William Todd Campbell
Major William T. “Bill” Campbell was a Marine fighter pilot who flew with VMF-211.
He was reported missing in action after a mission to Buka, Solomon Islands, on 8 January 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-6985
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
January 8, 1916
at New York, NY
Parents
George Welford Campbell (d. 1925)
Helen M. (Boyd) Campbell
Education
The Hill School
Ridgewood High School (1934)
Colgate University (1938)
Cornell Law School (one year)
Occupation & Employer
“In the export business in Panama” (details unknown)
Service Life
Entered Service
May 11, 1937 (enlisted)
July 15, 1939 (officer)
Home Of Record
Ridgewood, NJ
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Katherine P. Campbell
Military Specialty
Pilot
Division Leader
Primary Unit
VMF-211
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons (two tours)
Individual Decorations
Air Medal
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
William “Bill” Campbell, a Marine pilot who earned his wings at NAS Miami and taught advanced students at NAS Corpus Christi, deployed to the Pacific in the spring of 1943 as a member of VMF-212. After a few months of duty at Midway, Campbell transferred to VMF-211 (“the Wake Island Avengers”) and traveled to the South Pacific for combat duty. He flew one uneventful tour out of the Russell Islands, and in December traveled with the squadron to Torokina Field on Bougainville. On 7 January 1944, Campbell was promoted to the rank of major.
The following day – 8 December 1944, his twenty-eighth birthday – Major Campbell led his four-plane division to prowl around the island of Buka, just north of Bougainville. As the Corsairs flew over Ramun Bay, they spotted a tempting target: three Japanese float planes and two barges loaded with personnel. Campbell and 1Lt. Harold Segal took on the barges, while Lieutenants Marshall Tutton and Nathaniel R. Landon, Jr., attacked the float planes. In minutes, all targets were aflame or sinking, riddled with bullets.
As the division formed up to fly home, they noticed that Major Campbell’s Corsair (F4U-1 #17825) was missing. No antiaircraft fire was reported, and the cause of his disappearance was a mystery. Repeated search flights turned up no trace except a parachute hanging from a tree. By 9 January, even this meager clue had vanished.
Nothing more was ever learned of Bill Campbell’s fate, and he was ultimately declared dead on 15 January 1946.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Bill Campbell’s older brother, Lt (j.g.) Thomas B. Campbell, was stationed in the Pacific with a PT boat squadron. Naturally, Tom took a keen interest in Bill’s disappearance and investigated on his own. He found some clues indicating Bill might have been captured.
Officers of his squadron gave me the details of the flight & reported that they had not seen him crash, nor had they observed any AA fire, Search flight indicated no wreckage observed. Two natives who arrived at Torokina from Buka reported that a US plane was forced down in the water between Taiof & Madehas Islands west of Buka Passage & the plane's pilot was rescued by natives & turned over to Japanese. It is the opinion of authorities at Torokina that the pilot was evac by submarine to Japan for interrogation & imprisonment. After receiving this info I studied SoPac action reports & failed to find any other US planes forced down in the above area between Dec 18 & Feb 23. This leads me to believe that the pilot is my brother.
However, Bill Campbell was never officially reported as a prisoner of war, and the exact circumstances of his fate are not known.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of wife, Mrs. Katherine Prowse Campbell
Location Of Loss
Major Campbell was last seen over Ramun Bay, Buka.
