Earl Chrisman Thompson
First Lieutenant Earl C. “Tommy” Thompson was a Marine pilot with VMF-422.
He was lost at sea on a flight between Tarawa and Funafuti, 25 January 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-24066
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 25, 1922
at Visalia, CA
Parents
Earl F. Thompson
Ireta Edna (Chrisman) Thompson
Education
Fresno High School (1940)
Fresno State College (ex-1944)
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
June 30, 1942 (enlisted)
May 22, 1943 (officer)
Home Of Record
219 Castlegate Avenue
Compton, CA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Ireta C. Thompson
Military Specialty
Pilot
Assistant Communications Officer
Primary Unit
VMF-422
Campaigns Served
—
Individual Decorations
—
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Lieutenant Thompson and VMF-422 arrived in the South Pacific on 24 January 1944, catapulting from the USS Kalinin Bay and landing on the newly-christened Hawkins Field on the newly-won island of Betio, Tarawa atoll. The squadron was to fly long-distance from Tarawa to Nanumea in the Ellice Islands (Tuvalu). The invasion of the Marshall Islands was underway, and it was anticipated that VMF-422 would base out of an airfield soon to be captured.
The flight of 23 Corsairs departed on the morning of 25 January and proceeded without incident until about fifteen minutes flying time from Nanumea. There, they encountered a “violent tropical hurricane” with rain so thick they could not see straight ahead. The squadron headed down to the deck to fly through the weather; when they emerged, five planes were missing and only three pilots responded to radio calls.
Tommy Thompson’s Corsair (F4U-1 18025) was last seen entering the weather front, and the pilot was never heard from again. He was ultimately declared dead on 26 January 1945.
Only one of the 23 Corsairs that departed from Tarawa managed to reach Funafuti. Six VMF-422 pilots lost their lives in the ill-fated ferry mission.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, Earl & Ireta Thompson
Location Of Loss
The VMF-422 Corsairs were lost somewhere in the vicinity of Nanumea atoll, Tuvalu.
