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Lieutenant Davis exhibited great skill and courage in landing his damaged craft under heavy enemy fire. While taking the survivors aboard, a 40mm shell passed through the aft section of the blister, just missing Lieutenant Craig. Another 40mm shell damaged the tail assembly, severing the elevator trim tab and damaging the vertical stabilizer. In spite of the extensive damage, take-off was successful and the Catalina headed for the nearest base, Zamboanga, arriving at 1135, two hours and twenty minutes after leaving Tarakan. The wounded men and survivors were transferred to waiting ambulances and taken to the hospital where transfusion of whole blood and plasma were given to Sergeant Roznovsky. (Staff Sergeant August V. Roznovsky and Sergeant Fred B. Bernard both received the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal for this rescue. See it here!) Lieutenant Berg, pilot of the ill fated B-25 stated that while at an altitude of 600 feet in a strafing run over Tarakan Field, 7 April 1945, his ship was extensively damaged when a 40mm shell exploded in the right engine nacelle setting it on fire. The fire rapidly burned through the edge of the nacelle, enveloping the right wing in a sheet of flame. Damage to the hydraulic system prevented him from jettisoning his bombs or lowering his flaps. However, he descended in a long glide landing safely on the water with the nose high. The turret was ripped from its moorings and crashed against the armor plate of the co-pilot's seat. All men in the forward compartment escaped through the top hatch and those in the rear escaped through the left waist window. The tail gunner sustained a minor scalp wound and the radio operator sprained his ankle. The life raft was inflated and launched from outside the ship. The crew climbed aboard and paddled away from the ship, which went down almost immediately. The remaining B-25's of the formation circled the survivors until 1320, spotted enemy gun positions and dropped their 250 pound demolition bombs with telling accuracy. The survivors vigorously paddling their clumsy craft set a course for the Western shore of the bay about five miles distant where the now friendly jungle appeared to be a haven of safety. Upon reaching the middle of the bay, they encountered a 15 to 20 knot wind, a strong tide, which in spite of continued paddling, pushed them ever towards the Jap gun positions on the tip of Tarakan Island. By nightfall they were but two miles away and drifting ever closer to apparent disaster. Through the long night, they towed incessantly and at daybreak, to their great dismay, were but a few hundred yards from the Jap positions. They could see Jap soldiers on shore and were sure they would be taken prisoner. However, as the sun rose higher and higher, they concluded that they were being left out there as bait for the rescue ship which they knew would be coming soon. Their hopes were raised when two B-25's appeared on the horizon at 0700 and covered then until the rescue ship arrived at 0855, accompanied by two P-38's. The escape of the six survivors from the disabled and bomb loaded B-25 is an excellent example of the value of a thorough knowledge and training in ditching procedures for all aircraft crews. The rescued crew was most grateful to Lt Davis and his gallant crew for their timely rescue from capture by the "Sacred sons of Nippon." Damage sustained by the Catalina was as follows: One large hole in the starboard wing, one broken wing spar and several ribs, broken elevator cable, smashed blister, broken elevator trim tab, hole in the starboard wing tank, damaged vertical stabilizer and 110 other bullet and flak holes. Words are
inadequate to describe the valor and courage displayed by the gallant crew of
"Playmate
Three Seven"
on the morning of 8 April 1945, when they nearly sacrificed their
lives to effect the rescue of six fellow airmen from under the withering fire of Japanese
guns. As a result of their devotion to duty, another page is added to the glorious history
of the Rescue Service. To see more photos about this mission CLICK HERE. To read the Navigator's
description of what happened, click HERE. AIRCRAFT
TYPE: OA-10A* [Back][Next] |
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08 APRIL 1945
- First Lieutenant 
The rescue required three minutes, during which time
additional hits were scored by the Japs. Sergeant Roznovsky collapsed from loss of blood
and was carried into the crew quarters where Lieutenant Craig dressed his wounds and
administered morphine to him. The radio operator, Corporal Edward C. Baumgartner, remained
at his station throughout the encounter, transmitting urgent signals "in the
blind" to Palawan, despite the fact the Japs had jammed all C/W frequencies.