01 JANUARY 1945 - First Lieutenant Eric A. Lakes, pilot "Playmate Four One", departed Morotai at 0300 with passengers and supplies for Dipolog. He landed at 0620 to discharge the personnel and supplies and took off again at 0850 to contact escort at Baliango Point where he waited until the strike was completed at 1045. He then departed for Biaro Island, Northwest of Ceram near the Eastern coast of the Celebes. While on course to Biaro Island, Lieutenant Lakes received a message at 1430 stating that a crew went down at 01°45'N, 127°00'E. He proceeded to the designated coordinates and sighted a Beaufighter at 1530 circling a raft with two men aboard. The survivors were the crew of a Beaufighter  which had gone down that morning while on a bombing and strafing mission over the Celebes.

The rescued survivors were F/O D.W. Soumass, and F/O G.R. Cant, members of the 31st Beaufighter Squadron, RAAF. They stated that their ship was damaged by anti-aircraft fire while over the target, forcing them to ditch their plane 30 miles off the target where they were rescued about six hours later. Both men were returned to their base at Morotai at 1700.

Rescued Beaufighter crew:  F/O D.W. Soumass, and F/O G.R. Cant, 31st Beaufighter Squadron, RAAF

AIRCRAFT: OA-10A  
44- 33??? 
CALLSIGN:  "PLAYMATE 41" 
CREW: (Pilot) 1Lt Eric A. Lakes

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