Corsair pilot C.R.Burns rescued after ditching near Rabaul

[chinapilot]

While doing some research on another subject I came across the VPB-44 war diary.

They operated PBY-5As and on 14 Match 1945, Lt.G.S. Bogart departed Green Island to bomb Buka when he was diverted to look for Flt/Sgt Burns.
He was located about 12 miles southeast of Cape Gazelle, picked up and returned to Green Island.

Like most of these reports, a day that would have been challenging for all concerned is written up as though Burns had been waiting at a bus stop for the driver Bogart to pick him up.

[McFly]

Sept 5, 2020 11:58:16 GMT 12 aircraftclocks said:

Day Ending 0800 15 March 1945. (Link)

NEW BRITAIN
(12 sorties-3 tons)

Flak Hits Corsair, Starts Fire, Pilot Splashes, Dumbo Rescued:

One of the Corsairs patrolling Rabaul fields yesterday got a hit in the radio compartment from A/A near Mt. Varzin (west of Tobera). Fire broke out, but F/Sgt. Burns successfully ditched his plane eight miles east of Cape Gazelle at 0810 and a Dumbo picked him up at 1000.

NZ5403 F4U-1D Shipped from USA on 19 July 1944 aboard "USS Kwajalein".
Assembled in Espiritu Santo and BOC Unit 60 on 05 August 1944.
At Espiritu Santo August 1944.
To No.22 Squadron on 18 August 1944.
To No.23 Squadron on 09 October 1944.
To No.20 Squadron on 26 October 1944.
To No.14 Squadron by January 1945.
To No.17 Squadron by February 1945.
Ditched in sea near Cape Gazelle after engine caught fire during operations on 14 March 1945. Flight Sergeant A. Burns rescued uninjured.
Aircraft written off books at Green Island.

[camtech]

NZ5403 of 17 Squadron. Engine fire and aircraft ditched.

[chinapilot]

I suspected that aircraftclocks would have covered this.

Good to put a unit and name to the rescuers though.

Fold3 is excellent for finding individual unit histories.