6th Emergency Rescue Squadron (6th ERS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF)

Background
On January 1, 1945 the 6th Emergency Rescue Squadron (6th ERG) was activated at Keesler Field in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) under the command of Major Merril H. Carlton. In only thirty one days, the squadron completed training and began deploying to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). In the Philippines, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 5th Emergency Rescue Group (5th ERG).

Wartime History
On March 26, 1945 the squadron flew its first combat mission in the Philippines.

By early April 1945, The squadron's C flight and D flight operated from San Marcelino Airfield on Luzon in the Philippines. A flight and B flight operated from Mangaldan Airfield (Honey). On April 8, 1945 OA-10 Catalina piloted by 2nd Lt. Charles M. Allen arrives at Mangaldan Airfield (Honey) after a ferry flight from the United States. Five days later, OA-10 Catalina piloted by 2nd Lt. Paul E. Alemandi arrived.

By June 1945, the squadron moved to Clark Field.

On June 5, 1945 at 5:35pm OA-10 Catalina 44-34012 pilot 2nd Lt. Charles M. Allen was badly damaged while landing off Fuga Island to rescue the survivors of B-24J Liberator 44-41126. Three of the crew were rescued by PT Boats. Four of the crew went missing and were captured by the Japanese and executed June 14, 1945.

On July 11, 1945 the water echelon departs Floridablanca Airfield and moves to Subic Bay where they were embarked aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST) and transported to Ie Shima off Okinawa. On July 27, 1945 the squadron's medical dispensary at Floridablanca Airfield closed and flown to Ie Shima Airfield where it was reestablished. The squadron operated from Ie Shima Airfield until the end of the Pacific War.

In five months of wartime operations, the squadron performed 232 rescue operations. After the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945 most of the squadron began returning to the United States. By November 10, 1945 the squadron had downsized to be only one flight, one flight surgeon and one Corporal.

References
Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) 5th Emergency Rescue (IRISNUM: 00099752)
Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) 6th Emergency Rescue (IRISNUM: 00067322) pages 1-6, medical page 2
The Army Air Forces in World War II - VII Services Around The World Chapter 15 Air-Sea Rescue pages 499-500
"The 6th ERS was assigned to the Fifth Air Force, which put part of the squadron on Okinawa in July."
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) does not list Emergency Rescue Squadrons
Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional information