Operation: Gazelle Peninsula patrol

Date: 21st June 1945 (Thursday)

Unit No: 20 Squadron, RNZAF

Type: F4U-1D Corsair

Serial: NZ5402

Code: Unknown

Base: Jacquinot Bay airfield, New Britain

Location: Ulu Island, Duke of York island group

Pilot: WO. Ronald Charles ‘Rabbit’ Warren 425959 RNZAF Age 21. PoW *

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Note: F4U-1D Corsair #50568 was transferred to the RNZAF as NZ5402

REASON FOR LOSS

Warrant Office (WO) Warren and his wingman, Flt Sgt. C.H. Turner, took off from Jacquinot Bay airfield on New Britain at 07:45 hrs on the 21st June 1945 on a routine Gazelle Peninsula patrol. WO. Warren was last seen strafing a canoe on the NW coast off Ulu Island in the Duke of York island group.

A subsequent search revealed the wreckage of an F4U on the NW side of Ulu Island, some 150 to 200 feet inland from the shore. The aircraft appeared to have been completely wrecked and there was no sign of WO. Warren.

Whilst pulling up from the strafing attack his aircraft had struck some palm trees and crashed ejecting him unconscious from the cockpit. He remembered no more until he woke up in Japanese hands. He had suffered a broken leg in the crash but the Japanese provided no medical treatment. He was held in a small dark cave with a small iron-barred door. He was guarded by two natives who were ordered by the Japanese not to talk with him. Despite this with their help he managed to splint his leg himself.

For the next two (2) months he had no one to talk to nor was he provided with any medical attention for his leg. He was left alone in the cave for periods of up to ten (10) days at a stretch and lost track of time. On occasion when the Japanese wanted to interrogated him they dragged him through the cave’s narrow opening causing excruciating agony from his broken leg. He existed on half a pint of water and small portions of rice three time a day. He was not physically abused during the interrogations but on the barge taking him to Rabual he was slapped about by two Japanese Privates whilst being tied helpless on a stretcher.

At the Tunnel Hill PoW Camp he was told that he was the only white prisoner in the area and only met the other Allied PoWs when peace was declared. He was one of only eight (8) PoWs to be released from the Tunnel Hill PoW camp on the 7th September 1945 to Australian forces:

1st Lt. James A. McMurria O-372644 USAAF;
1st Lt. Jose L. Holguin O-728388 USAAF;
2nd Lt. Alphones D. Quinones O-748876 USAAF;
S/Sgt. Escoe E. Palmer 34269270 USAAF;
Lt(Jg). Joseph G. Nason 117057 USNR;
AR2c. John B. Kepchia 65228343 USNR;
Capt. John J. Murphy NGX310 AIF.

He was one (1) of a party of twenty-eight (28) Service personnel that boarded HMAS Vendetta at Rabaul and brought to Jacquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. They were then taken by RNZAF Air-Sea Rescue boat to the Australian Army 2/8th General Hospital at Jacquinot Bay for assessment and treatment.

Above - Caption reads: CHRISTCHURCH AIRMAN RESCUED FROM THE JAPANESE - Warrant Officer (WO) Ronald Charles Warren, of Christchurch, the first New Zealand prisoner of war rescued from Rabaul, arriving at Piva airstrip, Bougainville. (Courtesy of the Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24677, dated 21st September 1945)

After initial treatment WO. Warren arrived in Auckland on the 14th September 1945 and was admitted to hospital where for the next two (2) or three (3) weeks he received some remedial treatment to his poorly set leg before leaving for Christchurch.

Ronald Charles Warren was born on the 26th July 1923 in Christchurch City, Canterbury, New Zealand. Ronald passed away on the 9th April 2002 in Christchurch City, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Burial details:

None.

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

Other sources listed below:

References(s):

1. NAA: 336/1/1345 Part 6;
2. NAA: 336/1/1955 Part 7.

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