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 10 SEPTEMBER 1944 - First Lieutenant
Henry C. "Harry"
Remington, pilot of "Daylight One Nine", while covering a B-24 strike on
Palau Island, received a message at 1245, from a B-24 pilot that he had sighted
a life raft approximately 125
miles due South of Lieutenant Remington's position. Lieutenant Remington proceeded to the
designated coordinate but could not find the B-24, however, he was in radio contact with
him and advised him to turn on his IFF. Lieutenant Remington's radar operator picked up
the B-24 and led them directly to the survivors, 75 miles Southeast of his position.
Lieutenant Remington landed on a calm sea at 1330, taxied up to the survivors and prepared
to take them aboard. Four men were severely injured in the crash. The engineer sustained a
complete fracture of the right ankle, three fractured ribs, cuts and bruises about
the head and face with a severe laceration of his right ear. The ambulant survivors were
taken aboard the rescue plane first. The Surgical Technician then administered first aid
to the engineer, dressed his wound and splinted his leg in the raft. The man weighed 220
pounds and was hoisted into the plane with a great deal of difficulty. When all were
aboard the life raft was deflated and salvaged. The rescue crew were given hot food and
drinks and the injured morphine to relieve pain. The pilot of the doomed B-24 stated that
while on his fourth bombing raid over Palau Island, his ship was struck by anti-aircraft
fire just after he had released his bombs on the objective. The electrical system was
destroyed putting all of his radio equipment and two engines out of commission. He was
flying right wing position of the rear flight, fell rapidly behind his formation and was
unable to attract their attention. He gradually lost altitude and was forced to land his
disabled craft in the open sea, 125 miles South of Palau Island. The craft submerged ten
minutes after the landing. Six members of the crew were apparently killed in the crash and
went down with the ship. The survivors were able to salvage sufficient water, food and
equipment to sustain them for several days and when sighted were under full sail for
Biak Island, 300 miles to the South. The pilot stated that on 2
September they sighted a PBY two miles to the West, but as it proceeded on its Southward
course, their hopes of early rescue were dimmed. However, when Daylight 19 arrived they
were supremely grateful and solemnly said, "God bless the PBY".
Read Engineer Don Brown's
journal entry on that day!
RESCUED MEN:
4 members of B-24 crew
AIRCRAFT
TYPE:
OA-10A
USAAF SERNO:
44-33???
CALLSIGN:
"Daylight
One Nine"
CREW:
(Pilot) 1Lt Henry C. Remington
(Engineer)
T/Sgt Donald W. Brown
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