30 SEPTEMBER 1944
First Lieutenant George A. Barnes, pilot of "Daylight One One", departed Middleburg Island at 0345 to cover a B-24 strike on Balikpapan, Borneo. He flew through several thunder storms and reached his orbit point in the Gulf of Toronaldo in the central Celebes at 1000 hours. After circling the rendezvous point for three hours, a B-24 in distress was sighted coming away from the target. One engine was on fire and the ship was rapidly losing altitude. The B-24 pilot sighted the rescue ship, proceeded to its area where the entire B-24 crew parachuted into the sea. Lieutenant Barnes landed his ship about one-fourth mile from the first two survivors who were in a one man life raft. One man was placed on each wing and one man in the blister relayed signals to the pilot from the wing men. Each of the downed crew was showing sea marker and two were in life rafts. The rescue ship taxiied to within 100 yards and lowered their landing gear to act as an anchor. The ladder was put out on the port side and a line thrown to the men. By 1300 all the men were aboard ship, but it was decided that they would wait until the swells diminished some before attempting take-off. This operation required one hour and forty minutes.  At 1400, take-off was attempted both upwind and downwind but due to heavy load the ship was unable to rise from the sea. All guns and ammunition and 150 gallons of fuel were jettisoned and after four more attempts at take-off, the heavy ship rose on the step, bounced from swell to swell and finally after many an anxious moment, took into the air at 1455. A course was set for their base at Middleburg Island . As "Daylight 11" approached its base, an air-raid was in progress and Lieutenant Barnes was forced to circle 20 miles North of the island until the all clear was given to land at 2110. The elapsed time of the mission was 17 hours and 25 minutes. The rescued crew were all in good condition with the exception of the bombardier who sustained a wound of the eye from enemy flak. First aid was given to the wounded man who was made comfortable, and transferred to the hospital upon arrival at their base.

MISSION:  Provide cover for Balikpapan strikes - timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History :

0345:	Daylight 11 departed. Orbit: 1000 to 1300 at 1°00'S, 121°E. Position reports were sent until 0900 when transmitters failed.
1000:	Orbit point was reached. "Daylight" circled this point at 1000 feet altitude.
1110:	Three "Mikes" were sighted. One had fire in No. 1 engine. "Mikes" spotted "Daylight" and circled, losing altitude. "Daylight" could hear Mikes but not transmit.
1120:	Crew parachuted from the damaged Mike from 1500 feet. "Daylight" landed on water in approximately a straight line spread out a couple of miles. The "Daylight" overshot the last man who bailed out and picked the rest up in order, then came back and got the last man. The pick-up process took took one hour and forty minutes. Procedure used: One man was placed on each wing to act as spotter. One man in blister relayed their signals to the pilot. Each of the downed crew was showing sea marker and two were in one man life rafts. The "Daylight" taxied to about 100 feet from each man, then lowered landing gear to serve as anchor. The ladder was put out on the port side and a line thrown to the man who was then pulled aboard.
1330:	Daylight 28 received message from Rainbow stating that a P-38 15 miles north east of Manoei Island ws on one engine and was heading for Padea Besar I.
1455:	The ten men were all aboard but the sea was running swells and it was decided to wait before trying to take off. The wind was very light and at 1400 the swell appeared to be dying down. Takeoff was attempted upwind and then downwind but the plane would not get on the step. Guns and ammunition and 150 gallons of gas were jettisoned and then another try was made upwind and another downwind. On the next try the plane bounced up on the step, hit five or six swells and bounced into the air. There was no damage to the hull. Take-off was made at 1455. Two of the men picked up were slightly hurt. The others were in good shape.
1850:	Course was set for base and at 1850 Auto was contacted on VHF while over Halmahera ETA of 2130 was given.
1930:	"Daylight" called "Auto" but the reply was not heard.
2030:	"Daylight" was 25 miles west of "Auto" and saw AA fire and explosions. "Daylight" orbited 20 miles north of base until 2100. Request to land was made and a green light was received in reply.
2110:	Landing was made. Flight time including time on the water was 17 hours and 25 minutes. Area of mission was gulf of Torontalo.  A/C type and serial number. B-24, 5th Bomb Sqdn, 23rd Bomb, 13th AF. Sighted 4 B-24s at Orbit point. Remarks: Suggest two "Daylights" be given this mission so that the two can split the survivors, making water take-off easier. 5 attempts were made before getting off.

RESCUED B-24 CREW: 23rd Bomb Squadron
Second Lieutenant Ralph L. Krueger; Lieutenant Richard Egelston; Second Lieutenant Gordon G. Shimke; Second Lieutenant Henry H. Brutzkus; Staff Sergeant Paul R. Benedict; Technical Sergeant Claude P. Thomas; Sergeant Rex H. Bowen; Staff Sergeant Warren R. Mills; Technical Sergeant Clayton J. Hunt; Staff Sergeant Richard B. Page

AIRCRAFT: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33878 (CV-328)**
CALLSIGN:  "Daylight 11"
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. George A. Barnes; 2nd Lt. Frank Rauschkolb