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Archive Report: US Forces
1941 - 1945

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via Helpdesk
US Navy
20.11.1943 VPB-52 "Black Cats" PBY-5A Catalina #8428, Lt. John M. ‘Buck’ Arbuckle

Operation: Antishipping search over the Bismarck Sea

Date: 20th November 1943 (Saturday)

Unit No: VPB-52 "Black Cats", USN

Type: PBY-5A Catalina

Serial: 8428

Code: None assigned

Base: Namoai Bay, New Guinea

Location: SW coast of New Ireland

Patrol Plane Commander: Lt. John Marshall ‘Buck’ Arbuckle 85153 USN Age 24. PoW *

Patrol Plane 1st Pilot: Lt (jg). Raymond Barrel Thompson 129779 USNR Age 25. PoW/Killed

Patrol Plane 2nd Pilot: ENS. Philip Kirk Phillis O-251356 USNR Age 25. Murdered (1)

Patrol Plane 2nd Pilot: ENS: John Francis Ryder 157076 USNR Age 22. PoW/MiA

Bombardier: AOM1c. James Joseph Kirk 2439049 USN Age 20. PoW/Killed

1st Mech: AMM1c. Richard Blanchard 2016689 USN Age 20. MiA

2nd Mech: AMM2c. Arthur Rodger Bradbury Jr. 6141636 USNR Age 20. MiA

1st Radio Mech: ARM1c. William Samuel Hamilton 4050885 USNR Age 24. PoW/Killed

2nd Radio Mech: ARM2c. George Edwin Furman 5522326 USNR Age 22. MiA

Gunner: AMM2c. Carl Louis Morgan 2583530 USN Age 20. PoW/MiA

Gunner: AMM2c. Paul Munroe Mannon 6603207 USN Age 22. Murdered (1)

* Tokyo PoW Camp (Shinjuku) Tokyo Bay


US Navy & Aviator ranks:

Lt (jg) = Lieutenant (Junior Grade);
ENS = Ensign;
AMM1c = Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class;
AMM2c = Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class;
AOM1c = Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class;
ARM1c = Aviation Radioman 1st Class;
ARM2c = Aviation Radioman 2nd Class.

REASON FOR LOSS:

PBY-5A Catalina #8428 took-off from Namoai Bay, New Guinea on the 20th November 1943 on a night antishipping search over the Bismarck Sea.

Namoai Bay was the anchorage for VPB-52 which was based aboard the USS Half Moon (AVP-26).

Above USS Half Moon (AVP-26) off Houghton, Washington on her Commissioning day, 15th June 1943 (US Navy official photograph).

The USS Half Moon moved to Namoai Bay on Sariba Island in New Guinea, arriving on the 6th October 1943. At Namoai Bay the USS Half Moon began her tending duties. Her embarked squadron, flying PBY Catalina flying boats, conducted night antishipping strikes in the New Guinea area. With the support of seaplane tenders like the USS Half Moon these missions, called ‘Black Cat’ strikes, achieved important results in the destruction of Japanese transports.

At about 23:00 hrs they found a small coastal vessel and decided to attack it with strafing runs. There was no return gunfire and the enemy ship seemed an easy victim. However, they were hit by Anti-Aircraft fire from an unseen escort. The fire hit the parachute flares piled up in the after station and within seconds the fuselage all the way forward to the Navigator's table was a flaming inferno.

Lt. Arbuckle knew that there were fragmentation bombs aboard which could tear the aircraft apart. With the entire crew crowded forward to escape the searing heat, he set the Catalina down on the water as quickly as he could.

The life rafts had already been consumed by the fire and all hands simply jumped into the water. The bombs were still slung under the wings and he was afraid they would detonate when the fire reached them. He ordered everyone to swim quickly away from the burning aircraft but to keep together. When they had reached what seemed to be a safe distance away from burning aircraft, he began to concern himself with the enemy ship or ships they had engaged. At this point all eleven (11) crewmen were uninjured, all had life vests and were in no danger of drowning.

It was estimated that they were 12 to 15 miles from the New Ireland coast. Lt. Arbuckle speculated that the Japanese were chased away by the activities of another Catalina which was operating in that general area. They struck out for New Ireland although it was slow going and by morning they were still a considerable distance from shore. With daylight a school of large fish with high dorsal fins were swimming about, in ever-closing patterns. As they moved in and began brushing against the men in the water, it was observed with relief that the antagonists were only porpoises.

