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Operation: Vunakanau Aerodrome, Rabaul, New Britain
Date: 7th August 1942 (Friday)
Unit No: 93rd Bombardment Squadron (H), 19th Bombardment Group (H), 5th Air Force
Type: B-17E ‘Why Don’t We Do This More Often’
Serial: 41-2439
Code: None allocated
Base: 7 Mile Drome, Port Moresby, New Guinea
Location: Target area, Rabaul
Pilot: Capt. Harl Pease Jr. MOH, DFC (OLC), O-395206 AAF Age 24. PoW/MiA (1)
Co-Pilot: Flt Sgt. Frederick Wentworth Earp DSC (US), 403325 RAAF Age 20. KiA
Navigator: 1st Lt. Richard Millo ‘Dick’ Wood DSC, O-433151 AAF Age 24. MiA
Bombardier: 1st Lt. Robert Bruce Burleson DSC, O-412726 AAF Age 24. MiA
Engineer: S/Sgt. Rex Ervin Matson DSC, SSM, 6657964 AAF Age 28. MiA
Radio Operator: Sgt. Alvar A. ‘Oliver’ Liimatainen DSC, 16020712 AAF Age 22. KiA
Gunner: Sgt. David Wayne Brown DSC, 6296430 AAF Age 22. MiA
Gunner: Sgt. Chester M. Czechowski DSC, 6915712 AAF Age 23. PoW/MiA (1)
Gunner: Sgt. Fred Ward (Walter) Oettel DSC, 19048522 AAF Age 23. MiA
REASON FOR LOSS:
On the 7th August 1942 B-17E ‘Why Don’t We Do This More Often’ flown by Capt. Harl Pease Jr. and his volunteer crew joined a force of B-17s from the 19th Bombardment Group (H) on a mission to bomb the Japanese held Vunakanau Aerodrome, Rabaul on New Britain.
The circumstances leading to the loss of the aircraft and crew is described in the Citations accompanying the posthumous awards to each of the nine (9) crew members. The exact position of where the aircraft came down is not known and it was not for a considerable time later the fate of the crew was determined.
The Medal of Honor (MOH) was posthumously awarded to Capt. Pease which was presented to his parents by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the 2nd December 1942.
Courtesy of the Daily Press, dated 3rd December 1942
Citation: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on 6-7 August 1942. When 1 engine of the bombardment airplane of which he was pilot failed during a bombing mission over New Guinea, Capt. Pease was forced to return to a base in Australia. Knowing that all available airplanes of his group were to participate the next day in an attack on an enemy-held airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain, although he was not scheduled to take part in this mission, Capt. Pease selected the most serviceable airplane at this base and prepared it for combat, knowing that it had been found and declared unserviceable for combat missions. With the members of his combat crew, who volunteered to accompany him, he rejoined his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, at 1 a.m. on 7 August, after having flown almost continuously since early the preceding morning. With only 3 hours rest, he took off with his squadron for the attack. Throughout the long flight to Rabaul, New Britain, he managed by skillful flying of his unserviceable airplane to maintain his position in the group. When the formation was intercepted by about 30 enemy fighter airplanes before reaching the target, Capt. Pease, on the wing which bore the brunt of the hostile attack, by gallant action and the accurate shooting by his crew, succeeded in destroying several Zeros before dropping his bombs on the hostile base as planned, this in spite of continuous enemy attacks. The fight with the enemy pursuit lasted 25 minutes until the group dived into cloud cover. After leaving the target, Capt. Pease's aircraft fell behind the balance of the group due to unknown difficulties as a result of the combat, and was unable to reach this cover before the enemy pursuit succeeded in igniting 1 of his bomb bay tanks. He was seen to drop the flaming tank. It is believed that Capt. Pease's airplane and crew were subsequently shot down in flames, as they did not return to their base. In voluntarily performing this mission Capt. Pease contributed materially to the success of the group, and displayed high devotion to duty, valor, and complete contempt for personal danger. His undaunted bravery has been a great inspiration to the officers and men of his unit’.
