1st Lt Robert M. Hanson
United States Marine Corps (USMC), VMF-214 "Black Sheep" / VMF-215 "Fighting Corsairs"
F4U Corsair Pilot and Ace

Background
Robert Murry Hanson was born February 4, 1920 in Lucknow, India. His parents were Methodist missionaries and after attending junior high school in the United States, he returned to India to become light-heavyweight and heavy-weight wrestling champion of the United Provinces. In the spring of 1938 he bicycled through Europe before returning to the United States to attend Hamline University.

Wartime History
In May 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy (USN) for flight training earned his wings. On February 19, 1943 commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) as a 2nd Lieutenant at Corpus Christi, Texas. During June 1943 arrived in the South Pacific (SoPAC). Assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214) "Black Sheep" flying the F4U Corsair. Next, assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 215 "Fighting Corsairs" VMF-215 operating from Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella Island. In combat, he claimed 20 enemy planes shot down in seventeen consecutive flying days.

On November 1, 1943 Hanson took off piloting F4U Corsair 17472 on a combat air patrol (CAP) mission over Empress Augusta Bay off Bougainville and claimed three aerial victories: two Zeros and one Kate before he was damaged and ditched into the sea. Later that same day, rescued by USS Sigourney (DD-643) and returned to duty. For his actions that mission, he later earned the Navy Cross.

On January 24, 1944 Hanson claimed four Zeros over over Rabaul.

On January 30, 1944 Hanson claimed calimed four Zeros over Rabaul.

In total, Hanson claimed 25 aerial victories and was the third highest scoring U.S. Marine Corps ace of World War II. All his victories were flying the F4U Corsair.

Missing In Action
On February 3, 1944 Hanson took off from Piva South Airfield (Piva Yoke) on Bougainville piloting F4U Corsair 56039 on a escort mission on a mission to escort eighteen TBF Avengers from VMF-233 bombing Tobera Airfield south of Rabaul. Returning from the mission, Hanson attempted to strafe targets at Cape Alexander on New Ireland. When he failed to return he was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Medal of Honor
Hanson earned the Medal of Honor for actions on November 1, 1943 and January 24, 1944. On August 19, 1944 his mother was presented his Medal of Honor by Maj. Gen. Lewie G. Merritt in Boston, Massachusetts. He also earned the Navy Cross for his actions on November 1, 1943, He also earned the Air Medal. When he went Missing In Action (MIA) he earned the Purple Heart, posthumously.

Medal of Honor Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty as fighter pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 215 in action against enemy Japanese forces at Bougainville Island, 1 November 1943; and New Britain Island, 24 January 1944. Undeterred by fierce opposition, and fearless in the face of overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with daring aggressiveness. On 1 November, while flying cover for our landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly attacked six enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison their bombs and destroying one Japanese plane during the action. Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory during a high cover flight over Simpson Harbor on 24 January, 1st Lt. Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against hostile interceptors as they were orbiting to attack our bombers and, striking with devastating fury, brought down four Zeroes and probably a fifth. Handling his plane superbly in both pursuit and attack measures, he was a master of individual air combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft in this theater of war. His great personal valor and invincible fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

References
Alphabetical List of WW2 Marine Aces - Hanson
History of the Marine Corps Aviation in World War II pages 182-183 (November 1, 1943 mission), 200 (February 3, 1944 mission), 425 (Appendix I, Medal of Honor: Hanson), 431 (Appendix V, Marine Corps Aces in WWII: Hanson, 25), 485 (index Hanson)
NARA " VMF-215 War Diary November 1943" page 3
(Page 3) "Box Score (while attached to squadron) 1st Lt. R. M. Hanson - 3"
NARA " VMF-215 War Diary November 1943" page 4-5 (November 1, 1943 mission)
Hall ov Valor - Robert Murray Hanson Navy Cross Citation
Target Rabaul (2013) pages 300-306
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 521-522 (January 14, 1944), 526 (January 24, 1944), 528 (January 30, 1944), 531 (February 3, 1944), 581 (footnotes 44, 45)

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