Operation: Mine laying in Simpson Harbour, Rabaul

Date: 14th February 1944 (Monday)

Unit No: Marine Torpedo Bomber Squadron 233 (VMTB-233), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), USMC

Type: TBF-1C Avenger

Serial: 24340

Code: 107

Base: Piva Uncle Airfield, Bougainville

Location: Vicinity of Simpson Harbour, Rabaul

Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert W. Sherman DFC (GS), O-24763 USMCR Age 25. PoW */Died (1)

Radio: Pfc. William Bernard Cashman Sr. 807836 USMCR Age 18. MiA

Turret Gunner: Sgt. James Wallace Greene Jr. 403889 USMCR Age 21. MiA

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above: 1st Lt. Robert W. Sherman (Courtesy of The Seattle Daily Times, dated 11th July 1943)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 14th February 1944 twenty-six (26) aircraft from VMTB-233 were detailed to undertake a mission to mine the northern half of Simpson Harbor at Rabaul with Mk.12-1 mines.

Three (3) groups of aircraft took-off from Piva Uncle strip at one (1) hour intervals starting at 00:30hrs. Group A and C was to make their attack from East to West, and egress down St. George's Channel, with Group B to make their attack from West to East and egress across Talili Bay and the neck of Crater Peninsula. One plane failed to catch up and returned to base.

The Avengers were picked up by searchlights after which they encountered intense Anti-Aircraft (AA) fire throughout the attack.

TBF-1C Avenger #24340 was one of six (6) aircraft that failed to return. One (1) was lost from Group A, two (2) from Group B and three (3) from Group C. The others that failed to return were:

TBF-1C Avenger #47506, Code 10, flown by 1st Lt. Hugh L. Cornelius O-14783, Pfc. Edwin D. St Germain 498645 and S/Sgt. Edward M. Slipkas 323548;

TBF-1C Avenger #06311, Code 14, flown by 1st Lt. John F. Bartholf Jr. O-14325, Pfc. Raymond P. Lagro 801179 and S/Sgt. Joseph A. Sullivan Jr. 359657. Shot down by AA north of the northwest end of the Lakunai Airfield. All were posted MiA and remembered on the Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing;

TBF-1C Avenger #24264, Code 102, flown by 1st Lt. James W. Boyden O-17011, Pfc. Arthur J. Patrickus 816591 and Pfc. Bernard C. Pardun 468686. All were posted MiA and remembered on the Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing;

Note: In 2016, personnel from Defence PoW/MiA Accounting Agency (DPAA) conducted an excavation of a possible crash site and sent the remains to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. The analysis and circumstantial evidence were used to identify the remains as those of the posthumously promoted to Capt. James W. Boyden.

TBF-1C Avenger #25316, Code 111, flown by Capt. Alonzo N. Hathway O-15355, Pfc. Willie C. Thompson 812851 and Cpl. John Joseph Edwards 407068. All were posted MiA and remembered on the Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing;

TBF-1C Avenger #25327, Code 115, flown by 1st Lt. James L. Fowler O-23232, Pvt. John J. Pudil 813818 and Pvt. Cecil Marvin White 818218. All were posted MiA and remembered on the Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing.

Two (2) of the other three (3) losses resulting from AA fire were reported to have crashed on the north shore of Simpson Harbour and the centre of Simpson Harbour opposite Bridge Point. The location of the third loss is not known.

(1) It was later established that 1st Lt. Sherman had survived and captured. He was held at the 6th Field KempeitaiHeadquarters (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. Sherman died on the 30th June 1944 from starvation and Dysentery.

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. Sherman 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. Charles C. Lanphier O-11933 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. Robert W. Sherman. Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star (DFC (GS)), Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 8, Grave 63. Born on the 11th May 1919 in Jamestown, North Dakota. Son of Raymond Dilworth and Leola Isabel (née Lindquist) Sherman of Seattle, King County, Washington, USA.

Above: Pfc. William B. Cashman Sr, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

Pfc. William Bernard Cashman Sr. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing (Official date of death is given as 15th February 1945). Born on the 22nd May 1925 in Lincoln Park, MichiganSon of Lawrence J. and Ellen Agnes (née Hughes) Cashman, Providence, Rhode Island.

Husband of Helen Mae (née Holden) Cashman of Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

Above: Sgt. James W. Green Jr. Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

Sgt. James Wallace Greene Jr. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing (Official date of death is given as 15th February 1945). Born on the 19th January 1923 in New Britain, Harford County, Connecticut. Son of James W. and Catherine M. (née Treanor) Greene of New Britain, Harford County, Connecticut, 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