Charles Leonard Larson
First Lieutenant Charles L. “Buddy” Larson was a Marine fighter pilot with VMF-212.
He was reported missing in action on a flight near Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 11 January 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-24643
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
August 29, 1921
at Santa Cruz, CA
Parents
Gustav L. “Cap” Larson
Florence (Michel) Larson
Education
Fort Bragg High School
San Francisco Junior College
Occupation & Employer
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
July 8, 1942 (enlisted)
June 16, 1943 (officer)
Home Of Record
Fort Bragg, CA
Next Of Kin
Father, Mr. Gustav Larson
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMF-212
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Charles “Buddy” Larson earned his Marine Corps commission and pilot’s wings at NATC Corpus Christi, and deployed to the Pacific Theater in late 1943. On 2 January 1944, he was one of seven pilots reassigned to VMF-212 (the “Hell Hounds”); five days later, the squadron moved to Barakoma Airfield, Vella Lavella, to commence a combat tour.
Larson was scheduled to fly his first mission into enemy territory on 11 January 1944 – but something went awry, and when Captain William A. Carlton’s division departed at 1430 hours, Larson was not present. Carlton and company proceeded to the Bougainville area to provide fighter cover for a Navy task force steaming north from Rendova.
At 1640, Lieutenant Larson took off from Barakoma in F4U-1 #17430 and hustled to catch up with his division. Carlton “gave him several vectors” towards the flight path, and carried on with the mission until low fuel required a return to base. The three-plane flight “pancaked” at 1825 hours and reported that Larson had not joined them. When the lieutenant failed to respond to radio messages, he was posted as missing in action.
The following day, Hell Hound pilots flew intensive search missions in the northern Solomon Islands, focusing on the Fauro Islands, Choiseul, and Bougainville. No trace of the missing pilot or plane was ever found.
Charles Larson was declared dead on 15 January 1946.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Memorials
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Namesake of the “Lt. Charles L. Larson Memorial Bridge” at Noyo Harbor, California.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Gustav & Florence Larson.
Location Of Loss
Searches for Lieutenant Larson were conducted in this general area between Choiseul and Bougainville, Solomon Islands.
