Operation: Rabaul, New England

Date: 30th December 1943 (Thursday)

Unit No: Headquarters Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group (H), 13th Air Force

Type: B-24D “Pretty Prairie Special”

Serial: 41-24186

Code: Unknown

Base: Munda Airfield, Soloman Islands

Location: Region of Cape St. George on the southern tip of New Ireland.

Pilot: Col. Marion Daniel Unruh DSC (OLC), LOM, (2OLC), SS, DFC (4 OLC), O-298478 AAF Age 33. PoW * (1)

Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Thomas Bruce Fessenger Jr. O-663706 AAF Age 24. PoW **/Died/MiA (2)

Navigator: Maj. Frederick Kurt Koebig O-375573 AAF Age 26. PoW **/Murdered (4)

Bombardier: 1st Lt. Anthony Kuhn O-738645 AAF Age 26. PoW **/Murdered (3 & 4)

Engineer: S/Sgt. Lawson Stewart 34425408 AAF Age 29. PoW **/Murdered (4)

Asst Engineer: Sgt. Vincent Wasilevski 13038150 AAF Age 24. PoW **/Murdered (4)

Radio Operator: S/Sgt. Roy Edward Bixler 35005257 AAF Age 25. MiA

Asst Radio Operator: Sgt. John Joseph Gillis Jr. 20610868 AAF Age 26. PoW **/Died (2)

Gunner: S/Sgt. Edward Thomas Constantin DFC, 14123662 AAF Age 27. PoW **/Murdered (4)

Gunner: S/Sgt. Romulus Foard Mull 14187785 AAF Age 19. PoW **/Murdered (4)

Photograph Gunner: S/Sgt. Albert Schaffran 13039217 AAF Age 34. MiA

* Osaka PoW Camp #11-B at Rokuroshi, Japan

** Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above left to right: 1st Lt. Thomas B. Fessenger (Courtesy of the San Jose State College, yearbook 1940; Maj. Frederick K. Koebig (Courtesy of the University of California, yearbook 1940).

Above left to right: S/Sgt. Lawson Stewart (Courtesy of the McComb Daily Journal, dated 17th January 1944); S/Sgt. Edward T. Constantin (Courtesy of the Asbury Park Press, dated 13th January 1944); S/Sgt. Romulus F. Mull (Courtesy of The Knoxville Journal, dated 25th December 1943)

REASON FOR LOSS:

B-24D “Pretty Prairie Special” took-off from Munda Airfield on the Soloman Islands on a mission to bomb Rabaul on New England.

Above: Gen. Millard F. Harmon being interviewed, with B-24D “Pretty Prairie Special” in background, in Guadalcanal on return from a bombing mission (Official USAAF photograph)

Note: On the 25th February 1945, a C-87A Liberator Express carrying Lt Gen. Harmon and Brig Gen. James R. Andersen, his chief of staff, departed Guam for Washington DC via Kwajalein and Hawaii to resolve a dispute over a proposed use of long-range fighters. Their aircraft reached Kwajalein Island safely but disappeared the next day after taking off for Hawaii. The aircraft was never found and there were no survivors.

Col. Unruh later reported the circumstances leading to the loss of his aircraft and the aftermath:

“We were leading the 5th Bomb Group on a routine bombing mission over Rabaul on the 30th December 1943. Our airplane suffered severe damage by type Zero airplane. We left the group over Duke of York Islands and were losing altitude until finally at an altitude of about 1200 feet the crew started bailing out along the southeast coast of New Ireland. To the best of my knowledge all crew members successfully parachuted to water along the coast. By the morning of the 31st December 1943 all members, except for T/Sgt. Roy E. Bixler and S/Sgt. Schaffran, had either been rescued by natives of swam ashore and congregated at a native village. At about eleven or twelve o’clock in the morning planes (B-24’s) found us along the beach and dropped emergency supplies to us. About eight-thirty or nine o’clock that evening japs fired into the hut in which we were staying. We all got out of the hut and under cover of darkness scattered into the bush. Lt. Fessenger and myself bumped into each other and evaded captured until the 15th January 1944. We were taken to Rabaul and there separated.”

Col. Unruh was not certain that T/Sgt. Bixler and S/Sgt. Schaffran left the plane and there is the strong possibility that even if they did they were injured by the same fire which damaged the plane. It was deemed reasonably conclusive, however, that either they did not succeed in abandoning the aircraft or were drowned before they could be rescued by the natives who rescued other members of the crew. Furthermore it was reasonable to assume that if they did make it ashore, they would have been captured and seen at the Rabaul PoW camp.

