Operation: Rabaul, New Britain

Date: 19th April 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 68th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, 13th Air Force.

Type: P-39Q-20 Airacobra

Serial: 44-3112

Code: Unknown

Base: Green Island Atoll (Nissan airdrome), Bourgainville

Location: 1½ miles NE of Praed Point, New Britain

Pilot: 1st Lt. William Donald ‘Billy’ Hanks, O-737083 AAF Age 25. PoW */Died/MiA

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

REASON FOR LOSS:

The circumstances leading to the loss of 1st Lt. Hanks and his P-39Q-20 Airacobra were described by the following two after-action reports:

1st Lt. Joseph A. Duhon O-802021:

“On April 19, 1944 we went in to dive bomb Matupi Island. We approached target from Southeast and started our run from 7500 feet and released our bombs at about 3500 feet. We kept going straight out and taking evasive action due to heavy automatic AA fire. About one mile off Praed Point I saw a P-39 at about 100 to 150 feet held straight for the water. At the same time I saw a parachute, fully open and about same altitude as plane. Both hit the water at the same time and I watched the parachute settle on the water, but we didn't turn around to investigate because of the automatic AA fire. The flight leader called in about the accident and then tried to attract the attention of a PV which was patrolling in that vicinity but they kept on going. We joined up with the flight leader and returned to base”.

Note: PV = Patrol Vessel.

Note: Capt. Joseph Arson Duhon O-802021 was flying P-38L Lightning 44-25294 on a fighter sweep mission over Formosa on the 29th January 1945. He was last seen entering cloud bank off the coast of Toyohara Airdrome. He was reported as missing and was officially declared dead on the 30th January 1946.

Capt. John F. Fennell O-794479:

“At the time Lt. Hanks want down two PV’s were patrolling in that area. At 0945 a PV sighted a man in a life jacket ¼ mile South of Praed Point. The other PV led Dumbo with fighters toward the downed pilot but Dumbo was unable to land because of weather and heavy rain.

On April 20, P-39's after completing dive bombing mission searched the area and search was negative. All planes on missions in that area were notified to search area in the vicinity were the pilot went down”.

Note: "Dumbo" was the code name for an Air-Sea Rescue mission.

Note: John Francis Fennell survived the war and returned to the United States. He passed away on the 11th May 1980.

It was later established that 1st Lt. Hanks had baled out and had been captured and held at the Tunnel Hill Cave PoW Camp in a mountain pass named Tanoura on Tunnel Hill road, which was about 2½ miles from Rabaul City and between Rabaul and Pilapila.

In his affidavit 1st Lt. Jose L. Holguin reported that in his opinion because of gross negligence by the Japanese in not providing adequate food and medical attention 1st Lt. Hanks died on the 14th August 1944 from Beriberi and Dysentery.

An overview of the investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and those deemed to be responsible for executions and atrocities is summarised in the report entitled “Talili Bay Massacre, New Britain”.

On the 29th December 1945, the 18th Australian War Graves Unit recovered the remains of twelve (12) Allied personnel which were found in graves located approximately 50 yards south of the Tunnel Hill ‘Death Valley’ PoW Camp.

The names of 1st Lt. Hanks and the other eleven (11) were translated from the crosses over the graves, checked against the Japanese Military Police records and a list provided by Capt. John J. Murphy:

1st Lt. Hugh L. Cornelius O-14783 USMCR;
1st Lt. Thomas B. Fessenger O-663706 USAAF;
1st Lt. John J. Fitzgerald O-26468 USMCR;
1st Lt. Charles C. Lanphier O-11933 USMCR;
1st Lt. Robert W. Sherman O-24763 USMCR;
Lt (Jg) James A. Warren O-156661 USNR;
S/Sgt. John J. Gillis Jr. 20610868 USAAF;
Sqn Ldr. John E. Todd 271707 RAAF;
Flt Sgt. Harry B. Dawkins 280791 RAAF;
Fg Off. Leslie A. McLelland-Symonds 401314 RNZAF;
WO. Norman N. Vickers 413232 RNZAF.

Above: Courtesy of the Casper Star Tribune, dated 17th December 1945

Although 1st Lt. Hanks was one of those identified none of the remains recovered from this site and a second burial site near the Tunnel Hill PoW camp were subsequently identified as those of 1st Lt. Hanks and as a consequence he is still MiA.

Burial details:

Above: S/Sgt. William D. ‘Billy’ Hanks, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

1st Lt. William Donald ‘Billy’ Hanks. Air Medal (AM) with seven Oak Leaf Clusters (7 OLC). Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing. Born on the 13th January 1919 in Preston, Idaho. Son of Albert and Beatrice Mary (née Gay) Hanks of Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming. Husband to Mildred (née Gibbs) Hanks of Multnomah, Oregan, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the murdered pilot and his relatives (Jan 2026). Addition of Graves information (May 2026).

Other sources listed below:

References(s):

Investigation File: NAA: 336/1/1345 Part 6

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt