Stephen Wallace Painter, Jr.
First Lieutenant Stephen W. “Wallace” Painter, Jr., was a Marine pilot flying with VMTB-143.
He was shot down over Lakunai, Rabaul, and died as a prisoner of war on or around 21 February 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-14807
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
March 25, 1916
at New Orleans, LA
Parents
Stephen Wallace Painter, Sr.
Cecile Marie (Weldy) Painter
Education
Warren Easton High School
Tulane University (1941)
Occupation & Employer
Recent graduate
Service Life
Entered Service
January 3, 1942 (enlisted)
November 20, 1942 (officer)
Home Of Record
203 Walker Street
New Orleans, LA
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Cecile M. Painter
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMTB-143
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal
Additional Service Details
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Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
First Lieutenant Stephen Painter was a veteran pilot withwith Marine Torpedo Squadron (VMTB) 143 during the campaign for the northern Solomon Islands. He flew multiple tours with the squadron; from late 1943 onwards, his regular crew consisted of Corporal Harold E. Dey manning the radio and PFC Charles S. Brewer on the turret guns.
On 5 February 1944, the Painter crew took part in a heavy strike on Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Nearly 150 American aircraft bombed and strafed the field, leaving the runway “unserviceable.” Despite “intense and accurate heavy” anti-aircraft fire and Japanese fighter interceptors, only three of 24 TBF Avengers were hit. Unfortunately, Painter’s TBF-1 #23969 was badly damaged and did not return from the mission.
Fighter pilots reported seeing a TBF successfully set down in Blanche Bay between Credner Island and Lesson Point. “The probability is that Lt. Painter and his crew were captured by Japs,” noted the squadron War Diary. When nothing more was heard of the three Marines, they were declared dead on 17 January 1946.
Burial Information or Disposition
An examination of captured Japanese records revealed more details about Lieutenant Painter’s final days. He survived the emergency landing and was taken prisoner – unfortunately, it is not known whether Corporal Dey or PFC Brewer were captured or killed. POW camps at Rabaul were notoriously lethal; in addition to routine mistreatment, prisoners were frequently tortured for information or executed in reprisal for the ongoing Allied bombing campaign. Pilots and aircrew were specifically targeted for such reprisals.
According to Japanese claims, Lieutenant Painter was being transported aboard the Kokai Maru when the ship was sunk by American aircraft on 21 Febraury 1944. Knight’s official date of death was updated accordingly. However, it appears that this story was fabricated to cover evidence of war crimes. Remains exhumed from a Rabaul POW camp showed evidence of execution – and several of the men found there had been on the Kokai Maru roster.
Among the Marines on the list were Lieutenants Painter, John J. Knight, Jr., and Edward A. Croker. None of their remains have been identified.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Cecile Painter.
Location Of Loss
TBF-1 #23969 ditched in the vicinity of the Credner Islands, Papua New Guinea.