At this point, several members of the crew wanted to stop, float, and rest for an indefinite period whilst others insisted on carrying on. They decided at this point to split up with Lt. Arbuckle, Lt (jg). Thompson and one (1) other crewman heading off as a group. They reached the beach at about 11:00 hrs that morning and when their strength began to return they staggered into the cover of the jungle.

1st. Arbuckle decided that their best course of action was to try to make contact with the Australian coast-watchers, who operated in the hills and kept a few steps ahead of the Japanese patrols. They struck off through the undergrowth, avoiding paths which might be used by the Japanese. After a night in the jungle the next morning they tried eating some unrecognizable fruit but found it bitter and unpalatable. When they had enough of working their way through the jungle and elected to try a little-used path.

By a stroke of luck they came upon an elderly native and found they could converse with him in Pidgin English. He knew of the Australians and where they could be found so they decided to follow him to what they believed to be safety. Some 15 to 20 minutes they rounded a bend in the trail and ran into a dozen or more Japanese soldiers with rifles who surrounded them and were captured. They were taken to the Rabaul PoW camp where they were reunited with five (5) others from the crew.

AMM2c. Bradbury, AMM1c. Blanchard and ARM2c. Furman were last seen swimming with life jackets inflated some 3 or 4 miles of then SW coast on New Ireland island about 50 miles up St. George’s channel from Rabaul, New Britain.

Lt (jg). Thompson, ENS. Phillis, ENS. Ryder, AOM1c. Kirk, ARM1c. Hamilton, AMM2c. Morgan and AMM2c. Mannon along with ten (10) other Allied PoWs were taken out of the camp on the 17th January 1944 ostensively to be being taken to Java by ship.

This was proven to be untrue as the remains of ENS. Phillis and AMM2c. Mannon were recovered from the Japanese Naval execution ground near the camp. Both had been executed (See Serial 1);

The date of Lt (jg). Thompson death is unknown, however, it was reported that his remains were recovered in December 1950 from an unmarked grave at Rabaul and were repatriated;

ENS. Ryder was officially declared dead on the 11th January 1946 and he remains missing;

The date of death for AOM1c Kirk was reported to be on the 17th January 1944. It is assumed that his remains were recovered from Rabaul and identified;

The date of death for ARM1c. Hamilton was reported to be on the 17th January 1944. It is assumed that his remains were recovered from Rabaul and identified and repatriated;

AMM2c. Morgan was officially declared dead on the 11th January 1946 and he remains missing.

(1) After the Japanese surrender an RAAF search party uncovered thirty (30) bodies from a Japanese Naval execution ground near the Matupi volcano, Rabaul. The majority of the bodies appear to have been executed by decapitation and in some cases the victims had been bound wire with before being killed.

Four (4) of the Australians and three (3) Americans had been known to be in the hands of the Japanese Navy in Rabaul and had allegedly been sent away by ship. The other nine (9) identified RAAF airmen were not previously known to have been captured were from 20 Sqn PBY-5 Catalina A24-18.

The recovered remains of two (2) RAAF airmen were never identified as were the remains of nine (9) American servicemen and two (2) unidentified whose Nationality were unknown.

The four (4) Australian airmen were:

Sgt. David Stuart Brown 401489 RAAF who was the Pilot from 75 Sqn Kittyhawk A29-38 lost on operations on the 11th April 1942;

Fg Off. Ross Bryan O’Loghlen 400662 RAAF who was the Observer from 8 Sqn Beaufort A9-262 which was missing on operations over New Ireland/New Britain on the 4th December 1943;

Flt Lt. Geoffrey Hubert Vincent 400866 RAAF and WO. John Pretty Bailey 4240 RAAF who were respectively the Pilot and Observer from 8 Sqn Beaufort A9-244 which was reported missing on operations on the 21st October 1943.

The three Americans were from the USAAF, USNR and USN:

1st Lt. Phillip L. Bek, Silver Star (SS), DFC O-724280 USAAF who was the Navigator aboard B-17F 41-24454 lost on the 13th June 1942;

ENS. Philip Kirk Phillis O-251356 and AMM2c. Paul Munroe Mannon 6603207 from this aircraft.

