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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-12 VMF-215 "Fighting Corsairs"  USMC c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Robert M. Hanson, O-019154 (MIA / KIA) Lucknow, India Crashed February 3, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1 Corsair bureau number 56039. Shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12), Marine Fighting Squadron 215 "Fighting Corsairs" VMF-215. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On February 3, 1944 at 9:40am took off from Piva South Airfield (Piva Yoke) on Bougainville piloted by 1st Lt. Robert Murray Hanson as one of eight F4U Corsairs on an escort mission for eighteen TBF Avengers from VMF-233 on a bombing mission against shipping off Rabaul but instead divert to bomb Tobera Airfield. Hanson leading the second flight of Corsairs. The formation included eight F6F Hellcats from VF-38 escorting twelve SBD Dauntless from VMSB-341. Inbound to the target, the weather was scattered cumulus from ground to 5,000' and clear over as the formation flew up the Warangoi River and arrived over the target area by 11:55am and turned over Tobera Airfield. The bombers caught a plane on the ground that exploded and strafed trucks. The formation was intercepted by approximately fifteen Zeros flying in groups of three to six. Intercepting, the F4U Corsairs claimed seven in air combat with the loss of three planes and two bombers damaged. Returning, the formation flew via Kabanga Bay then towards Cape Saint George on New Ireland. Hanson attempted to strafe targets at Cape Alexander on New Ireland. While strafing, this Corsair was hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed into the sea and cartwheeled on impact. When Hanson failed to return, he was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Hanson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hanson is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing with his name in a gold inlay indicating he earned the Medal of Honor. He also has a memorial marker at Newton Cemetery in Newton, MA. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 56039 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List February 1944 - F4U 56039 NARA "VMF-215 War Diary February 1944" page 4-5 "One F4U was reported to have hit the water after a strafing run on Cape St. George. Lieutenant Hanson did not return from this hop. All other planes returned 1310." NARA "VMF-215 Aircraft Action Report No. 18 2 [sic 3] February 1944" pages 1-3 (Page 3) "Lt. Hanson did not return from the hop." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert Murray Hanson FindAGrave - Robert Murray Hanson (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Robert Murray Hanson (photo, memorial marker photo) History of the Marine Corps Aviation in World War II pages 200 (February 3, 1944 mission) Target Rabaul (2013) pages 300-306 South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 531 (February 3, 1944), 581 (footnotes 44, 45) 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  MIA 1 Missing  Medal of Honor |
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