MISSION REPORT: 22 July 1945

MISSION REPORT - RESCUES - 01

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22 JULY 1945
On the morning of 22 July 1945, Second Lieutenant Warner A. Britton, pilot of "Playmate Seven Two", effected the rescue of Second Lieutenant George M. Handa from the open sea about ten miles off Tigbucay Point, 75 miles North East of Zamboanga. Lieutenant Handa, a member of 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, stated that while flying his P-38 close to the water, one prop struck a wave forcing him to ditch immediately. Fortunately, he escaped unhurt, inflated his dinghy and awaited the arrival of the rescue ship within an hour.

RESCUED P-38 PILOT: 70th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group - 2nd Lt. George M. Handa

AIRCRAFT: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33943 (CV-430)**
CALLSIGN: "Playmate 72"
CREW: (Pilot) 1st Lt. Warner A. Britton, (Co-Pilot) 2nd Lt. Joyce R. Aly, (Navigator) Flt Officer Earl G. Fugett, (Engineer) Sergeant Daniel Sperber

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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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