Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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15 (NZ) Squadron Corsair F4U-1 NZ5317 P/O. Eric Peter Shorthouse Mid. DFC

Operation: Patrol

Date: 12th April 1945 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 15 (NZ) Squadron

Type: Vought Corsair F4U-1

Serial: NZ5317 (1)

Code: 317

Base: Green Island Fighter Strip, (Bismarck Archipelago)

Location: New Ireland

Pilot: P/O. 'Shorty' Eric Peter Shorthouse MiD. DFC. NZ/4212607 RNZAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On his fourth tour in the Pacific - on the 14th May 1944 he was forced to ditch his Corsair after being attacked by Japanese aircraft but picked up later uninjured by a Catalina. On the 27th June 1944 he was forced to ditch again after being hit by enemy aircraf which caused engine failure, suffering slight injuries he was rescued. By this time he had been credited with 1 Japanese Zero destroyed.

Taking off at 10:05 hrs with one other to patrol between New Ireland and Rabaul, New Britain. Whilst flying at 10,00 ft off the west coast of New Ireland his Corsair developed magneto trouble and with 'No 2' immediately turned for base at 12:15 hrs. Fifteen minutes later over New Ireland the engine failed and the belly tank was jettisoned. As he lost height the pilot reported that petrol was streaming into the cockpit.

His No 2 then lost contact, but observed NZ5317 diving steeply and fail to recover before it hit trees on a ridge and exploded on the ground four miles inland, opposite Cape Gazelle. It is thought P/O Shorthouse to have been overcome by fumes, he was not seen to bale out. Search teams could find no trace of him or the aircraft.

(1) NZ5317: Shipped from USA on 26 April 1944 aboard "USS Table Rock". Assembled in Espiritu Santo and BOC Unit 60 on 22 May 1944. 1944. Issued to No.21 Fighter Squadron, Espiritu Santo on 28 June To No.14 Squadron on 08 August 1944. To No.22 Squadron on 14 September 1944. To No.16 Squadron on 21 December 1944. To No.15 Squadron by April 1945. Aircraft written off books at New Ireland 12 April 1945

Burial and furter details:

P/O. Eric Peter Shorthouse. MiD. DFC. Bourail Memorial. Panel 5. Born in Portsmouth, England on the 24th May 1921. Moved with his family to New Zealand when he was 10. Educated at the Foxton District High School from 1933 to 1937. Employed as a constructional carpenter apprentice to Mr. W. Williamson of Christchurch. He continued his education by correspondence with the Druleigh Correspondence College and Seddon Memorial Technical College, both in Auckland.

In January 1942 he joined the Army and served with the lst Hauraki Regiment until he enlisted in the RNZAF on the 24th October 1942. On the 04th March 1943 he started training as a pilot at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School then No. 2 Service Flying Training School on the 24th June.

Awarded his wings on the 30th August 1943 and promoted to sergeant on the 23rd October 1943. Posted to 20 Operational Training Unit on the 30th October for training on the P-40 before joining 15 squadron on the 09th December 1943. With the squadron to the Pacific on the19th December. A total of 738 flying hours logged with 301 flying the Corsair. Thought to have over 120 operational operational sorties.

'Shorty' (as he was known), was the second of three sons of Son of John Stephen Shorthouse (served in the NZNavy NZD948, killed on the 12th February 1961 in a road traffic accident) and of Marguerite Shorthouse (injured in the same car accident, nèe Gargrave - died in 1970, age 74), of Walkouku Road, Waimauku, North Auckland.

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(Read Newspaper Report of parents accident here)

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His older brother, John Sidney Shorthouse MiD. DRC. (36251) (born 11th April 1920 - died 25th February 2007, age 87) served with the Royal Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War 2. His younger brother, Robert Clive Shorthouse (NZ/412749), born 09th August 1922 - died in 1999, age 77) served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Middle East.

MiD Award 10th July 1945:

For meritorious service. Served in the South and South West Pacific whilst with 15 squadron RNZAF.

DFC Citation 25th September 1945:

'A daring section leader who headed repeated attacks with extreme courage and determination, Pilot Officer Shorthouse has completed 119 missions as a fighter and fighter-bomber four tours of duty in the Pacific. He was report killed on a patrol of the Rabaul area in April 1945. While escorting dives bombers over Rabaul on his first tour of duty he shot down one of a large number of intercepting enemy fighters and helped to keep the remainder at a distance so effectively that the Allied formation completed its mission and returned to base intact. Subsequently he distinguished himself in fighter-bomber and strafing attacks in the Solomon-Bismar area, obtaining excellent results in determined attacks. At the end of his third tour of duty he volunteered for a fourth tour and again set a high standard in gallantry and devotion to duty. He escaped twice from water landings, one due to enemy action and the other to engine failure and showed unfailing enthusiasm in his efforts to destroy the enemy'.

Above L-R: Back;PBR Symonds, PR Smith, MF Leathem, TA Stephenson, CS Wood, DW Kidd, FH Myers. Rear
Third Row; PL Jones, CF Tappin, WO Nicholson, GS Bayley, P Horton, WJ Hart, B Nicholson, R Bellingham.
Second Row; TL Tyler, DM Thomas, HJ Murphy, RA Mackinder, JS Guthrie, WG Russell, RG Reardon, RW Smith.
Front; CG Kuhn, AD Willcox, GH Gray, RJ Keddell, ACL Forsberg, EP Shorthouse, RH Peart, JH Caselber

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland.

Other sources as quoted below:

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