Operation: Patrol in Finschhafen Area, Papua New Guinea

Date: 24th September 1943 (Friday)

Unit No: 433rd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, 5th Fighter Command, 5th Air Force

Type: P-38H

Serial: 42-66580

Code: Unknown

Base: North Borio Airdrome, New Guinea

Location: Some 10 miles east of Finschhafen

Pilot: FO. Kenneth D. ‘Ken’ Kirschner T-001052 USAAF Age 23. PoW */ Murdered

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above: FO. Kenneth D. ‘Ken’ Kirschner clipped from group photograph of “B” Fight (Courtesy of Class Book for Advanced Pilots, Class 43-D, Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 24th September 1943 at 11:30 hrs Flight Officer (FO) Kirschner took off along with his squadron from North Borio Airdrome in New Guinea to undertake a patrol in Finschhafen Area, Papua New Guinea. They encountered Japanese bombers and fighters after which FO. Kirschner was last sighted by 1st Lt. Richard D. Kimball O-661329 at around 12:30 hrs about 10 miles east of Finschhafen.

He reported the following:

“Lt. [sic] Kirschner was on my wing on the first pass on the bombers. We turn with the bombers and I did not see him after this pass. Enemy fighters were firing on us all through the pass and all our aircraft were hit”.

Note: 1st Lt. Richard Delano Kimball O-661329 survived the war. He remained in the USAAF and then the USAF and served in Korea and Vietnam retiring as a Lt Col. His known awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters (DFC (2OLC)) and the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters (AM (6OLC)). He was born on the 21st March 1921 in Torch City, Michigan. Richard passed away suddenly at the age of 56 on the 25th July 1977 at Munson Hospital, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

It is surmised that his aircraft had been shot down by Japanese fighters as he failed to return from the encounter and was posted MiA.

It was later established that FO. Kirschner probably baled out and was captured and transported to New Britain and held at the PoW compound at the 6th Field Kempeitai Headquarters (HQ) in Rabaul. After the 6th Field Kempeitai HQ was destroyed in a Allied bombing raid on the 2nd March 1944. He was amongst the 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.

FO. Kirschner was last seen in fair health before the 4th/5th March 1944. It was claimed by the Japanese that he 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:

FO. Kenneth D. Kirschner. Posthumously awarded an Air Medal (AM) on the 15th December 1949. Ashes repatriated and laid to rest at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, Section G, Block 1, Grave 2137B on the 27th October 1949. Born on the 4th May 1920 in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Son of Harry Earl and Maye (née Blackwell) Kirschner of San Francisco, California, USA.

Above: Funeral Announcement for burial of FO. Kenneth D. Kirchner (Courtesy of The San Francisco Call Bulletin dated 26th October 1949).

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

Other sources listed below:

Reference(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