Robert Murray Hanson

First Lieutenant Robert Hanson began his combat flying career as a member of VMF-214, the “Black Sheep Squadron.” In his first two tours, he shot down five Japanese planes, and survived being shot down in turn. Transferred to VMF-215 (“the Fighting Corsairs”), Hanson added to his score while flying combat missions to Rabaul in January 1944. In six flights over 13 days, he shot down an astonishing 20 enemy aircraft, earning the nickname “Butcher Bob.”

On 3 February 1944, Hanson took off from Piva North airfield in F4U-1 #56039 as part of an eight-plane mission covering a TBF strike on Tobera Airfield. Fifteen Japanese fighters appeared as the bombers struck the target, but were intercepted by the Corsair pilots who claimed three shot down. Hanson did not score in this short fight, and joined up for the return flight which would lead over Kabanga Bay and Cape St. George on the southern tip of New Ireland.

The cape was a known hotspot of Japanese antiaircraft positions, with a prominent lighthouse possibly acting as a fire control position. In “Hanson Remembered” (Leatherneck Magazine vol 68, no 5, May 1985) writer Tom Bartlett notes that the Japanese also had a radar station at the Cape – certainly this would account for the spirited defense. Bartlett also relates that the VMF-215 commander, Major Robert G. Owens, “had warned his pilots that strafing the point was not part of their mission. He recommended that they fly straight back. But, in fact the major had not prohibited the strafing run on the island….”

Owens also opined that “Hanson wasn’t afraid of anything. He took risks; it was his only fault. He was probably trying too hard to pass Foss and Boyington.”

Hanson, possibly frustrated at being denied the 26th kill that would have tied “Pappy” Boyington’s score, radioed his flight leader for permission to strafe the Cape St. George installations. Captain Harold Spears consented, and Hanson went streaking down at the target, guns blazing.