Operation: Strafing Mission, Kahili Airdrome, Bougainville

Date: 28th August 1943 (Saturday)

Unit No: Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), USMC

Type: F4U-1A Corsair

Serial: #02577

Code: Unknown

Base: Fighter 1 Airfield, Guadalcanal

Location: Southern Bourgainville

Pilot: 1st Lt. Charles Cobb Lanphier O-11933 USMCR Age 26. PoW */Died

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above: 1st Lt. Charles C. Lanphier (Courtesy of the Detroit Free Press, dated 11th September 1943)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 4th August 1943 the then 2nd Lt. Lanphier was amongst eight (8) F4Us from VMF-214 took-off at 08:25 hrs to rendezvous with F4Us from VMF-124, returning from a strafing mission in the Shortland-Faisi area as top cover. After rendezvousing they engaged a flight of ten (10) to twelve (12) Zekes (Zeros). In the ensuing combat 2nd Lt. Lanphier was credited with the destruction of one (1) of the three (3) Zekes (Zeros) shot down.

On the 28th August 1943 three (3) divisions (sections) from VMF-214 were detailed together with a division (section) from VMF-215, based at Munda field, on a strafing mission at the Kahili Airdrome on Bougainville.

Considerable confusion attended this mission with late orders, a mix-up in allocation of planes and a Japanese plane which dropped a string of five small bombs in the water at the end of Fighter 1 Airfield. As a result only part of two (2) divisions (sections) totalling four (4) aircraft, which included 1st Lt. Lanphier, took-off at the scheduled time. One of the four (4) had to turn back with engine trouble. The other delayed divisions (sections) from VMF-214 took-off but were redirected to cover a task force.

Meanwhile at Munda field because of an unspecified incident only two F4Us from VMF-215 launched to act as top cover for the strafing mission.

At about 06:15 hrs the formations encountered a small weather front a short distance from the northern tip of the Fauro Island group. 1st Lt. Lanphier who was the third member of VMF-214 was not seen again after entering the clouds and was posted MiA.

Reported lost in action (Courtesy of the Detroit Free Press, dated 11th September 1943)

The others experienced terrific thermal currents and were forced up 3000 to 4000 ft. One fighter came out south of Fauro Island at about 5,000 feet, and the other managed to come out just north of Fuaro Island at about 1,200 feet. The latter saw one fighter just above him, but it disappeared into a cloud and each of the two pilots found themselves separated from the rest of the flights. Later in the afternoon two searches were carried out to locate 1st Lt. Lanphier with negative results.

It was later established that 1st Lt. Lanphier had baled out over southern Bougainville and had been captured by the Japanese. He was transported 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 provide adequate food and medical attention 1st Lt. Lanphier died on the 15th May 1944 from Dysentery, starvation and 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 1st Lt. Lanphier 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. John J. Fitzgerald O-26468 USMCR;
1st Lt. Billy D. Hanks O-737083 USAAF;
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:

1st Lt. Charles Wellington Cobb Lanphier. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Repatriated and laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, Section 11, Grave 789 on the 5th April 1949. Born on the 7th May 1918 in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Son of Thomas George and Jeanette Grant (née Cobb) Lanphier of Grosse Point, Wayne County, Michigan, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the pilot and his 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