Courtesy of the Evening World Herald, dated 3rd December 1942
The other eight (8) members of this crew were each posthumously awarded the United States Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
The crew were individually named in their citations. The following narrative depicts the main tenants of their citations:
“For extraordinary heroism in action between Queensland, Australian and Rabaul, New Britain on August 6-7 1942. When the airplane, in which [the crew] returned to its base in Queensland, Australia, from a bombing mission at Lae, New Guinea because of a disabled engine, [the crew] knowing that the group was to execute on the following day an important mission in which the participation of every available airplane was essential, volunteered to accompany [their] airplane commander on this mission in an airplane which had been declared unserviceable for combat duty. Rejoining [their] Squadron at Port Moresby after having flown almost continuously during the preceding nineteen hours, [they] took off, after only three hours rest, in a mass attack by [their] group on an enemy-occupied airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain, Despite interception by about thirty enemy fighters as the target was approached, the group made a highly successful bombing attack. During the hostile fighter action, the airplane in which [they were] crew members, was on the wing which bore the brunt of the enemy attack lasting for twenty-five minutes. It was observed to drop a blazing bomb-bay tank and fell behind the formation. [The crew lost their lives as a result of their heroic voluntary action in an effort to increase the strength of an important mission]”.
C. 1940. Portrait of Sergeant Frederick W. Earp, RAAF. In 1942 Flight Sergeant Earp was attached to the 93rd Bombardment Squadron, 19 Bombardment Group, United States Army Air Force as a co-pilot flying B17's. For his part during a raid on Rabaul he was posthumously awarded the United States Distinguished Service Cross. (Donor: W. Connell, Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial - P01 395.005)
Courtesy of The Albuquerque Tribune, dated 7th November 1942
(1) In December 1945 following a second full review of the cases of the missing crew, “Findings of Death” were issued for each of the airmen, which showed that the presumed date of death in each case be the 12th December 1945.
The facts and circumstances concerning the disappearance of the missing airmen are highly indicative of death. Such a presumption is augmented by the passage of more than 2½ years since cessation of hostilities with Japan without the receipt of any report which would form a basis for a presumption of continued survival.
However, since the aircraft of which they were crew members, was not seen to crash on land or in the water, and, in view of a monitored Japanese broadcast which included information that two (2) officers named Captain Peace [sic] aged 22, of New Plymouth and Lieutenant Harold Massey [sic] aged 21 of Illinois had been captured and were PoWs.
This indicated that at least Capt. Pease from this crew was for a time a PoW and at that time the possibility that some of these men may have survived beyond the date they disappeared and that they died or were killed subsequently at a time and place unknown.
Furthermore, RAAF investigations found that a Rev. W. O'Connell had reported that Fg Off. MASON Leading Telegraphist (LT) WOODROFFE, together with four American aircrew members named PEACE [sic], CHIKOWSKY [sic], MASSEY [sic] and KING, were taken from the military prison camp at RABAUL on the 8th October 1942. It was alleged by the Japanese that they were taken to work on a new airfield but during the afternoon some of their clothing was returned to the prison camp. The full names and numbers of the four Americans were not known at that time.
Research has identified the named individuals as:
MASON and WOODROFFE were Fg Off. Cecil John Trevelyan Mason 263679 RAAF of 20 Squadron, RAAF and LT. Roy Woodroffe F329/10 Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) of HMAS Brisbane who captured on the 24th July 1942 behind Japanese lines on Anir Island.
Above: Leading Telegraphist (LT) Roy Woodroffe, RANVR
LT. Woodroffe was a coastwatcher and Fg Off. Mason had volunteered to be inserted into enemy territory by submarine to attempt a rescue of LT. Woodroffe. They were surprised by a Japanese patrol and LT. Woodroffe was captured, however Fg Off. Mason managed to escape into the jungle but was later captured by the same patrol. They were seen by a native, tied hand and foot and carried aboard a Japanese schooner together with all their gear including the wireless equipment.
Above: Fg Off. Cecil John Trevelyan Mason, RAAF
Fg Off. Mason had previously undertaken a similar mission on two occasions to rescue two (2) other coastwatchers, Lt. Alan Fairlie ‘Bill’ Kyle RANVR and Sub-Lt. Gregory Wade Benham RANVR but they chose to continue with their mission. Both were captured and executed by the Japanese on the 1st September 1942;
PEACE [sic] and CHIKOWSKY [sic] were Capt. Harl Pease Jr. O-395206 USAAF and Sgt. Chester M. Czechowski who were the Pilot and a Gunner respectively from this aircraft;
MASSEY [sic] and KING were 1st Lt. Harold Lloyd Massie USAAF and 2nd Lt. Arthur Christere King O-432982 USAAF who were the Pilot and Bombardier respectively from the 408th Bombardment Squadron Sqn B-26 ‘Imogen VII’ 40-1474 which was shot down on the 24th May 1942 over East Britain.
