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 11 MARCH 1945 -
Captain Gerard F. Wientjes, pilot of
"Playmate Special", departed Morotai at 1330,
arriving in the vicinity of Majoe Island and sighting the crew at 1400. He landed in a
very rough sea with swells ten to twelve feet high and a 15 to 20 knot wind. He taxied to
the survivors and took them aboard at 1430. The seas were increasing in fury and water was
breaking over the ship and pouring into the hull. The crew was forced to bail furiously to
avoid being capsized. Captain Wientjes elected to taxi 20 miles to the lee of the island.
At 1850, just as darkness was descending, Captain Wientjes took off for home, flying
through very heavy weather and reaching Morotai at 2020. The survivors were transferred to
an ambulance and taken to the 155th Station Hospital. The survivors stated that they were
forced to ditch their Beaufighter because of engine failure.
Survivors:
F/O H.D. Redform, and P/S
J.H. Collision, 30th Squadron, RAAF
AIRCRAFT:
OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO:
44-33883
(CV-338)**
CALLSIGN:
"Playmate
Special"
CREW:
(Pilot) Capt Gerard F. Wientjes
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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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