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 07 DECEMBER 1944 - First Lieutenant Leroy R. Nelson, pilot of "Playmate 21", departed Morotai
at 0520 on a mission to search for a Navy PBY reported to have gone down somewhere on the
coast off Mindanao, between Saragani Bay and Pallee Harbor. At 0745, Playmate picked up a
message that there was another Snafu at 13 Olson. Responded that we would search after
strike was over. By 0930 we had completed the search of Mindanao coast to no avail. At
1045 the rescue ship landed at Dipolog to drop off passengers, cargo and a photographer.
Took off again at 1100 for orbit point to rendezvous with fighter escort. We were unable
to contact "Rainbow 1", and there was heavy weather in the area. Visibility was
less than 1/2 mile in heavy rain. Orbited at Sipalay. With the weather deteriorating,
rescue ship headed for Tolong, but sighted nothing. Landed at Baliango and took aboard 2Lt
C.E. Ramey, 72nd Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomb Group, who had bailed out of his B-24 (#J-347),
November 16th. He was in excellent health. Major Naranjes, AUS and orderly were also
picked up to be taken to Morotai. Daylight departed Baliango at 1420 and headed for home
base. On the way we circled Misamis Fort, but drew no fire and no activity was sighted. We
were now on instruments 75% of the time due to poor visibility in heavy rain squalls.
Arrived at base at 1830.
Rescued personnel: 2Lt C.E. Ramey, 72nd Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomb Group, Major
Naranjes, AUS and orderly
AIRCRAFT: OA-10A
44-33879 CALLSIGN: "PLAYMATE
21" CREW: (P) 1Lt Leroy R. Nelson
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