After hostilities had ceased an RAAF location party was led to by natives from Maturi Island to graves which were situated in the vicinity of the Japanese Cemetery at Matupi. They appeared to have been buried in several trenches. A huge bomb crater was alongside the graves and the natives stated that there was more graves there before the bombing, but that the bomb had blown them up. Recovery work was carried out until satisfied that no further remains were in the vicinity.
None of the remains recovered were identified as those of Capt. Pease Jr. and Sgt. Czechowski and as a consequence were posted as Missing in Action.
Note: In April 1948 the No.2 Australian War Crimes Section and the American Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) Legal Section agreed that all crimes in Australian New Guinea that were not complete would be handled by the Australians, whether Australians or Americans were victims.
The investigation team were of the opinion, in light of the discoveries that were made, that the total number of prisoners murdered at Matupi over the whole period must have been at least one-hundred (100) and likely to be many more.
With one exception none of the Japanese directly responsible for the murders of Allied airmen in this area were brought to trial. These known criminals can be divided into various classes:
Died or killed in action before end of war;
Committed suicide to avoid arrest, e.g. Rear Admiral (Kaigun-shōshō) FUJITA who was responsible for the murder of Flt Lt. William Ellis Newton VC, 250748 RAAF and Rear Admiral (Kaigun-shōshō) KIYAMA who was responsible for some of the murders at RABAUL;
Because of the cunning with which the Japanese had covered their tracks sufficient evidence had not been obtained when investigations closed;
Criminals that were still alive and at large against whom sufficient evidence of guilt had been obtained.
Burial details:
Above: Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing for Capt. Harl Pease Jr. Medal of Honor (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))
Capt. Harl Pease Jr. Medal of Honor (MOH), Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) (Oak Leaf Cluster) Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 10th April 1917 in Plymouth New Hampshire. Son of Harl and Bessie Pease of Plymouth, New Hampshire, USA.
Above: Grave marker for Flt Sgt. Frederick W. Earp (Courtesy of the TWGPP)
Flt Sgt. Frederick Wentworth Earp. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC (US)). Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery H.D.5., Papua New Guinea. Grave Inscription: “AWARDED DSC (U.S.A) 15TH SEPTEMBER 1942 SADLY MISSED BY PARENTS & BROTHER HAROLD”. Born on the 23rd November 1921 in Penrith, New South Wales. Son of Arnold Wentworth and Coral (née Ausburn) Earp of Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Above: Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing for 1st Lt. Richard M. Wood (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))
1st Lt. Richard Millo ‘Dick’ Wood. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 25th December 1917 in Glenpool, Oklahoma. Son of Jesse James and Mary Frances (née Bell) Wood of Tiger, Creek, Oklahoma, USA.
Above: Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing for 1st Lt. Robert B. Burleson (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))
1st Lt. Robert Bruce Burleson. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 11th December 1917 in Hamilton, Alabama. Son of Anderson Russell and Clara Pearl (née Cash) Burleson of Hamilton, Marion, Alabama, USA.
Above: Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing for S/Sgt. Rex E. Matson (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))
S/Sgt. Rex Ervin Matson. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Silver Star Medal (SSM), Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 17th April 1914 in Marengo, Iowa. Son of Roy Ervin and Ruby Inez (née Wampler) of Randolph, Tippecanoe, Indiana, USA.
Sgt. Alvar A. Liimatainen. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Purple Heart (PH). Repatriated during September 1951 and laid to rest at the Park Cemetery, Marquette, Michigan. Born on the 4th December 1919 in Marquette County, Michigan. Son of Albin O. and Lempikadri “Lempi” (née Oja) Liimatainen of Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, USA.
Above: Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing for Sgt. David W. Brown (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))
Sgt. David Wayne Brown. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 18th March 1920 in Red River County, Texas. Son of James Mason and Nora Elizabeth (née Yound) Brown of Childress, Texas, USA.
Above: Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing for Sgt. Chester M. Czechowski (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))
Sgt. Chester M. Czechowski. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 30th May 1919 in Illinois. Son Ignacy and Helena (deceased in 1922) (née Niebrzydowsak) Czechowski of Cook County, Illinois, USA.
Above: Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing for Sgt. Fred W. Oettel (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC))
Sgt. Fred Ward (Walter) Oettel. Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Purple Heart (PH). Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery. Born on the 23rd January 1919 in New York City, New York. Son of Walter Alexander and Jeannette Mae (née Ward) of Los Angeles, California. Husband to Jane (née Clayton) Oettel of Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families. Thanks to The War Graves Photograph Project (TWGPP) for their great work. (Dec 2024).
Other sources listed below:
RS 28.12.2024 - Initial upload
RS 28.12.2024 - Initial upload
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