Operation: Vanakanau Airdrome, New Britain

Date: 21st May 1943 (Friday)

Unit No: 64th Bombardment Squadron (H), 43rd Bombardment Group (H), 5th Air Force

Type: B-17E ‘Honi Kuu Okole’

Serial: 41-9244

Code: Unknown

Base: 7 Mile Drome, Port Moresby, New Guinea

Location: St. Georges Channel, New Britain

Pilot: Maj. Paul Irving Williams SS (2 OLC), AM (OLC), O-418154 AAF Age 26. MiA

Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. John Stanton Rippy AM, O-730964 AAF Age 26. PoW/Murdered/MiA (1)

Navigator: 2nd Lt. Richard U. Aguirre DFC, AM (2 OLC), O-733398 Age 24. MiA

Bombardier: M/Sgt. Gordon Richard Manuel DFC, AM (2 OLC), 13023327 AAF Age 26. Evaded (2)

Engineer: S/Sgt. Robert Butler Gills Jr. AM, 33122679 AAF Age 25. MiA

Radio Operator: Sgt. Edward Wilson Driscoll SS, AM (OLC), 36047422 AAF Age 24. MiA

Gnr: S/Sgt. Lawrence LeRoy Rexroat AM,18004066 AAF Age 22. MiA

Ball Turret: Pfc. William Richard Smith SS, AM, 15098049 AAF Age 20. MiA

Waist Gnr: Sgt. Robert Allen Curry AM,11007351 AAF Age 23. PoW/Murdered/MiA (1)

Tail Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Francis Murray SS, AM, 13047717 AAF Age 22. MiA

Passenger: 1st Lt. Robert Frederick Heller O-398021 AAF Age 25. MiA (3)

Note: ‘Honi Kuu Okole’ is Hawaiian for “Kiss My Ass”

Above: 1st Lt. Charles A. Olson and crew of the 64th Bomb Squadron, 43rd Bomb Group, in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" at a base somewhere in New Guinea. Four (4) of the crew are highlighted below in this photograph (Official USAAF photograph)

Front row, left to right: 1st Lt. Charles A. Olson, 1st Lt. John L. Pickering, 2nd Lt. Roy C. Parks, M/Sgt. Gordon R. Manuel; Back row, left to right: S/Sgt. Lawrence L. Rexroat, Sgt. Robert A, Curry, Sgt. Joseph F. Murray, S/Sgt. Arthur Sansone, S/Sgt. John H. Allen.

Note: As far as can be ascertained from available records the others from 1st Lt. Olson’s crew survived the war and returned to their home towns.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 21st May 1943 at 01:00 hrs B-17E ‘Honi Kuu Okole’ took-off from Debadura in New Guinea to bomb Vanakanau Airdrome at Rabaul, New Britain.

After crossing the Warasgoi River in the vicinity of Cape Gazelle, enroute to the target the aircraft was suddenly hit in #3 and #4 engines by fire from a Japanese night-fighter. A few seconds later a second burst also set engines #1 and #2 ablaze. Additionally the incendiary bombs, stored in the radio compartment, were set on fire.

B-17E ‘Honi Kuu Okole’ was intercepted and shot down by a Nakajima J1N1-S Gekkō “Irving” Night-fighter flown by Japanese Pilot Shigetoshi Kudo.

Shigetoshi Kudo went on to claim nine (9) aerial victories and two (2) probables. During May 1945 he was seriously injured in a landing accident and was not able to resume combat missions before the end of the war.

The aircraft came down in the St. Georges Channel, about 00:00 hrs approximately seven (7) miles due east of the Talilie Plantation and exploded when it hit the water.

(1) 2nd Lt. Rippy made it ashore on Induna Island where he was captured. He was taken to a Japanese PoW camp in Rabaul, where he was executed with the four (4) crew from B-17E 41-9011 and three other unnamed Americans on the 27th November 1943.

Sgt. Curry also made it ashore on the NE shore of New Britain Island, about 30 miles south of Rabaul. He was captured and taken to a Japanese PoW camp in Rabaul, where he was executed on 9th December 1943.

After the Japanese surrender 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.

Thirty (30) bodies were recovered with the majority appearing to have been executed by decapitation and in some cases the victims had been bound wire before being killed. None of the remains recovered were identified as those of 2nd Lt. John S. Rippy and Sgt. Robert A. Curry consequently they 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.

Four (4) of the bodies were Australians and three (3) Americans had been known to be in the hands of the Japanese Navy in Rabaul and had allegedly been sent away by ship. The other nine (9) identified RAAF airmen were not previously known to have been captured were from 20 Sqn PBY-5 Catalina A24-18.

The recovered remains of two (2) RAAF airmen were never identified as were the remains of nine (9) American servicemen and two (2) unidentified whose Nationality were unknown.

The four (4) identified RAAF airmen were:

Sgt. David Stuart Brown 401489 RAAF who was the Pilot from 75 Sqn Kittyhawk A29-38 lost on operations on the 11th April 1942;

Flt Lt. Geoffrey Hubert Vincent 400866 RAAF and WO. John Pretty Bailey 4240 RAAF who were respectively the Pilot and Observer from 8 Sqn Beaufort A9-244 which was reported missing on operations on the 21st October 1943;

Fg Off. Ross Bryan O’Loghlen 400662 RAAF who was the Observer from 8 Sqn Beaufort A9-262 which was missing on operations over New Ireland/New Britain on the 4th December 1943.

