Operation: B-24 Escort, Rabaul, New Britain

Date: 25th December 1943 (Saturday)

Unit No: 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, 13th Air Force.

Type: P-38H

Serial: 42-66892

Code: Unknown

Base: Munda Airfield, Soloman Islands

Location: In the vicinity of Duke of York Islands, NE of Rabaul, New Britain

Pilot: 1st Lt. John Preston Cox O-794209 AAF Age 23. PoW */Murdered

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the morning of the 25th December 1943, 1st Lt. Cox took off from Munda Airfield in P-38H 42-66892 on a Squadron mission to escort B-24s on a bombing mission at Rabaul in New Britain.

The loss of P-38H 42-66892 and 1st Lt. Cox was described by two eye witnesses:

‘Capt. George W. Phillips, the Intelligence Officer at Munde Fighter Alert Hut, reported at 12:10 December 25, 1943 1st Lt. Cox was flying with Capt. Smith and Lt. Green. Both Pilots observed Lt. Cox was last seen going down after ‘Zeke’ [Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’] from about 10,000 ft. at which point Lt. Green pulled up to rejoin formation. No one saw Lt. Cox crash’.

Capt. Grant R. Smith O-727567, DFC (Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (11 Oak Leaf Clusters) and 1st Lt. William F. Green O-794322, Air Medal (11 Oak Leaf Clusters) survived the war.

1st Lt. Cox and his P-38H were last seen off the Duke of York Islands, NE of Rabaul in New Britain.

After the Japanese were defeated on New Britain it was found that there were only eight (8) surviving Allied PoWs at the Tunnel Hill PoW camp whereas it was expected to find a great many more. An investigation was instigated by the 18th Australian War Graves Unit to determine the fate of the PoWs that were thought to have been held on New Britain.

The investigation found that 1st Lt. Cox had baled out and was captured by the Japanese. He was initially held at the PoW camp at Rabaul. He was amongst the approximately fifty-four (54) PoWs who were moved from Rabaul to the Tanoura Mountain pass by truck. Surviving PoWs last saw 1st Lt. Cox on the 4th/5th March 1944 and he was in fair health.

It was claimed by the Japanese that 1st Lt. Cox was amongst thirty-one (31) PoWs who were killed in an Allied air-raid on the 4th/5th March 1944. However, after interrogating Japanese officers and soldiers stationed at Rabaul during the war the investigation came to the conclusion that this claim was not credible and that the PoWs had been executed.

An overview of the investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and those deemed to be responsible for the executions and atrocities is summarised in the report entitled “Talili Bay Massacre, New Britain”.

Burial details:

Above group burial marker including 1st Lt. John P. Cox (Courtesy of KcK - FindAGrave)

1st Lt. John Preston Cox. Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters (AM (2 OLC)). Ashes repatriated and laid to rest on the 21st March 1950 in a group burial at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri, Plot 78, Grave 930 to 934. Born on the 20th June 1920 in Washington, District of Columbia. Son of Thomas Earl and Margaret Mary Cox of Burnt Hills, Silverspring, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the murdered pilot and his relatives (Dec 2025)

Other sources listed below:

References(s):

Investigation File: NAA: 336/1/1345 Part 6

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt