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06 MAY 1945 - Second
Lieutenant Donald F. McKeon, pilot of "Playmate
Three Seven", departed Puerta Princessa
(Palawan) at 0730, arriving at his orbit point off Cecir Mer Island at 1245. He remained at his
rendezvous point with his fighter cover until 1400, during which time he received a
message from Lieutenant Bethel, who stated that he was in trouble, one engine having been
shot out and his compass damaged. Further radio conversation revealed that Lieutenant
Bethel had four hours of fuel supply left and thought he could make his base. They
departed for Puerto Princessa at 1400, the "Cat" keeping the B-25 in visual
contact. Lieutenant McKeon advised Lieutenant Betherl to ditch his plane before dark if
his fuel would not hold out. At 1903, when 37 minutes out of Puerto Princessa, Lieutenant
Bethel was forced to ditch his B-25 at 09°10'N, 118°26'E on the open sea in swells of
from three to five feet and a ten knot wind. The ditching procedure was accomplished in a
skillful manner, all six members of the crew escaped without injury. Lieutenant McKeon
followed the B-25 down, landed just behind it and by 1908, as darkness was closing in,
rescued the crew, took off and landed at Puerto Princessa at 1940.
The survivors, all members of the
390th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group were as follows: (P) Lieutenant Robert R. Bethel,
(CP) F/O Claire Jance, (N) Lieutenant Charles F. Easton, (E) Corporal Wendell S. Whitcomb,
(R) Private Raif Techelaki, (G) CPL Norman E. Layok. None of the survivors was injured.
Lieutenant Bethel stated that while over the target, his starboard engine was shot out by
flak and his compass damaged. He immediately contacted the rescue plane and was escorted
until he was forced to ditch. He paid high tribute to the efficiency and cooperation of
Lieutenant McKeon during the perilous flight and his timely rescue.
RESCUED
B-25 CREW:
(Pilot) Lieutenant
Robert R. Bethel, (Co-Pilot) F/O Claire Jance, (N) Lieutenant Charles F. Easton, (E) Corporal
Wendell S. Whitcomb, (R) PVT Raif Techelaki, (G) CPL Norman E. Layok all members of the
390th Bomb Sq., 42nd Bomb Group
AIRCRAFT: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO:
44-33930
(CV-432)**
CALLSIGN:
"Playmate
Three Seven"
CREW:
(Pilot) 2Lt Donald F. McKeon, (Co-Pilot) 2Lt Levern M. Mellstrom, (Navigator) 2Lt
James E. Beavers, (Radio) Cpl Palmer, (Engineer) Sgt Cope, (V) S/Sgt Ronald C. Gibson, (Surgical
Tech) Sgt
Joseph W. Gutman
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*
Aircraft produced at Canadian Vickers Ldt, Cartierville, Quebec, Canada
** Canadian Vickers contract number that was unique to each
aircraft produced by at Cartierville
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