SALAMANCA — As Americans celebrate Memorial Day, they pause to remember the sacrifices made by their loved ones who lost their lives while serving in the United States Military.
George H. Chamberlain was a Salamanca resident who left home in 1942 to fight in World War II. The 25-year-old was killed in action Nov. 2, 1943, at Rabaul, New Britain in the Papua New Guinea region, over 81 years ago.
Chamberlain served as a staff sergeant (SSgt.) and crew member on B-25D “Fifi” #41-30311, 8th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group, Light, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
According to information found on findagrave.com, Chamberlain was declared “Missing In Action” when his B-25 was hit by intense anti-aircraft fire from a Japanese cruiser. Their stabilizer was shot off, along with the left wing and outer wing, causing them to crash upside down into Simpson Harbor, south of Lakunai Airfield and due west of Matupi Island during the war. He was awarded the “Distinguished Flying Cross” and the “Purple Heart.”
All crew members perished that day. The other airmen serving with Chamberlain on the bomber included Howard R. Bunce, 2nd Lt., Co-Pilot, Conn.; Robert E. Murphy, 2nd Lt., Crew, Fla.; Miles L. Rowe, T/Sgt., Crew, Idaho; Raymond H. Wilkins, Maj., Pilot, Va., who received the “Medal Of Honor.”
The aircraft they served on was a North American B-25 Mitchell, which was among the Top 7 WWII American bomber planes. It earned its reputation for high-speed performance at high altitudes, and flew approximately 272 miles per hour.
An undated newspaper clipping from The Salamanca Press, found in the WWII scrapbook of the late Isabelle Probes, described Chamberlain’s posthumous award. The headline read, Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded posthumously to Sgt. G. H. Chamberlain.
“Somewhere in the Southwest Pacific Lt. Gen. George C. Kennedy, commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific, has awarded, posthumously, a ‘Distinguished Flying Cross’ to Staff Sergeant George H. Chamberlain for extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight over Rabaul, New Britain, Nov. 2, 1943.
The airman was a crew member of a B-25 leading a squadron in a coordinated attack against this Japanese base, which was regarded at the time as the strongest in the Southwest Pacific area. Despite a heavy barrage of anti-aircraft fire, which damaged his plane, and a large number of airborne enemy planes, the squadron pressed in at a minimum altitude to attack shipping.
Two 1,000-pound bombs from this B-25 scored direct hits on one destroyer, leaving it in flames, and severely damaged a large merchant vessel. Two cruisers were observed throwing up intense anti-aircraft bursts and, in order to aid the other bombers, this crew made a strafing attack against one of the warships.
Sergeant Killed in Crash
During the run, the plane sustained a direct hit, causing it to roll out of control and crash, costing SSgt. Chamberlain his life.
The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed on this occasion are worthy of the highest commendation and contributed to the success of this important mission in which a total of 50,000 tons of shipping was destroyed, three destroyers sunk and two cruisers, and considerable merchant shipping damaged.”
Born June 26, 1918, Chamberlain was the son of Mrs. Verna Chamberlain, but his father’s name is unknown. He attended Salamanca High School and his senior photo was found in the 1936 yearbook.
At the time of his enlistment in Buffalo, Aug. 29, 1942, Chamberlain was married to Phyllis (Rzenick) and they lived with his mother at 96 Erie Street. He was employed as a brakeman by the Erie Railroad.
He was a graduate of the gunnery school at Tyndall Army Airfield in Florida, where he received his silver wings and sergeant’s rating. He underwent combat training at Columbia, S.C. and, after being stationed at San Francisco for a short time, he was sent overseas to Australia in July 1943, then to New Guinea.
No obituary has been found about Chamberlain’s death in any local newspapers from November 1943, when he was killed. His body was never recovered.
SSgt. Chamberlain is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. A bronze plaque commemorating him is located in Wildwood Cemetery.
The Press wishes to thank the staff at the Salamanca Historical Society Museum and the Salamanca Public Library for their assistance in researching Chamberlain’s personal and military information.
