Operations during the month of March were almost wholly over the Philippines. With men on temporary duty on four of the islands by the end of the month, most of the ships assigned to this organization were at Philippine bases. At Morotai, the bulk of the missions to the south, Ceram, and the Celebes were being flown by the Australian Detachment attached to this squadron.

      On the 17 March, while practicing water landings off the coast of Morotai, one of the new ships, BuNo 48393, a Navy PBY-5A assigned to this Squadron in February, sank when it struck and obstruction in the water. No one was lost during this operation. New crews were arriving from the United States and they were being checked to determine their ability so that they could be accurately placed in the flight crews.

      On the 20 March, two C-47's were assigned from Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, numbers #42-100629 and #42-24395. These ships were released by A.T.C. and needed considerable work and repair before they could be made airworthy again. On the 21 March all personnel assigned to the Squadron and on Temporary Duty with the Air-Sea Rescue Group were transferred to the Group effective 19 March 1945.

     In order to more effectively cover operations, two flights were placed on Temporary duty in the Philippines. "D" Flight (additional "A" Flight) was sent to Zamboanga (Photo) on the 27 March and "A" Flight went to Palawan on the 29 March. All available aircraft were dispatched with these flights and the Australians flew the missions from Morotai. On the 29 March Major Mathis was transferred to the Air-Sea Rescue Group and Captain Gerard F. Wientjes, 0-374107, Squadron Operations and Intelligence Officer, assumed command of the organization.   
 
A total of 70 missions, totaling 971:25 hours were flown during the month. Several rescues were accomplished and the mission reports¹ are attached.

01 March4 -	Rescued 1 crewmember from 35th Bomb Group (5th Air Force)
04 March1 -	Rescued 17 men from (Distinguished Service Cross awarded - Read Citation)
11 March1 -	Rescued 2 crew from 30th Squadron RAAF
25 March1 -	Rescued 1 member of the 75th Squadron RAAF
31 March1 -	Rescued 2 RAAF Beaufighter pilots from NE coast of Ambonia

Various members of the organization received awards during the month. Copies of the orders authorizing these were attached to the history as supporting documents.

GENERAL ORDERS No. 3291,  HQ, Far East Air Forces,  (05 March 1945)

GENERAL ORDERS No. 371,  HQ, Far East Air Forces,  (12 March 1945)

GENERAL ORDERS No. 4121,  HQ, Far East Air Forces,  (20 March 1945)

GENERAL ORDERS No. 4531,  HQ, Far East Air Forces,  (28 March 1945)

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This report was copied verbatim from the "Official" Squadron History that was obtained via microfilm from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. The text that is in brackets [ ], I added to clarify the information. It is not Official. Some documents are original and some are reproductions.

1  Official Squadron rosters, orders, or documents obtained from the microfilm - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
2  APO numbers from "Numbered Army & Air Force Post Office Locations" - 7th Edition - by Russ Carter.
3  From Individual Aircraft Record Cards - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
4  Additional mission reports came from a narrative put together after the war by members of the Squadron.