Operation: Escort to B-24s attacking Kahili Airfield, Bougainville Island

Date: 30th August 1943 (Monday)

Unit No: Marine Fighting Squadron 123 (VMF-123), Marine Air Group 21 (MAG-21), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), USMC

Type: F4U-1

Serial: #02351

Code: Unknown

Base: Munda Airfield, New Georgia

Location: Off Fauro Island in the Soloman Islands.

Pilot: 1st Lt. Walter Thomas ‘Tiger’ Mayberry O-11227 DFC, USMCR Age 28. PoW */Murdered

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above: 1st Lt. Walter T. Mayberry (Courtesy of Mainland High School Yearbook – 1943)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 30th August 1943 twelve (12) VMF-123 squadron pilots took-off from Munda Airfield, New Georgia. The formation was joined by approximately thirty-two (32) other fighters to escort twenty-six (26) B-24s on a bombing mission to Kahili Airfield on Bougainville Island.

Just as the bombing run was being made the formations came under attack from heavy and accurate Anti-Aircraft (AA) fire and also by twenty-five (25) to thirty-five (35) Japanese fighters.

An A6M Zeke (Zero) got on 1st Lt. Mayberry’s tail, Maj. Baker shot at this Zeke and saw him peel off and start down but did not see him crash. The Zeke apparently did substantial damage to 1st Lt. Mayberry’s plane and he lost altitude and went down off Fauro Island. He failed to return and was posted MiA.

Maj. Baker’s Contact story:

“This was our biggest Kahili strike to date. During and after hitting the target, about thirty-five (35) enemy fighters attacked the formation. My division consisted of three (3) planes. Lt. Mayberry was my section leader. Practically over Kahili, Mayberry was jumped by a number of Jap VF. I had no wingman - mine had left because of plane trouble - and I turned into the planes attacking Mayberry and drove them off of his tail. I probably destroyed one or them. This I did twice, Mayberry's plane was badly shot up and he radioed that he would have to make a forced landing. We were then still over enemy area. He left the formation to do this. To prevent the Japs from annihilating him on the way down, I followed him down to give him what protection I could. The VF turned on me and quite a few shots hit my plane. continued down with Mayberry trying to protect both of us and followed him in to a cloud. There I lost him. I return home alone”.

Note: This was Maj. Richard M. Baker O-5444 USMCR who finished his tour of duty with the Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Gold Stars (DFC (3GS)). He was promoted to Col. and served in Korea for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit (LOM) with Combat “V”. Note: the Combat “V” is awarded to the USN and USMC for combat valour or heroism from the same decoration being awarded for a member's actions under circumstances other than combat.

It was later established that 1st Lt. Mayberry had baled out and was captured by the Japanese. He was taken to the 6th Field Kempietai Headquarters (HQ) compound at Rabaul.

After the 6th Field Kempeitai HQ was destroyed in a bombing raid on the 2nd March 1944 he was amongst the approximately fifty-three (53) PoWs who were transferred to another camp known as the Tunnel Hill Cave PoW Camp.

It was claimed by the Japanese that 1st Lt. Mayberry 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 for 1st Lt. Walter T. Mayberry (Courtesy of KcK - FindAGrave).

1st Lt. Walter Thomas Mayberry. Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Purple Heart (PH). 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 14th March 1915 in Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida. Son of Thomas Enoch (deceased in November 1943) and Helena Marie (née Murphy) Mayberry of Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA.

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

Other sources listed below:

References:

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