The investigation team were of the opinion, in light of the discoveries that were made, that the total number of prisoners murdered at Matupi over the whole period must have been at least one hundred (100) and likely to be many more.

With one exception none of the Japanese directly responsible for the murders of Allied airmen in this area were brought to trial. These known criminals can be divided into various classes:

Died or killed in action before end of war;

Committed suicide to avoid arrest, e.g. Rear Admiral (Kaigun-shōshō) FUJITA who was responsible for the murder of Flt Lt. William Ellis Newton VC, 250748 RAAF and Rear Admiral (Kaigun-shōshō) KIYAMA who was responsible for some of the murders at RABAUL;

Because of the cunning with which the Japanese had covered their tracks sufficient evidence had not been obtained when investigations closed;

Criminals that were still alive and at large against whom sufficient evidence of guilt had been obtained.

Burial details:

Notification of the discovery of Lt (jg). Raymond Barrel Thompson (Courtesy of the Kitsap Sun, dated 15th December 1950.

Lt (jg). Raymond Barrel Thompson. Repatriated and laid to rest at the Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home, MN101, Lily Corridor, Lot 5 , Niche 86, Lake Forest Park, Washington. Born on the 4th June 1919 in Seattle, King County, Washington. Son of George Harold and Mary (née Banal) Thompson of Seattle, King County, Washington, USA.

Above Grave marker for ENS. Phillip Kirk Phillis (Courtesy of Anne Cady - FindAGrave)

ENS. Phillip Kirk Phillis. Repatriated and buried in the Arlington National Cemetery Section 8, Grave 5270-A, Arlington, Virginia. Born on the 21st May 1918 in Paintsville, Kentucky. Son of Arthur Waring and Rusha (née Kirk) Phillis of Ormund Beach, Florida, USA.

ENS: John Francis Ryder. Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Tablets of the Missing. Son of Frank S. and Marjorie E. Ryder of Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA.

Above marker for AOM1c. James Joseph Kirk (Courtesy of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific)

AOM1c. James Joseph Kirk. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Plot Q, Grave 1295, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Born on the 15th January 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Son of John J. (deceased in January 1936) and Mary Ellen (née Kane) Kirk of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Above Tablet for AMM1c. Richard Blanchard (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))

AMM1c. Richard Blanchard. Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Tablets of the Missing. Born on the 15th June1921 in East Province, Rhode Island. Son of Frank E. and Luella V. (née Sherman) Blanchard of East Province, Rhode Island, USA.

Above Tablet for AMM2c. Arthur Rodger Bradbury Jr. (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))

AMM2c. Arthur Rodger Bradbury Jr. Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Tablets of the Missing. Born on the 27th July 1923 in Cuyahoga, Ohio. Son of Arthur Rodger (deceased in Aug 1928) and Mae Effie (née Miller) Bradbury of Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA.

Above marker for ARM1c. William Samuel Hamilton Jr. (Courtesy of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific)

ARM1c. William Samuel Hamilton Jr. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Plot Q, Grave 1297, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Born on the 1st March 1919 in Conneautville, Pennsylvania. Son of William S. and Emma Estelle Hamilton of Conneautville, Pennsylvania. USA.

Above Tablet for ARM2c. George Edwin Furman (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))

ARM2c. George Edwin Furman. Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Tablets of the Missing. Born on the 15th December 1920 Charleston, South Carolina. Son of Jones William (deceased in Oct 1927) and Agnes Catherine (née Sansbury) Furman of Florence, South Carolina, USA.

Above Tablet for AMM2c. Carl Louis Morgan. (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))

AMM2c. Carl Louis Morgan. Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Tablets of the Missing. Born on the 18th February 1924 in Annapolis, Maryland. Son of Raymond Charles and Florence Adaline (née Fisher) Morgan of Annapolis, Maryland, USA.

AMM2c. Paul Munroe Mannon. Repatriated and laid to rest at the Golden Gate, Plot Q, Grave 28, National Cemetery. Born on the 22nd December 1913 in Fernwood, Idaho. Son of James Monroe and Dora Elizabeth (née Jakobi) Mannon of Billings, Montana. Husband to Lois Jacqueline (née Wilson) Mannon of Oakland, California, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families (Dec 2024).

Other sources listed below:

RS 03.12.2024 - Initial upload

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Acknowledgments: Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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