03 JANUARY 1945 - First Lieutenant John R. Dickinson, pilot "Playmate 39", departed Middleburg at 0555 and proceeded on his course to Ceram. He picked up his fighter escort on the Eastern tip of Poano Island and proceeded to Ling, Southwest coast of Ceram, orbiting there 0930 to 0945 and then to a point ten miles East of Namlea, Ceram, where he orbited from 1015 to 1047 and observed the results of the bombing and strafing of the beach area from Namlea to Muaso Bay by B-25's. Moderate to intense but inaccurate anti-aircraft fire was observed. At 1305, Lieutenant Dickinson received a call reporting a man sighted in a life raft three miles North of Cape Sarong. Lieutenant Dickinson arrived in the area at 1339 and sighted the survivor at 1343. He landed and effected the rescue of the survivor at 1403 and took off in a rough sea at 1408.

The survivor, pilot officer W.A. Lucas, 37th Squadron, RAAF, stated that while strafing Sarong his ship was so severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire that he was forced to ditch his plane three miles off the target. He landed his ship in four foot swells, escaped unhurt, and inflated his life raft. He was rescued about one hour after ditching his ship and was returned to his base at Middleburg Island at 1455.

Rescued RAAF pilot:  Pilot/Officer W.A. Lucas, 37th Squadron, RAAF

AIRCRAFT: OA-10A   44-33???  CALLSIGN:  "PLAYMATE 39" CREW: (P) 1Lt John R. Dickinson

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