"Bob Hanson Over Keravia Bay"

On 30 January 1944, USMC ace Captain Robert M. Hanson, VMF-215, piloting his Chance-Vought F4U-1A Corsair destroyed four Zeros at Keravia Bay near Simpson Harbor, New Britain. During Hanson’s fourth flight in the Rabaul area – a 24 January bombing raid for which he flew cover – he had been instrumental in forcing the Japanese fighters to break off their attack on the bombers. At Keravia Bay on 30 January, escorting U.S. Navy Grumman TBF-1 Avenger torpedo bombers Hanson brought his total of enemy aircraft destroyed to 25. Killed during another escort and strafing mission a scant four days later, Robert M. Hanson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.