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 14 OCTOBER 1944 - First Lieutenant Leroy R. "Roy" Nelson, pilot of
"Daylight One Two", departed
Middleburg Island at 0515 to cover the strike on
Twiflit in Paloe
Bay, Western coast of the
Celebes. He
arrived at the rendezvous point at 1140 with fighter cover of P-38's. At 1205, he saw a
P-47 hit the water ten miles West of his position. He immediately proceeded to that area,
located the survivor in a raft, circled and landed downwind, recovering the pilot,
Lieutenant R.J. Johnson, 41st Fighter Squadron, 35th Group. Lieutenant Johnson sustained bruises
of his right leg and arm when he crashed in the sea. Before they could take off another
P-47 hit the water near the rescue ship. Lieutenant Nelson taxied to the survivor and took him
aboard. The second pilot, Lieutenant W. H. Strand, 40th Fighter Squadron, 35th Group, was
uninjured. The strike being over by this time, Lieutenant Nelson set course for home base,
arriving at 1730. All three fighter planes that crashed on this mission were shot down by
enemy fire over the target. None of the pilots were wounded and all were recovered.
Rescued P-47 pilots: Lieutenant R. J. Johnson, 41st Fighter Squadron, 35th Group -
Lieutenant W. H. Strand, 40th Fighter Squadron, 35th Group
AIRCRAFT: OA-10A 44-33??? CALLSIGN: "DAYLIGHT
12" CREW: (P) 1Lt Leroy R. Nelson
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