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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-21 VMF-214 "Swashbucklers"  USN 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt Charles Cobb Lanphier, O-11933 USMCR (MIA / POW died May 15, 1944, BR) Omaha, NB Crashed August 28, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1 Corsair bureau number 02577. Assigned to the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214) "Swashbucklers" operating Fighter 1 Airfield on Guadalcanal. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 28, 1943 took off from Fighter 1 on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt Charles C. Lanphier 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). Only one aircraft, F4U piloted by Lt. Alvin J. Jensen managed to reach the target and strafed parked aircraft claiming 24 burned. Japanese records indicate only five were burned on this day. 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. Memorials Lanphier was officially declared dead on May 15, 1944. He was permanently 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 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 NARA VMF-214 War Diary August 1943 pages 10 (August 28, 1943), 16-18 (Action of August 28, 1943) (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." 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 Target Rabaul (2013) page 125 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 28, 2022 |
 F4U  MIA / POW 1 Prisoner Died in Captivity |
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