25 SEPTEMBER 1944
First Lieutenant Jarvis T. Yagla, pilot of "Daylight Two Eight", while covering a strike on Kendari in the Celebes, received a message from Rainbow (1210) stating that a stricken P-38, 15 miles Northeast of Manoei Island was on one engine and was heading for Padea Besar Island. Lieutenant Yagla spotted 3 P-38's circling the damaged plane and watched as he made several passes looking for the best spot to ditch. The P-38 made a perfect belly landing on the rim of the shore line on the South side of Padea Besar Island. Lieutenant Yagla continued to circle until pattern for water landing was established. It is to be noted that the sea was rough. Despite the fact the landing was made in the lee of the island, five foot waves were experienced. The rescue ship was taxied within 50 yards of the downed P-38 pilot, dropped the landing gear, and paralleled the shoreline. The ditched pilot had no difficulty reaching the rescue ship (1250). The rescued pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Leland McGowan, 12th Fighter Squadron, stated that his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire disabling one engine and chose to ditch. Once out of his damaged fighter, his fellow P-38 pilots riddled his plane with fire, rendering it unusable and setting it ablaze. Lieutenant Yagla was diverted from Middleburg Island  to Noemfoor due to bad weather.

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

1125:	Daylight 28 contacted Rainbow 1 and gave our ETA for RZ point as 1145.
1142:	Rainbow 28 contacted again. Both proceeded to RZ.
1150:	Daylight 28 circled Manoei Island.
1154:	Rainbow 1 called again saying he had us in sight. Altered course to fly to our orbiting point.
1210:	Daylight 28 received message from Rainbow stating that a P-38 15 miles north east of Manoei Island ws on one engine and was heading for Padea Besar I.
1220:	Daylight 28 spotted three P-38s circling the damaged craft. We immediately flew to this area. The damaged plane made several tpasses at Padea Besar I. determining best spot to ditch.
1238:	P-38 made a perfect belly landing just on the rim of the shore line on the south side of Padea Besar Island. 03°32'S, 123°06E. Daylight 28 continued circling until pattern for water landing was established. It is to be noted that the sea was rough. Despite the fact the landing was made in the lee of the Island, five foot waves were experienced.
1243:	Daylight 28 landed and preceeded to pick up ditched flyer. Lt Yagla taxied within 50 yards of the shore, dropped the landing gear and and paralleled the beach line. The rescued pilot had no difficulty reaching the ship. Time 1250.
1253:	Daylight 28 took off. Rough sea didn't help any. Name of P-38 pilot rescued: Leland McGowan, Lt Col 022542, 12th Fighter Sq., 12th Fighter Gp.
1300:	Lt Col McGowan requested P-38s to straff his beached plane. Daylight 28 circled position until they arrived.
1315:	After two P-38s had riddled and set the plane afire, Daylight 28 returned to base.
1800:	Encountered weather at Middleburg proceeded to Noemfoor Island.
2015:	Landed at Noemfoor.

AIRCRAFT TYPE: OA-10A*
USAAF SERNO: 44-33882  (CV-336)**
CALLSIGN:  "Daylight 28"
CREW:  (Pilot) 1st Lt. Jarvis T. Yagla, (Co-Pilot) 2nd Lt. Richard K. Knowlton, (Navigator) 2nd Lt. Peter V. Naylor, T/Sgt Robert S. Jones, (Radio) Pfc Theodore Fialkowski, (Radio) Sgt James Standridge; (Observer) Pfc Ernest Ludwig (Photo of Crew)