Eye-witness account of the loss of 41-24186 by Maj. John Franklin Zinn Jr. O-424017:

‘First indication of trouble to airplane #186 was when bomb doors were hanging open after bombing run. Soon thereafter the doors came loose. About two (2) minutes later there was a well coordinated rolling motion about the lateral axis of #186, followed by a diving turn left. This airplane disappeared into a deck of stratus clouds at about 10,000’ apparently under control, and on a course of 120^O. I assumed lead of the formation, radioed a report of the incident, and proceeded to Koli Field’.

Eye-witness account of the loss of 41-24186 by Capt. Leo L. Hunt O-424017:

‘When bomb bay doors were closed after bombing run, doors were hanging from ship #186, indicating damage thereto by enemy fighter fire. Three doors later came off. About five (5) to ten (10) miles southeast of Duke of York Island, over water, this pilot observed two explosions within the stricken airplane, one in the front and one in the rear, omitting a clear blue smoke. At this point only one (1) bomb bay door had fallen off. Almost immediately after, stricken aircraft rocked wings violently to signal that he was dropping from the formation and did drop from formation taking up course of approximately 120^O Mag as the airplane arrived at cloud cover. #2 engine at this point was smoking badly and seemed to be on fire. Aircraft last seen descending into clouds at altitude 10 - 12000’ over New Ireland, ten (10) miles north of south tip.

When airplane left formation all visual indications were that pilot had full control of airplane #186 was loosing altitude of his own accord, knowing that fire in #2 engine would burn off wing’.

Report on the search for the missing aircraft by Capt. Oscar Charles Fitzhenry O-663886:

‘On the 31st December five (5) search planes left Munda Airfield to search northern Bourgainville and southeastern New Ireland sectors. At 10:30 hrs two (2) ships sighted a parachute being waved at 04 53S, 150 00E.

Note: this Lat/Long is a point in the Bismarck Sea 19 miles north off Cape Campbell on the northern coast of New Britain, which is completely at odds with the other observations which place sightings in the region of Cape St. George on the southern tip of New Ireland.

‘I flew within 100 feet of the men on the beach and at the same time my waist gunner counted eight (8) men on then beach. We buzzed the place once more, dropping the large emergency kit and taking two photos. The gunners thought that recognized Co. Unruh standing on the beach and identified one of the Col’s enlisted men. Both ships then left and each of us sent a message to COMAIRSOLS [The Commander, Air Forces Solomons] telling them the time sighted, position and number of persons sighted. Lt. Robinson, pilot of the other plane sent his message about 11:30 and I sent mine at 12:00. Before this latter message the identical message was sent to COMAIRSOLS through DANE Base and I was told the message would receive immediate attention. Upon landing we found that Group Operations already had word, proving that at least one of the messages was received. The film was developed and found to show eight (8) men on the beach, several natives in the background and a number of native huts among the coconut trees. We did not land at Muda Airfield because of bad weather’.

2nd report on the search for the missing aircraft by 2nd Lt. James D. Robertson O-747320:

‘Flying one of five planes on special search mission for Col. Unruh, I approached to within one mile of the coast of New Ireland and proceeded south along the coast line. Just as I was pulling away to join the formation, one of the gunners noticed something white on the shore. I flew over to investigate and found the object to be a parachute waved by several men on the beach. I flew over them at about 400 feet. They were white men, and eight in number. As I circled and buzzed them at an altitude of approximately 50 feet, my crew threw the planes emergency rations kit overboard.

It was observed to land and break up on the beach near the stranded men who ran to salvage the contents. Sgt. Clute, waist gunner, said he was certain that he recognized an enlisted man on Col. Unruh's crew. At this time, Capt. Fitzhenry was also circling and dropping rations. We then started for home.

My radio operator immediately sent a coded report to COMAIRSOLS and received an acknowledgment and he heard Capt. Fitzhenry's message sent and acknowledged a few minutes later. This message was sent to COMAIRSOLS through DANE Base’.

Note: Capt. James Donald Robertson, AM (7 OLC), Purple Heart, O-747320. He and his crew of nine (9) were posted MiA on the 9th August 1944 when their B-24J 42-73268 of the 394th Bombardment Group, 5th Bombardment Group (H) failed to return from a mission to Yap Island. It was not known if Capt. Robertson reached the target but he was last sighted in severe bad weather. This was to be his last mission before returning to the United States.

The aircraft was last sighted on a heading of 120^O over the St. Georges Channel, between New Britain and New Ireland. The position of the eight (8) survivors was on the eastern side of the southern tip of New Ireland at an approximate Lat/Long of 04 53S, 153 00E.

On or about the 15th to the 20th June 1944, several members of the 5th Bombardment Group (H) overhead a radio broadcast from Radio Tokyo in which messages were read, purporting to come from known members of the crew.

