MISSION REPORT - RESCUES - 05
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27 FEBRUARY 1945
First Lieutenant William F. Weisbruch, pilot of "Playmate Four Two", departed Morotai at 0628, arriving in the vicinity of San Rogue on the Northern coast of Mindanao at 0945. He remained in the area until 1040 when he received a radio message that a B-25 had just landed in the water just inside the reef close to Zamboanga. Lieutenant Weisbruch proceeded to the designated point, arriving at 1055. He circled the reef in order to find a passage through the reefs. He landed well offshore and taxied through the reef to the survivors, taking them aboard at 1120. During the rescue, a Jap barge was circling just outside of gun range and when Lieutenant Weisbruch cut the motors to take the survivors aboard, the Jap barge headed toward them. However, a B-25 circling overhead drove them off. Lieutenant Weisbruch lifted his ship from the water at 1130 and proceeded to Morotai arriving at 1620. The crew was transferred to waiting ambulances of the 155th Station Hospital.

The radio operator went down with the ship. The bombardier sustained a fractured ankle, while the others suffered only minor bruises and shock. The pilot stated that while on a low level bombing and strafing run over the target, their ship was struck by automatic weapons fire, knocking off one wheel and setting the ship on fire, making immediate ditching close to the shore imperative.

The survivors, members of the 100th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group were as follows:
2nd Lt. W.C. Dunbar, 2nd Lt. S.C. Deen, 2nd Lt. F. Bernardo, S/Sgt V.C. Webster, S/Sgt C.I. Digidvanna

AIRCRAFT TYPE: OA-10A*     
USAAF SERNO: 44-33???
CALLSIGN:
 
"Playmate 42"
 
CREW:
(Pilot) 1st Lt. William F. Weisbruch

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The narrative of these rescues was compiled and published in April 1946 from logbooks of pilots, notes, letters, and other
information by secretary Marina G. de Guzman in Pampanga, Philippines.

  * Aircraft produced at Canadian Vickers Ldt, Cartierville, Quebec, Canada
** Canadian Vickers contract number that was unique to each aircraft produced by at the Cartierville, Quebec plan
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