Operation: B-25 Cover to Rabaul, New Britain

Date: 30th January 1944 (Sunday)

Unit No: Marine Fighting Squadron 215 (VMF-215), Marine Air Group 24 (MAG-24), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), USMC

Type: F4U-1A Corsair

Serial: #17722

Code: Unknown

Base: Torokina Airfield, Bougainville

Location: New Ireland

Pilot: 2nd Lt. John Joseph Fitzgerald O-26468 USMCR Age 22. PoW * /Died

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 30th January 1944 at 09:00 hrs five (5) divisions (sections) of four (4) Corsairs took off from Torokina Airfield, Bougainville on a fighter cover mission for B-25s bombing Rabaul, New Britain.

The Corsairs rendezvoused with the bombers at 10:00hrs to the north of Duke of York Island and were over the target at 11:15 hrs. The target run was from the north to the south. No enemy fighters were encountered but there was slight Anti-Aircraft (AA) fire. 2nd Lt. Fitzgerald failed to return with the other aircraft which all landed by 12:40 hrs.

It was later established that 2nd Lt. Fitzgerald had been shot down over New Ireland. He was captured by the Japanese and taken to Rabaul and held at the 6th Field Kempeitai Headquarters (HQ) PoW Compound. On the 2nd March 1944 after the 6th Field Kempeitai HQ was destroyed in a bombing raid he was amongst the approximately fifty-three (53) PoWs who were transferred to another camp known as the Tunnel Hill Cave PoW Camp in a mountain pass named Tanoura on Tunnel Hill road, which was about 2½ miles from Rabaul City and between Rabaul and Pilapila.

In his affidavit 1st Lt. Jose L. Holguin reported that in his opinion because of gross negligence by the Japanese in not providing adequate food and medical attention 2nd Lt. Fitzgerald died on the 27th August 1944 from Beriberi.

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

On the 29th December 1945, the 18th Australian War Graves Unit recovered the remains of twelve (12) Allied personnel which were found in graves located approximately 50 yards south of the Tunnel Hill ‘Death Valley’ PoW Camp.

The names of 2nd Lt. Fitzgerald and the other eleven (11) were translated from the crosses over the graves, checked against the Japanese Military Police records and a list provided by Capt. John J. Murphy:

1st Lt. Hugh L. Cornelius O-14783 USMCR;
1st Lt. Thomas B. Fessenger O-663706 USAAF;
1st Lt. Billy D. Hanks O-737083 USAAF;
1st Lt. Charles C. Lanphier O-11933 USMCR;
1st Lt. Robert W. Sherman O-24763 USMCR;
Lt (Jg) James A. Warren O-156661 USNR;
S/Sgt. John J. Gillis Jr. 20610868 USAAF;
Sqn Ldr. John E. Todd 271707 RAAF;
Flt Sgt. Harry B. Dawkins 280791 RAAF;
Fg Off. Leslie A. McLelland-Symonds 401314 RNZAF;
WO. Norman N. Vickers 413232 RNZAF.

His remains were recovered and initially interred at the American War Cemetery Finschaffen No.5 in New Guinea.

Burial details:

2nd Lt. John Joseph Fitzgerald. Repatriated and laid to rest at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, Westchester County, New York. Born on the 19th June 1921 in Maspeth, Queens, New York. Son of John and Helena T. (née O’Conner) Fitzgerald of New York City, New York, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their relatives (May 2026).

Other sources listed below:

Reference(s):

1. NAA: 336/1/1955 Part 7

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