During the month of April 1945 flights were scheduled from Morotai, Zamboanga and Palawan. Missions were to cover strikes and effect rescues in Philippine Islands, and Borneo areas. Close coordination with the two detachments was maintained by bi-weekly courier flights. At the close of the month the two detachments comprised following personnel and aircraft:

Detachment "A", Palawan (Photo) 17 officers, 56 EM, 4 planes. Detachment "B", Zamboanga (Photo) 13 officers, 50 EM, 4 planes.

On 8 April 1945, while on a rescue mission, S/Sgt August V. Roznovsky, 6289095, surgical technician, and Sgt Fred B. Bernard, 33279634, radar observer, were wounded by enemy AA fire. Both men from Detachment "A" Palawan, were hospitalized. S/Sgt Roznovsky returned to duty 14 April 1945. Sgt Bernard returned 24 April 1945. Attached mission report gives full details. (Aircraft OA-10A SerNo 44-33883 was badly damaged during this mission. She never flew again.)
Ten (10) officers and twenty one (21) enlisted men were returned to the United States under the provisions of WD Circular 373, 1944. "Return of Air Crew Personnel to the United States." All of these personnel had flown over 600 combat hours in this theatre.
17 April 1945
On 17 April 1945 our airplane C-47B, #43-47995 took off from Biak at 2030, destination Morotai. Due to malfunction of the radio and adverse weather conditions the pilot attempted to return to Biak. Lack of fuel necessitated ditching, time: 0430, 18 April 1945; location: 0°37'N 137°30'E, 133 miles northeast of Biak. All personnel boarded life rafts, and were picked up at 2130, 18 April 1945 by hospital ship Maetsuycker, with no casualties. The ship proceeded on its course to Manila, arriving there 24 April 1945. All men were returned to Morotai via our own aircraft on 28 April 1945. Read Mission Report. (Read 13th Emergency Rescue Group report) Personnel involved were:

t Palawan, 28 April 1945, attack by Jap aircraft damaged two OA-10's on the strip. No injuries to personnel. One airplane, 44-33881 was damaged beyond repair, the other is repairable. (Per AIRCRAFT INDIVIDUAL RECORD CARD³ she was salvaged 13 May 1945)
 
Five new OA-10A's were assigned to the Squadron. The usual inspections, conversions and testing kept the engineering section busy. Copies of General Orders showing awards and decorations granted our men during the month are attached as supporting documents. A Total of 96 rescues were effected for April.  75 combat missions and 652:50 combat hours flown.



Supervised by Captain Kenneth O. Eddins


Prepared by T/Sgt Colin R. MacEachern

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This report was copied verbatim from the "Official" Squadron History that was obtained via microfilm from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The text that is in parenthesis ( ), I added to clarify the information. It is not Official.
¹ From Squadron Orders obtained from Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
² APO numbers from "Numbered Army & Air Force Post Office Locations" - 7th Edition - by Russ Carter
³ From Individual Aircraft Record Cards - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

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