|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USMC MAW-1 MAG-12 VMF-212  Boyle c1943 |
Pilot Major Donald W. Boyle, O-007065 USMCR (POW, survived) Brooklyn, NY Ditched January 23, 1944 at 9:35am Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1 Corsair bureau number 49891. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12) to Marine Fighting Squadron 212 (VMF-212) "Hell Hounds / The Musketeers" based at Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 23, 1944 between 7:00am to 7:20am took off from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville pilot Major Donald W. Boyle leading a division as one of 24 F4U Corsairs on a mission to escort SBD Dauntless dive bombers and TBF Avengers attacking Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Also escorting were F4U Corsairs from VMF-321, F4U Corsairs from VMF-211, F6F Hellcats from VF-40, P-38 Lightnings and RNZAF P-40 Kittyhawks. At 8:15am the Corsairs rendezvous with the Avengers and together proceeded towards the target area crossing Cape Bunbun on New Ireland then flew over the Duke of York Islands and Laweo Point. Over the target, the SBD Dauntless dive bombers attacked anti-aircraft positions at while the TBF Avengers bombed the runway at Lakunai Airfield. During the attack, anti-aircraft fire was heavy, intense and accurate at their altitude. After the bombing was completed, the formation was intercepted by A6M Zeros over Matupi Harbor with dog fights continuing until the formation reached New Ireland. During the air combat, VMF-212 claimed fifteen Zekes, 1 Tony and 1 Hamp shot down, plus five probable Zeros, 1 Hamp and claimed to damage 3 Zeros. Boyle was credited with 1 Zeke probable. At 9:35am, Boyle was last seen flying low and slow over St. Georges Channel towards New Ireland. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fate of the Pilot In fact, Boyle ditched into the sea and swam to Utuan Island (Utan) in the Duke of York Islands. Afterwards, he was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) and was transported to Rabaul. On February 17, 1944 Boyle was one of six Allied prisoners transported aboard a G4M1 Betty bomber that departed Rabaul to Truk then onward to Japan. For the remainder of the Pacific War, Boyle was detained in Japan including at Tokyo POW Camp #5-B Niigata and Yokohama 18-D. He survived the Pacific War and was liberated on September 19, 1945 from Tokyo POW Camp (Shinjuku) and returned to the United States. During October 1945, Marine pilots and former POWs Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington and Boyle were reunited in New York City during a World War II victory parade. Memorials Boyle retired from the USMC with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He passed away on December 26, 1996. He is buried at Rabun Memory Park Cemetery in Tiger, GA. References Boyle was part of the prewar Aviation Cadet (AVCAD) program and became Naval Aviator #8858 in 1941. Aircraft History Card - F4U Corsair 49891 Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 49891 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List January 1944 - F4U-1 Corsair 49891 NARA "Marine Fighting Squadron 212 War Diary January 1944" page 12-14 (Page 13) "Major Donald W. Boyle, USMCR, was last seen at 0935 flying low and slowly towards New Ireland over St. George's Channel. He did not return from the mission." NARA "Aircraft Action Report (AAR) VMF-212 23 January 1944 pages 32-39 (Page 34) "Personnel Casualties: Boyle, Donald W., Major USMC, cause: unknown, comment: missing in action" NARA "Marine Aircraft Group Fourteen War Diary January 1944" page 9 (Page 9) "23 January [1944] VMF-212 fighters escorted TBFs and SBDs striking Lakunai. In fighting off the intercepting Zeros VMF-212 pilots accounted for fifteen Zekes, one Tony and one Hamp and were credited with probably destroying an additional five Zekes and one Hamp, damaging three other Zekes. Major Donald W. Boyle did not return from the mission." NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Donald W. Boyle Daily News "Heroes Can Look at a Hat... With Eyes on the Future" October 9, 1945 page 20 "Strolling on Park Ave., Lieut. Col. Greg (Pappy) Boyington (right) and his cellmate in a Jap prison camp, Major Donald Winser Boyle, do some window shopping. Both Marine heroes are at the Waldorf-Astoria for a glimpse of Manhattan life. Pappy has 26 Jap planes to his credit." Mansell "Truk POW Camp" Mansell "Tokyo-05B-Niigata Yanks" Mansell "Yokohama 18-D - American Roster (recreated)" FindAGrave - LTC Donald Winser Boyle The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida page 93 (Rabaul's Military Prisoners - Boyle) Thanks to Henry Sakaida and Marty Irons for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 8, 2024 |
 F4U  Photo Archive  POW 1 Prisoner |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
