MISSION REPORT: 30 April 1945

MISSION REPORT - RESCUES - 01
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30 APRIL 1945
First Lieutenant James F. "Scotty" Scott, pilot of "Playmate Three Six", departed Puerto Princessa (Palawan) at 0605, heading for the eastern coast of Borneo in the vicinity of Timbanloangoan. He arrived at his orbit point at 1130 and stood by until 1200 when he received a call reporting two fighter pilots in trouble, both having lost an engine. He proceeded 50 miles North where he sighted a pilot down in the water at 0°05'N, 117°34'E. Lieutenant Scott landed and effected the rescue of Captain Ellis L. Bentley, 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group. The survivor stated that having had one engine shot out while on a strafing mission, he was forced to bail out of his ship. He was picked up 30 minutes late, none the worse for his experience. He was returned to Palawan and hospitalized for rest and recuperation. Presumably the other pilot reached his base.

MISSION: Cover strikes on Borneo - timeline documented by the crew and submitted with Squadron History:

0603:	Take-off.
1035:	Rz with Ladybug.
1130:	Arrived orbit point.
1200:	Reveived message from Define Blue, they have 2 planes on 1 eng.
1205:	Left orbit point.
1225:	Fighter cover left us for home.
1245:	Define Blue called from 50 mi. N of orbit, ready to bail out.
1312:	Landed at 0°05'N, 117°34'E, picked up: Capt Ellis L. Bentley Jr.; 70th Fighter Sq, 18th Flghter Grp, in good condition.
1920:	Landed, Palawan

	Download the actual mission report taken from the microfilm

RESCUED P-38 PILOT: 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group - Captain Ellis L. Bentley

AIRCRAFT: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33940 (CV-451)**
CALLSIGN: "PLAYMATE 36"
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt James F. Scott; (Co-pilot) 1st Lt. Donald F. McKeon; (Co-pilot) 2nd Lt. Lavern M. Mellstrom; (Navigator) 2nd Lt. James E. Beavers; (Flight Surgeon) Captain Samuel Jones; (Engineer) Sergeant Cope; (Radio) Corporal Palmer; (Radar) Tech Sergeant R Grindle; Staff Sergeant V. Gibson

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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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