One example was heard by Maj. Edward T. Brown O-316413 and Capt. Thomas M. Clyburn O-260325 in which the journal text of the message was along the following lines: “We are bringing you a message from Lt. Thomas B. Fessenger O-66370, 5th bombardment Group, 13th Bommer Command, in which he says ……….. glad to be out of the war …….” and similar statements of propaganda, ending with a request that his mother, “Mrs H. L. Fessenger, 4 Cortes, San Francisco, California” be notified he was well and for her not to worry.

A similar message was heard by the same two officers, on about the 21st June, pertaining to Maj. Frederick K. Koebig, O-375573, statements were made “ ………….when our reporter interviewed Maj. Koebig he was in good health etc”.

These messages were ultimately proven to be utterly false. Maj. Koebig had been murdered on the 4th/5th March 1944 and 1st Lt. Fessenger died from malnutrition on the 15th July 1944.

(1) Col. Unruh was separated from the other PoWs and was transported to Japan. He was initially held at the Tokyo Base Camp #1 (Omori), which was a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. He was then transferred to the Osaka PoW Camp #11-B at Rokuroshi in the Fukui Ken Prefecture, where he became the senior officer at the Osaka camp.

On the 7th September 1945 after the official surrender of Japan he accepted the surrender of the camp from the ranking Japanese officer and had the Stars and Stripes raised over the camp.

After his repatriation to the United States he joined the newly established United States Air Force (USAF). During the Korean War he was stationed in Japan.

During his service in WW2 and Korea he was awarded the:

Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster (DSC (OLC));
Silver Star (SS);
Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters (LOM (2 OLC));
Distinguished Flying Cross with four Oak Leaf Clusters (DFC (4 OLC));
Purple Heart (PH);
Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters (AM (2 OLC)).

On the 14th April 1968 retired Col. Unruh was tragically killed when his plane, “Pretty Prairie Special II” N8635E stalled in the climb and crashed at Pretty Prairie in Reno, Kansas. The NTSB determines that a factor in the accident was his lack of familiarity with the aircraft coupled with the fact he had not flown for the previous 90 days before the fatal crash.

Courtesy of The Wichita Eagle, dated 15th April 1968

Marion Daniel Unruh was born on the 20th February 1910 in Pretty Prairie, Reno, Kansas .

(2) 1st Lt. Fessenger Jr. and Sgt. Gillis Jr. were 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 they were 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 providing adequate food and medical attention 1st Lt. Fessenger Jr. died on the 15th July 1944 from Beriberi and Dysentery, and Sgt. Gillis Jr. on the 2nd August 1944 of Beriberi.

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 2nd Lt. Fessenger Jr., Sgt. Gillis Jr. and the other ten (10) 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. John J. Fitzgerald O-26468 USMCR;
1st Lt. Billy D. Hanks O-737083 USAAF;
1st Lt. Charles C. Lanphier O-11933 USMCR;
1st Lt. Robert W. Sherman O-24763 USMCR;
Lt(Jg). James A. Warren O-156661 USNR;
Sqn Ldr. John E. Todd 271707 RAAF;
Flt Sgt. Harry B. Dawkins 280791 RAAF;
Fg Off. Leslie A. McLelland-Symonds 401314 RNZAF;
Flt Sgt. Norman N. Vickers 413232 RNZAF.

Although 1st Lt. Fessenger Jr. was one of those named none of the remains recovered from this site and a second burial site near the Tunnel Hill PoW camp were subsequently identified as those of 1st Lt. Fessenger Jr. and as a consequence he is still MiA.

Sgt. Gillis Jr. was later identified from the remains of Unknown X-159 buried in Plot temporary 2, Grave 2, at the USAF Cemetery #5 in Finschhafen, New Guinea.

(3) The then 2nd Lt. Kuhn was the Bombardier aboard B-24D 42-41155 which was on a bombing operation against shipping off New Ireland on the 3rd November 1943.

Over the target the aircraft hit by Anti-Aircraft fire which knocked out #1 and #2 engines with shrapnel hitting the Pilot, the Navigator, puncturing hydraulic lines and damaging the instrument panel. The damage was severe enough for the pilot to order that all extra weight to be jettisoned and prepare for a water landing.

At 16:04 hrs the aircraft alighted on the water and broke up into three (3) parts, the tail broke off at the waist with the nose completely smashed in or off. 2nd Lt. Kuhn was knocked unconscious and came to underwater but surfaced and made for one of the deployed dinghy. Engineer, T/Sgt. Millar was next to swim to the dinghy followed by the Navigator, 2nd Lt. Pandžić and Gunner, S/Sgt. Carpenter. They saw S/Sgt. McMillan and S/Sgt. Esposito some distance away but when they reached the spot both had disappeared. By this time the nose and tail section had broken away and sank. They saw no other crew after this.

