The month of June continued to see additional improvements in living conditions. Although the rainy season [photo-1][photo-2][photo-3] had set in again, drainage ditches had been improved and additional ones dug so that the area wasn't quite the quagmire it was during the rainy season experience in February and March.

       The morale of the troops was greatly enhanced by the resumption of  "Fat Cat" trips to Australia. By authorization from Headquarters, Thirteenth Air Force, the 13th Emergency Rescue Group is permitted to make weekly trips to Australia to purchase fresh meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits and milk. One of the most appreciated items is the fresh milk - something that some of us have not tasted since leaving the States fourteen months ago. With a breakfast menu of fried eggs, toast, milk, and oranges or pears there is no trouble in getting the men up in the morning for chow. For the noon and night meal, fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce make a palatable salad especially when topped off with a dash of mayonnaise and augmented by the piece de resistance of roast beef or steak.

       Interests in the enlisted men's club seems to have lagged and construction has come to a standstill. Whether the original plans were too elaborate or the lack of desire and interest on the part of the men is the cause of this has not been determined but steps are being taken to revive interest so the club can be completed. The Officer's Club is slowly whipping into shape and while it is quite a way from being entirely completed, work is going steadily on.

       The excitement created by the advent of Individual Service Credit Scores in May has waned quite a bit. It is still the daily topic of conversation and the source of many a nightly "bull session", but the general attitude is one of watching and waiting to see what is going to happen. This is probably due to the fact that so far the Squadron has not sent any men home under the plan and thus without concrete evidence, it has lost some of its paramount importance. Combat crews continue to be returned to the States. Under the provisions of the WD Circular 372 and during the month six officers and three enlisted men returned to the States. Reports are coming back that many of these are already civilians again.

       During June two additional B-17 combat crews joined the organization, bringing us closer and closer to authorized T/O & E strength. Two B-17 "Flying Dutchmen" aircraft were assigned to the squadron, but as yet no ground maintenance crews for the aircraft have arrived. It is rumored that they are also in the theatre and will be assigned shortly. However, until they do make their appearance it means that the present ground crews for the PBY's must also maintain the B-17's which makes for more work and longer hours. In addition to the B-17's,  five PBY Catalina's and one P-38 were assigned. The "Cats" are replacements for the original planes flown over from the States which are either worn out or have met with disaster. The P-38 is assigned to the Commanding Officer of the 13th Emergency Rescue Group but maintained and serviced by personnel of this squadron as the Group was not authorized any mechanics.

The number of rescues by the Squadron continued to mount daily. At the end of the month we had reached a total of 525  men, 60 of whom were picked up in June.

07 June -	Evacuated 1 wounded soldier from Balaboc Island to Puerta Princessa, Palawan.
08 June -	Rescued 2 P-38 pilots from the 41st Fighter Squadron.
11 June -	Rescued 2 crewmembers from a downed L-5 Sentinel assigned to the 25th Liason Squadron.
18 June -	Rescued 12 men from a PB4-Y that was forced to crash-land due to low fuel.
19 June -	Picked up 4 crewmembers from a PNJ who were forced to ditch due to losing an engine.
20 June -	Rescued 7 men of VNB-611 which was forced to crash land when on a low level skip bombing run, a bomb damaged one engine and the plane quickly caught fire.
22 June -	Rescued 4 men from a ditched B-24. Squadron OA-10A 44-33885 was lost when attempting to take off, hit a swell, broke apart and catapulted into the sea. 2 crew from the B-24 that had been picked up were lost along with our Navigator 2nd Lt. William E. Thornton.
25 June -	Rescued 6 crewmembers from the 71st Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Group when their B-25 was damaged while on a bomb run and ditched in the sea near a U.S. destroyer.
25 June -	The 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron was chosen to fly General Sir Thomas Blamey and party from Morotai to Brunei Bay, Borneo.

Members of the Squadron were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, (and OLC) in the following orders:

GENERAL ORDERS No. 9771,  HQ, Far East Air Forces (01 June 1945)
GENERAL ORDERS No. 12431, HQ, Far East Air Forces, (22 June 1945)
GENERAL ORDERS No. 12771, HQ, Far East Air Forces, (27 June 1945)

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