17 APRIL 1945
On 17 April 1945 our airplane C-47B, 43-47995 took off from Biak at 2030, destination Morotai. Due to malfunction of the radio and adverse weather conditions the pilot attempted to return to Biak. Lack of fuel necessitated ditching, time: 0430, 18 April 1945; location: 0°37'N 137°30'E, 133 miles northeast of Biak. All personnel boarded life rafts, and were picked up at 2130, 18 April 1945 by hospital ship Maetsuycker, with no casualties. The ship proceeded on its course to Manila, arriving there 24 April 1945. All men were returned to Morotai via our own aircraft on 28 April 1945. Read the story as told by Second Lieutenant Warner Britton.

(Read 13th Emergency Rescue Group report)

Personnel involved were: 1st Lt. Robert L. Rohlfing, 2nd Lt. James E. Beavers, 2nd Lt. Warner A. Britton, 2nd Lt. Arthur G. Carothers, Jr., 2nd Lt.  William J. LaBonte, 2nd Lt.  Donald F. McKeon, 2nd Lt. Henry M. Wollum, 2nd Lt. Levern M. Mellstrom, Sergeant Onis W. Brim, Sergeant Maurice Greenfogel, Corporal Ernest Ludwig, Corporal Joseph M. Quinn