T/Sgt. Millar had injured his back and S/Sgt. Carpenter had suffered chest injuries in the crash. After a cold and rainy night they were rescued by PBY Catalina the following day.

The crew members who were posted MiA and are remembered at the Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing:

Pilot: 2nd Lt. James Robert Wilson O-670697;
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Charles Michael Eagan O-800045;
Asst Engineer: S/Sgt. Willis Mervin Cutway 32489581;
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Francesco Esposito 32413399;
Asst Radio Operator: S/Sgt. Meredith McMillan 38281871;
Gunner: S/Sgt. Donald Eugene Sullivan 37451481.

T/Sgt. Gerald Millar 33208597, 2nd Lt. Robert Marko Pandžić O-733583 and S/Sgt. Robert Brock Carpenter 32551200 survived the war and returned to the United States.

(4) After the Japanese were defeated on New Britain it was found that there were only eight (8) surviving Allied PoWs at the Tunnel Hill PoW camp whereas it was expected to find a great many more. An investigation was instigated by the 18th Australian War Graves Unit to determine the fate of the PoWs that were thought to have been held on New Britain.

The investigation found that Maj. Koebig, 1st Lt. Kuhn, S/Sgt. Stewart, Sgt. Wasilevski, S/Sgt. Constantin and S/Sgt. Mull had been initially held at the 6th Field Kempeitai Headquarters (HQ) PoW Compound. They were amongst the approximately fifty-four (54) PoWs who were moved from Rabaul to the Tanoura Mountain pass by truck. Surviving PoWs last saw them on the 3rd/4th March 1944.

It was claimed by the Japanese that the six (6) were amongst the known 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: 1st Lt. Thomas Bruce Fessenger Jr, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

1st Lt. Thomas Bruce Fessenger Jr. Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing. Born on the 12th August 1919 in Vernon, Texas. Son Thomas Bruce (deceased in September 1943) and Harriet Lou (née Switzer) of San Jose, Santa Clara, California, USA.

Above group burial marker for Maj. Frederick K. Koebig, 1st Lt. Anthony Kuhn, S/Sgt. Lawson Stewart, Sgt. Vincent Wasileveski, S/Sgt. Edward T.Constantin, S/Sgt. Romulus F. Mull. (Courtesy of KcK - FindAGrave)

Maj. Frederick Kurt Koebig. Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster (AM (OLC)). 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 15th November 1917 in Los Angeles, California. Son of Kurt Julius and Edna Freda (née Hauerwass - deceased in July 1933) Koebig of Los Angeles, California, USA.

1st Lt. Anthony Kuhn. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster (AM (OLC)). 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 21st May 1917 in Dickinson, North Dakota. Son of Catherience Kuhn of Dickinson, North Dakota, USA.

S/Sgt. Lawson Stewart. Air Medal (AM). 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 10th May 1914 in Jones County, Mississippi. Son of William Franklin Edgar and Sadie Frances (née Jones) Stewart. Husband of Delma Ethel (née Reeves) Stewart of Summit, Mississippi, USA.

Sgt. Vincent Wasilevski. Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster (AM (OLC)). 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 18th December 1919 in Duquesne, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Son of Konstantine and Anna Wasilevski of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, USA.

Above: S/Sgt. Roy E. Bixler, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Roy Edward Bixler. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal, four Oak Leaf Clusters (AM (4OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing. Born on the 11th March 1918 in Wooster, Ohio. Son of Walter Earl and Julia (née Miller) Bixler of Salem, Ohio, USA.

Above grave marker for Sgt. John Joseph Gillis Jr. (Courtesy of Rick Harris-FindAGrave (no profile))

Sgt. John Joseph Gillis Jr. Air Medal, three Oak Leaf Clusters (AM (3OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Plot D, Grave 1. Born on the 17th January 1916 in Detroit, Michigan. Son of John James and Anne (née Holmes) Gillis of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

S/Sgt. Edward Thomas Constantin. Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Purple Heart (PH)., Air Medal, three Oak Leaf Clusters (AM (3 OLC)). 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 8th July 1916 in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York. Husband of Martha Ann (née Moody) Constantin of Waynesville, North Carolina, USA.

S/Sgt. Romulus Foard Mull. Air Medal, two Oak Leaf Clusters (AM (2 OLC)). 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 25th June 1924 in Lovelady, Burke county, North Carolina. Son of Bulow Jacob and Artie Ann (née Rhoney) Mull of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Above: S/Sgt. Albert Schaffran, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Albert Schaffran. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing (Date of death 30th December 1944). Born on the 31st July 1909 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Son of Mary Schaffran of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their relatives (Jan 2026). Reviewed and updated with new information (May 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