The three Americans were from the USAAF, USNR and USN:

1st Lt. Phillip L. Bek, Silver Star (SS), DFC O-724280 USAAF who was the Navigator aboard B-17F 41-24454 lost on the 13th June 1942;

ENS. Philip Kirk Phillis O-251356 USNR and AAM2c. Paul Munroe Mannon 6603207 USN who were a 2nd Pilot and Gunner respectively from a VPB-52 "Black Cats" PBY-5A Catalina #8428 which was lost on the 20th November 1943.

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.

(2) M/Sgt. Manuel baled out at about 800 feet and he knew that 2nd Lt. Rippy and thought that some may have succeeded in baling out and did not think there was a chance any other of the remaining members of the crew could have survived the crash.

M/Sgt. Manuel could see the tail and one wing section blown into the air and immediately settle into the water.

As he landed in the sea he could see 2nd Lt. Rippy’s parachute descending into the water, approximately ¾ mile from his position, but was never able to make contact with him. He inflated his Mae West swam for seven (7) hours until he reached the shore near the reef just below Induma Island.

He later learned from natives who had assisted him that 2nd Lt. Rippy was unable to hide because he was exhausted from the six (6) hour swim to shore and was immediately captured by Japanese soldiers who took him to Rabaul by destroyer.

M/Sgt. Manuel evaded the Japanese until he was rescued by submarine USS Gato on the 5th February 1944.

The story of M/Sgt. Manuel’s escape and evasion is retold in great detail by him in the publication “70,000 to 1” – By Quentin Reynolds.

Gordon Richard Manuel was born on the 4th April 1917 in Hodgdon, Aroostook County, Maine.

M/Sgt. Manuel was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. (ASN O-888863) on the 29th February 1944. He went on to serve in the USAF and attained the rank of Capt.

He went on to serve in the USAF and attained the rank of Capt. He was discharged from the service in 1948 on a medical disability and spent the next two years in and out of military hospitals. Two (2) months after being discharged from Cushing General hospital in Framingham, Maine he passed away on the 16th August 1950 of a cerebral haemorrhage aged just 33. It was thought that his condition was as a result of his nine (9) months in the jungle evading the Japanese.

Capt. Manuel was awarded the Silver Star (SS) with an Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with an OLC, the Air Medal (AM) with a Silver (OLC) and the Purple Heart (PH).

Above: Courtesy of the Evening Star, dated 23rd August 1950

Gordon Richard Manuel is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery Section 8, Grave 6423.

(3) 1st Lt. Robert F. Heller was from the 529th Bombardment Squadron (H), 380th Bombardment Group (H).

Burial details:

Above: Maj. Paul Irving William, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

Maj. Paul Irving Williams. Silver Star (SS) 2 Oak Leaf Clusters (2 OLC); Air Medal (AM) (OLC), Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born Circa 1917 in Oklahoma. Son of Andrew L. and Thesolonia Byrde (née Smoot) Williams of Norman, Cleveland, Oklahoma, USA.

Above: 2nd Lt. John Stanton Rippy, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

2nd Lt. John Stanton Rippy. Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 14th June 1916 in Floyada, Texas. Son of Maud (deceased in May 1923) and Florence Ellen (née Cone) Rippy of Buena Park, California. Husband to Mary Katherine (née King) Rippy of Maricopa, Arizona, USA.

Above: 2nd Lt. Richard U. Aguirre, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

2nd Lt. Richard U. Aguirre. Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal (AM) (2 OLC). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 24th March 1919 Boise, Idaho. Son of Domingo and Juanita Aguirre of Mountain Home, Idaho. Husband to Margaret A. Aguirre of Mountain Home, Idaho, USA.

Above: S/Sgt. Robert Butler Gills Jr, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

S/Sgt. Robert Butler Gills Jr. Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing.Born on the 16th April 1918 in Dinwiddie, Virginia. Son of Robert Butler and Roberta ‘Bertie’ (née Hubbard) Gills of Washington DC, USA.

Above: Sgt. Edward Wilson Driscoll, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

Sgt. Edward Wilson Driscoll. Silver Star (SS), Air Medal (AM) (OLC), Purple Heart (PH) (OLC). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 28th June 1918 in Galesburg, Illinois. Son of Edward W. and Ethel Rebecca (née Youngren) Driscoll of Galesburg, Knox, Illinois, USA.

Above: S/Sgt. Lawrence LeRoy Rexroat, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

S/Sgt. Lawrence LeRoy Rexroat. Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 6th June 1920 in Helena, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. Son of George Preston and Isabell Margaret (née Dupas) Rexroat of Aline, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, USA.

Above: Pfc. William Richard Smith, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

Pfc. William Richard Smith. Silver Star (SS), Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH) (OLC). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 19th November 1922 in Allen County, Ohio. Son of Berlin Evan James and Claudine Auvena (née Young) Smith of Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA.

Above: Sgt. Robert Allen Curry, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

Sgt. Robert Allen Curry. Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born circa 1920 in Quincy, Massachusetts. Son of Simon Peter and Flora Belle (née Foss) (deceased in Sep 1929) Curry in Quincy, Massachusetts, USA.

Above: Sgt. Joseph Francis Murray, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

Sgt. Joseph Francis Murray. Silver Star (SS), Air Medal (AM), Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 13th June 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Son of Miles Martin and Ruth Matilda (née Kalbach) (deceased in May 1932) Murray of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. USA.

Above: 1st Lt. Robert Frederick Heller, Wall of the Missing (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

1st Lt. Robert Frederick Heller. Purple Heart (PH). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 12th October 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. Son of Wallace M. and Edith (née Phillips) Heller of Oak park, Cook County, Illinois.Husband of Madelline (née Vaughan) Heller of McRae, Georgia, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Sep 2025).

Other sources listed below:

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt