Harl Pease
Encyclopedia
Harl Pease, Jr., was a United States Army Air Forces
officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest award, the Medal of Honor
, for his actions during World War II
. He is the namesake for Pease Air Force Base.
, enlisted in the Army Air Corps
in 1939 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire
the same year with a degree in Business Administration and becoming a brother of Theta Chi Fraternity.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
in June 1940 and awarded pilot rating upon completion of flight training
at Kelly Field, Texas. Pease was assigned to the 19th Bomb Group as a B-17 pilot at Albuquerque Army Air Base, and in October 1941 flew with the group to Clark Field in the Philippines. As part of the Far East Air Force, Pease was present at Clark Field when it was bombed by Japanese aircraft on December 8, 1941, flew missions in defense of the Philippines, and evacuated with the group to Darwin, Northern Territory
, on December 20, 1941. Pease continued to fly missions with the group in defense of Java until the end of February 1942.
As the Japanese advanced in the Philippines, Lt. Pease was ordered to lead three B-17s of the 19th BG to Del Monte Field on Mindanao
to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur, along with the General's family and staff, to Australia. One of the battered planes was forced to abort early, while another developed engine trouble and crashed south of Del Monte. Pease landed his Fortress safely, despite its inoperative wheel brakes. MacArthur was shocked at the sight of Pease's aircraft, upon which the ground crews of the undersupplied 19th had used cut-up ration cans to patch bullet holes, as well as Pease himself, whom MacArthur described as a "child". MacArthur flatly refused to place his wife and son aboard Pease's B-17 and instead waited for another plane to arrive two days later.
In May, from a base near Townsville, Queensland
, the 19th BG supported naval carrier aircraft in the Battle of the Coral Sea
, and bombed targets on the north coast of New Guinea, 16-18 hour missions that necessitated staging through Port Moresby
. During the first six months of the war, the 19th was awarded four Distinguished Unit Citations.
On August 6, 1942, one engine of Pease's B-17 failed during a mission, forcing a return to its base at Mareeba Airfield
for repairs. The 19th BG had already scheduled a "maximum effort" mission against Rabaul
, New Britain
, on August 7 but Pease and his crew, with their aircraft out of commission, were not scheduled. Pease understood the importance of the mission and determined to rejoin the group. Only one B-17 at Mareeba was flyable, a "war-weary" bomber relegated to training. Its engines needed overhaul, some armament had been dismounted, and the electric fuel-transfer pump had been used for replacement parts. Pease had a fuel tank installed in the bomb bay, with a handpump rigged to transfer fuel, and in less than three hours, was en route to Port Moresby with his crew, all of whom had also volunteered for the mission. They landed at 1 a.m. after working or flying almost continuously since 6 a.m. the previous day.
With only three hours crew rest, Pease took off with the group to attack Rabaul's Vunakanau airdrome. Forty to fifty miles from the target, the group was attacked by more than 30 Japanese fighters. Pease and his crew claimed several of the fighters, fought their way to the target, and bombed successfully, but sustained heavy damage in the attacks.
After leaving the target area, Pease’s crippled B-17 fell behind the rest of the formation. Once again attacked by fighters, he was seen to jettison the burning bomb bay fuel tank before falling back out of sight. Pease and his crew were presumed killed in action. Before the B-17 crashed, however, Pease and another crew member were able to bail out. Both were captured and taken to a POW camp in Rabaul. Pease languished there until October 8, 1942. On that date, Pease, along with three other Americans and two Australians, were forced to dig their own grave, then were beheaded. The executed men were buried by local missionaries. It was not until 1946 that their bodies were recovered for a full military burial.
On December 2, 1942, the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously to Pease, was presented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to his father. The recommendation for the award had been issued by Major General George Kenney
, with an endorsement General MacArthur had personally written when Kenney notified him of Pease's death.
(Air Mission)
Rank and Organization: Captain, U.S. Army Air Corps, 93rd Bombardment Squadron. Place and Date Near Rabaul, New Britain, 6-August 7, 1942. Entered Service at: Plymouth, N.H. Birth: Plymouth, N.H. G.O. No.: 59, November 4, 1942.
Citation:
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest award, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, for his actions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is the namesake for Pease Air Force Base.
Biography
Captain Harl Pease, born and raised in Plymouth, New HampshirePlymouth, New Hampshire
Plymouth is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States, in the White Mountains Region. Plymouth is located at the convergence of the Pemigewasset and Baker rivers. The population was 6,990 at the 2010 census...
, enlisted in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in 1939 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
the same year with a degree in Business Administration and becoming a brother of Theta Chi Fraternity.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in June 1940 and awarded pilot rating upon completion of flight training
Flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
at Kelly Field, Texas. Pease was assigned to the 19th Bomb Group as a B-17 pilot at Albuquerque Army Air Base, and in October 1941 flew with the group to Clark Field in the Philippines. As part of the Far East Air Force, Pease was present at Clark Field when it was bombed by Japanese aircraft on December 8, 1941, flew missions in defense of the Philippines, and evacuated with the group to Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, on December 20, 1941. Pease continued to fly missions with the group in defense of Java until the end of February 1942.
As the Japanese advanced in the Philippines, Lt. Pease was ordered to lead three B-17s of the 19th BG to Del Monte Field on Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur, along with the General's family and staff, to Australia. One of the battered planes was forced to abort early, while another developed engine trouble and crashed south of Del Monte. Pease landed his Fortress safely, despite its inoperative wheel brakes. MacArthur was shocked at the sight of Pease's aircraft, upon which the ground crews of the undersupplied 19th had used cut-up ration cans to patch bullet holes, as well as Pease himself, whom MacArthur described as a "child". MacArthur flatly refused to place his wife and son aboard Pease's B-17 and instead waited for another plane to arrive two days later.
In May, from a base near Townsville, Queensland
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
, the 19th BG supported naval carrier aircraft in the Battle of the Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
, and bombed targets on the north coast of New Guinea, 16-18 hour missions that necessitated staging through Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
. During the first six months of the war, the 19th was awarded four Distinguished Unit Citations.
On August 6, 1942, one engine of Pease's B-17 failed during a mission, forcing a return to its base at Mareeba Airfield
Mareeba Airfield
Mareeba Airfield is an airfield located near Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. Built in 1942 as a US Army Air Force base during World War II, the airfield had two runways, with a complement of taxiways, hardstands and a containment area...
for repairs. The 19th BG had already scheduled a "maximum effort" mission against Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, on August 7 but Pease and his crew, with their aircraft out of commission, were not scheduled. Pease understood the importance of the mission and determined to rejoin the group. Only one B-17 at Mareeba was flyable, a "war-weary" bomber relegated to training. Its engines needed overhaul, some armament had been dismounted, and the electric fuel-transfer pump had been used for replacement parts. Pease had a fuel tank installed in the bomb bay, with a handpump rigged to transfer fuel, and in less than three hours, was en route to Port Moresby with his crew, all of whom had also volunteered for the mission. They landed at 1 a.m. after working or flying almost continuously since 6 a.m. the previous day.
With only three hours crew rest, Pease took off with the group to attack Rabaul's Vunakanau airdrome. Forty to fifty miles from the target, the group was attacked by more than 30 Japanese fighters. Pease and his crew claimed several of the fighters, fought their way to the target, and bombed successfully, but sustained heavy damage in the attacks.
After leaving the target area, Pease’s crippled B-17 fell behind the rest of the formation. Once again attacked by fighters, he was seen to jettison the burning bomb bay fuel tank before falling back out of sight. Pease and his crew were presumed killed in action. Before the B-17 crashed, however, Pease and another crew member were able to bail out. Both were captured and taken to a POW camp in Rabaul. Pease languished there until October 8, 1942. On that date, Pease, along with three other Americans and two Australians, were forced to dig their own grave, then were beheaded. The executed men were buried by local missionaries. It was not until 1946 that their bodies were recovered for a full military burial.
On December 2, 1942, the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously to Pease, was presented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to his father. The recommendation for the award had been issued by Major General George Kenney
George Kenney
George Churchill Kenney was a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II. He was commander of the Allied air forces in the Southwest Pacific Area from August 1942 until 1945.-Early life:...
, with an endorsement General MacArthur had personally written when Kenney notified him of Pease's death.
Medal of Honor citation
- PEASE, HARL, JR.
(Air Mission)
Rank and Organization: Captain, U.S. Army Air Corps, 93rd Bombardment Squadron. Place and Date Near Rabaul, New Britain, 6-August 7, 1942. Entered Service at: Plymouth, N.H. Birth: Plymouth, N.H. G.O. No.: 59, November 4, 1942.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on 6–7 August 1942. When 1 engine of the bombardment airplane of which he was pilot failed during a bombing mission over New Guinea, Capt. Pease was forced to return to a base in Australia. Knowing that all available airplanes of his group were to participate the next day in an attack on an enemy-held airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain, although he was not scheduled to take part in this mission, Capt. Pease selected the most serviceable airplane at this base and prepared it for combat, knowing that it had been found and declared unserviceable for combat missions. With the members of his combat crew, who volunteered to accompany him, he rejoined his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, at 1 a.m. on 7 August, after having flown almost continuously since early the preceding morning. With only 3 hours' rest, he took off with his squadron for the attack. Throughout the long flight to Rabaul, New Britain, he managed by skillful flying of his unserviceable airplane to maintain his position in the group. When the formation was intercepted by about 30 enemy fighter airplanes before reaching the target, Capt. Pease, on the wing which bore the brunt of the hostile attack, by gallant action and the accurate shooting by his crew, succeeded in destroying several Zeros before dropping his bombs on the hostile base as planned, this in spite of continuous enemy attacks. The fight with the enemy pursuit lasted 25 minutes until the group dived into cloud cover. After leaving the target, Capt. Pease's aircraft fell behind the balance of the group due to unknown difficulties as a result of the combat, and was unable to reach this cover before the enemy pursuit succeeded in igniting 1 of his bomb bay tanks. He was seen to drop the flaming tank. It is believed that Capt. Pease's airplane and crew were subsequently shot down in flames, as they did not return to their base. In voluntarily performing this mission Capt. Pease contributed materially to the success of the group, and displayed high devotion to duty, valor, and complete contempt for personal danger. His undaunted bravery has been a great insplration to the officers and men of his unit.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- Pease Air Force Base