSION:  Orbit 6°30'N 135°E. 1115-1215 - timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History -

MISSION: Search for P-38 pilot down off Makassar - timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History:

1620:	Took off, Pitoe strip. Tower advised us that men in the raft had a "Gibson Girl".
1750:	Contacted "Gibson Girl"
1752:	Sighted raft.
1755:	Landed and picked up two RAAF officers. F/O F.K. Carrick and F/L L.H. Kirkman, 77th Wing, 10th Operational Group, 30 Squadron, who had crash landed their Beaufighter after having both engines shot out of Langoon Strip. They also reported some fighters on strip. Both survivors were in good physical condition.
1805::	Took off for home base after dumping 600 gallons of gas. The sea was very calm with a few small swells.
1945:	Landed, Morotai. The two survivors were turned over to a RAAF Flight Surgeon.

SURVIVORS: 30 Squadron, RAAF, Beaufighter A19-197 - (Navigator) F/O F.K. Carrick (60209), (Pilot) F/L L.H. Kirkman (416432)

RAAF REPORT:
MOR 21 - On November 24, two Williams sweep Gorontalo to Lembeh Straits. Aircraft and crews taking part A19-201 Jacobs/Glasson, A19-197 Kirkman/Carrick, departed 1023/24I returned 1455/24I. There were nil enemy sightings. A19-197 successfuly ditched  after completing the mission both members of the crew being rescued. While on the watercraft sweep of the Celebes from Gorantalo to Lembeh Straits Beaufighter aircraft A19-197 with F/L L.H. Kirkman 416432 as Pilot and F/O F.K. Carrick 60209 as Navigator  was hit by enemy ack ack severing the fuel lines forcing the pilot to ditch in the sea 25 miles east of Capt Atep 125°05'E, 01°01'N. The crew escaped injury and were picked up by Catalina the same night. During a bombing raid by Japanese bombers in the early hours of the morning 0315/24I hits were scored on this Squadrons aircraft. The following damage was caused: Beaufighters A19-179, A19-190, destroyed, A19-215, 214, 199, 211, A8-29, 35, and 28 damaged.