1st Lt Charles Cobb Lanphier
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214)
F4U-1 Corsair 02577 Prisoner Of War (POW) died in captivity

Background
Charles Cobb Lanphier was born May 7, 1918 to parents Thomas George Lanphier and Janet Grant Cobb Adams in in Omaha, Nebraska. His father, Lt. Col. Thomas G. Lanphier was a World War I veteran. His older brother, Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. was born May 7, 1918 in Omaha, Nebraska. His youngest brother was James Lanphier born August 31, 1920. Prewar, he resided in Detroit, Michigan.

Wartime History
On July 31, 1942 enlisted in Miami, Florida. After basic training, he became an aviation cadet and earned his wings and was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-11933. Sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214) "Swashbucklers" operating Fighter 1 Airfield on Guadalcanal.

On April 18, 1943 his older brother, Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. flew the "Yamamoto Mission" and claimed sole credit for shooting down G4M1 Betty 2656 with passenger Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. That evening, reportedly he visited his younger brother at the VMF-214 camp area at Fighter 1 Airfield and told him and other pilots about secret mission and the outcome.

On August 4, 1943 F4U Corsairs from VMF-214 led by Burnett and Synar participated in a multi-service mission fighter sweep over the Central Solomons. During the air combat, Charles Lanphier claimed one victory. A confused air combat marked by mistaken identity of RNZAF P-40s for Ki-61 Tonys, F4U Corsair pilots from VMF-214 claimed three kills including the one claimed by Charlie Lanphier.

Mission History
On August 28, 1943 pilot F4U Corsair 02577 took off from Fighter 1 Airfield on Guadalcanal on a strafing mission against Kahili Airfield (Buin) on southern Bougainville. En route to the target, the formation experienced bad weather and the formation became separated and this Corsair was never seen again. When this aircraft failed to return, it was declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Fate of the Pilot
In fact, Lanphier bailed out over southern Bougainville and landed unhurt. Later, he was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW). By early September 1943, he was transported to Rabaul and imprisoned in the Rabaul POW Camp guarded by the 6th Kempeitai (6th Kempei-Tai). Later, he and the other prisoners were moved to Tunnel Hill POW Camp. On May 15, 1944 he died in captivity of disease including dysentery, starvation, beri-beri and neglect and was buried.

Recovery of Remains
Postwar, Lanphier's remains were exhumed and transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Aerial Victory Claims
Charlie Lanphier was officially credited with one aerial victory on August 4, 1943.

Victory	Date	Location	Aircraft	Notes on claim
1	08/04/43	Munda	Zero	First aerial victory claim.

Memorials
Lanphier was officially declared dead on May 15, 1944. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 11 at site 789.

Relatives
Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. (brother died 1987)
James F. Lanphier (brother died 1969)

References
NARA VMF-214 War Diary August 1943 page 2 (August 4, 1943) 10, 16-18 (August 28, 1943), 10 (August 28, 1943), 16-18 (Action of August 28, 1943)
(Page 2) "At 0825 Captain Burnett, First Lieutenants Synar, Cavanagh, O'Dell, Scarborough and Second Lieutenants Hanson, Lanphier and Jensen took off to rendezvous with 16 F4U’s from VIF-124 at Munda, Rendova Island, on VMF-124's return from a strafing mission to the Shortland-Faisi area. The rendezvous was made and protection given until the last of the strafing group had passed. They were vectored to Munda by the Rendova Fighter Director. Here they made contact with a flight of from ten to twelve Zeros. In the ensuing fight Lts Lanphier, O’Dell and Hanson are each credited with the destruction of a Zero, and Lt. Cavanagh and Lt Jensen each with a probable. For the details see the attached action reports. Lt. Synar was wounded in the leg by 20mm. Fragments fired by a Zero, but he landed safely at Segi from where he was flown to his base in a J2F. All other planes returned safely. One enlisted man joined the squadron."
(Page 10) August 28 [1943]: First Lieutenants Scarborough and Lanphier, and Second Lieutenant Jensen and Knipping took off on a strafing mission to Kahili. Considerable confusion attended this mission - late orders, mix-up in allocation of planes and a Japanese plane which dropped a string of five small bomb in the water at the end of the [Fighter 1] strip. Lt Jensen was the only plane reaching the target. He succeeded in strafing three sets of planes, and set some on fire. On the way up the flight ran into a front and became separated. Lt Lanphier has not been seen since,and is considered missing. (See attached action report for details.)"
(Page 16) "Action of August 28, 1943: Strafing Mission on Kahili Airdrome - Three division of F4U's from this squadron, led by Lieutenants Jensen, Carpenter and Sigel, were scheduled to take off from the Munda strip at 0520 for a strafing mission at the Kahili airdrome."
Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1 Corsair 02577
"02577 (VMF-214) lost Aug 28, 1943. Pilot POW, died in captivity."
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List August 1943 - F4U-1 Corsair 02577 lists name as "Lamphier" sic Lanphier
USMC Casualty Report - Charles Cobb Lanphier, O-11933
(Front) "Certificate of Death received fr BuMed Nov 29 1945 Formerly buried in Australian War Cemetery, Rabaul, New Britain, now buried in Grave 5, Plot 2, USAF Cemetery 5, Finschhafen, New Guinea, 13 Nov 46. Rep of interment dtd 13Nov46 rec'd 5Feb47. Also states man died of pneumonia and date of death believed to be 29 Apr 44. (mfh). Father req remains ret to US for burial in Arlington Natl Cem, Ft. Meyer Va. Appl did 16Feb48. (jjp) Permanently interred 5Apr49 in grave 789, section 11, Arlington Nat Cem,, Ft. Myer, Va. (tvl)."
(Reverse) "Unofficial shortwave broadcast dated 1-3-44 rec'd 1-20-44. (djj)
** Continuance in MIA in conformity with Ltr fr CIC CasDivPerfBranch,PersDept.,USMC to SECNAV dated 8/28/44 rec'd 9/2/44. (jeb).
** failed to return fr an authorized attack mission."
NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Charles Cobb Lanphier
Testimony of Jose Holguin, 1948
"First Lieutenant Charles Cobb LANPHIER U.S. Marine Corps, Detroit. died 15 May 1944, from dysentery, starvation and beri-beri."
Omaha World Herald "Charles Lanphier Missing In Action"
The Akron Beacon Journal "There's More To Air Duty Than Shooting Down Nips" by Helen Waterhouse January 10, 1943 page 8
"Tom's younger brother, is Lieut. Charles C. Lanphier, who is flying in a marine fighter squadron and who is now believed to be en route to a South Sea base. If Charles gets down here, he'll be in rate company–the marine pilots are really good and fine fellows. They're deadly shots–they've had hours of practice that the army somehow hasn't managed to give its pilots."
Detroit Free Press "Lt. Lanphier Died of Hunger in Jap Prison" October 28, 1945 page 7
"Marine Lt. Charles C. Lanphier, 25, of Detroit, died of starvation on Rabaul in a Jap concentration camp May 15, 1944."
Dallas News "Marine Pilot's Reburial Held" April 6, 1949
FindAGrave - Charles C Lanphier (grave photo, news articles) grave hometown is Michigan and rank as Captain
New York Times "Thomas G. Lanphier Jr., 71, Dies; U.S. Ace Shot Down Yamamoto" November 28, 1987
Warbird Forum - The prisoners of Rabaul
The Siege of Rabaul (1996) page 95
Target Rabaul (2013) page 125

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