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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-11 VMTB-233 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Hugh L. Cornelius, 014783 (POW died April 29, 1944, BR) Aztec, NM Radio Pfc Edwin D. St. Germain, 498645 (POW died February 15, 1944, BR) Elgin, IL Gunner SSgt Edward M. Slipkas, 323548 (POW died April 29, 1944, BNR) Lawrence, MA MIA February 14, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Grumman in Bethpage, New York as a model G-40. Constructors Number 4838. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBF-1 Avenger Bureau Number 47506. Shipped overseas to the South Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 233 "Bulldogs/Rainbow" VMTB-233. Squadron number (Plane Number) 10. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On February 14, 1944 three groups of Avengers took off from Piva Uncle Airfield on Bougainville at 1:30am piloted by 1st Lt. Hugh L. Cornelius on a mission to to drop aerial mines into the northern half of Simpson Harbor near Rabaul. Each Avenger was armed with one Mark 12-1 aerial mine per plane. This aircraft took off as one of eight Avengers in "Group B", the second to take off and second over the target. The formation also included "Group A" with nine Avengers plus "Group C" with eleven Avengers (two aborted the mission). Over the target, each aircraft attacked from less than 600' altitude, flying at a slow speed speed of less than 180 knots. During the attack, the Avengers were targeted by searchlights and intense anti-aircraft fire. One plane was lost from "Group A" (attacking east to west), two planes, including this aircraft were lost from "Group B" (attacking west to east) and three were lost from "Group C" (attacking east to west). When this Avenger failed to return from the mission, the crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). A total of six Avengers went down that day, including this aircraft plus TBF 06311 (MIA), TBF 24264 (MIA), TBF 24340 (MIA), TBF 25327 (MIA), TBF 25316 (MIA). It is believed this Avenger crashed into Simpson Harbor. Fate of the crew St. Germain likely died in the crash and was not taken prisoner. At least two of the crew: Cornelius and Slipkas were captured by the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POW) and were detained at the Tunnel Hill POW Camp near Rabaul. Cornelius died of malaria April 29, 1944 and was buried in the vicinity of Tunnel Hill Road. Slipkas was reported as a POW as of April 12, 1944, but died in captivity and was buried in the vicinity of Tunnel Hill Road. Phil White adds: "There were, according to other sources, several planes shot down in Simpson Harbor that night, one plane from the first wave of eight, two from the second, and three from the third group of eight. Captain Bartholf [TBF Avenger 06311] and Lt. Cornelius [this aircraft] planes were observed by others to be shot down inside the harbor; “The planes piloted by Lieutenants Boyden, Sherman, Fowler, and Hathway (also) failed to return to base. The report in my possession also states that the remains of Lt. Cornelius and Lt. Sherman were found buried among the unknowns recovered from Prisoner of War cemeteries in the Tunnel Hill Road vicinity of Rabaul. An additional identified person’s remains, those of PFC Duane St. Germain, were also found, suggesting to the report’s author that “perhaps more of the personnel in the above flight may have reached shore safely and have been buried among the unknown recovered from POW cemeteries in the Rabaul area.” This would suggest that actually five were shot down and one plane “escaped” from the harbor but did not return to base." Recovery of Remains Postwar, American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) located and recovered the remains of Cornelius and St. Germain's near Tunnel Hill Road and recovered. Both were transported to the USAF Cemetery Finschafen No. 2 (Finschaffen Cemetery) and buried at grave 0006 and 0030. Later, they were exhumed and transported to the United States and Manila for permanent internment. Slipkas' remains were never recovered. Memorials Cornelius was officially declared dead on April 29, 1944. He is buried at Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, CA. St Germain was officially declared dead on February 15, 1945. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart with Gold Star, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot D row 8 grave 254. Slipkas was officially declared dead on April 12, 1944. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart with Gold Star, posthumously. He remains Missing In Action (MIA) and is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. References Fold3 NARA USMC War Diary VMTB-233 1 February 1944 Through 29 February 1944 pages 53, 80-82 (Page 53) " 14 February 1944 1. Orders Received. Mining operations in north half of Simpson Harbor. Diversion support will be provided by PV-1 aircraft on Vunakanau Airfield. Mines will be laid from the east to west. 2. Operations. Three groups of planes each took off from Piva U strip at one hour intervals starting at 0030 carrying one Mk. 12-1 mine per plane. Group A and C made attack from East to West, retiring down St. Georges Channel. Group B made attack from West to East and retired across Talili Bay and neck of Crater Peninsula. All mines had to be dropped from less than 600' at a speed of less than 180 knots. One plane failed to catch up and returned to Piva U strip. 3. Special Action Report. The planes were picked up by searchlights followed by intense AA fire throughout the attack. One plane was lost from the 1st. division, two from the second division and three from the last division ["Group C"]. As a result 16 miles were accounted for as dropped, one hung, six were unaccounted for and two were not dropped. Lt. Bartholf and Cornelius and crews were believed shot down in flames. Lts. Boyden, Sherman, Fowler and Hathway failed to return." (Page 80-81) COMAIRSOLS Strike Command TBF Intelligence Struck 14, February, 1944 (Page 82) "Plane No. 10, Pilot Cornelius, Passengers St. Germain, Slipkas (did not return)" USMC Casualty Card - Hugh L. Cornelius USMC Casualty Card - Edwin D. St Germain USMC Casualty Card - Edward M. Slipkas NARA "World War II Prisoners of War Data File" Slipkas Edward M report date April 12, 1944 NARA "World War II Prisoners of War Data File" Cornelius Hugh L report date April 29, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edwin D. St Germain American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward M. Slipkas FindAGrave - Capt Hugh Lonea Cornelius (grave photo) FIndAGrave - SSgt Edward M Slipkas (tablets of the missing) USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List February 1944 list TBF-1 47506 piloted by Cornelius Navy Serial Number Search Results TBF-1 Avenger 47506 The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida page 93 (Rabaul's Military Prisoners - Cornelius) Target Rabaul (2013) pages 311-312 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 5, 2023 |
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