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 03 DECEMBER 1944 -
First Lieutenant John M. Baum, pilot of "Playmate 14", departed Middleburg Island at
0800 with orders to cover an A-20 strike in the Kaoe area of Helmaheras. While enroute to
the target Lt Baum received orders to proceed immediately to 01°N, 125°40'E, to rescue
three men in a life raft, sighted by an RAAF Beaufighter pilot, who was circling the
survivors. Lt Baum sighted the raft at 1255, landed and took the survivors aboard. He
returned to his base at 1830. The survivors, members of the 30th Squadron, RAAF
Beaufighters, were Pilot R. Barber, Navigator F/O E. Ryan and photographer Sgt A.C. Power.
Pilot Barber received a deep laceration over the right temporal region in addition to
several bruises and lacerations of his hands and body. His general condition was good. The
Flight Surgeon administered first aid and made the injured feel comfortable. The others
were unhurt. Pilot Barber states that while he was strafing a radar station in the
Celebes, his port wing struck a tree, damaging it so extensively that he was forced to
ditch his plane 20 minutes later, off Lambon Island in the Celebes. All crewmembers
escaped.
Rescued RAAF Beaufighter crew:
Pilot R. Barber, F/O E. Ryan
and photographer Sgt A.C. Power
AIRCRAFT: OA-10A 44-33??? CALLSIGN: "PLAYMATE
14" CREW: (P) 1Lt John M. Baum
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