Medal of Honor: Robert M. Hanson – Bougainville & New Britain, World War II – November 1, 1943 & January 24, 1944
Over Bougainville and New Britain, Marine ace Robert M. Hanson tore through Japanese skies like a man possessed — a lone fighter who downed 25 enemy planes before vanishing into legend.
November 4, 2025
Name: Robert Murray Hanson
Rank: First Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Unit: Marine Fighting Squadron 215 (VMF-215)
Born: February 4, 1920 – Lucknow, India
Accredited to: Massachusetts
Other Awards: Navy Cross, Air Medal
Summary of Action
Flying with the “Hell Hawks” of VMF-215, 1st Lt. Robert Hanson quickly gained a reputation as one of the fiercest Marine aviators in the Pacific. On November 1, 1943, as U.S. Marines stormed ashore at Bougainville, Hanson dove into a formation of six Japanese torpedo bombers heading for the invasion fleet. His audacious attack forced the enemy to jettison their payloads and turn tail — one bomber falling in flames under his guns.
Weeks later, during a mission over Simpson Harbor, New Britain, Hanson found himself alone deep in enemy skies, facing an entire group of Japanese interceptors. Rather than flee, he turned into the fight — shooting down four Zeroes and likely a fifth before disappearing in the chaos.
By the time of his death just days later, Robert Hanson had become one of the Marine Corps’ top aces, credited with 25 aerial victories in just six months of combat. His courage and mastery in the air embodied the fighting spirit of Marine aviators across the Pacific.
Medal of Honor Citation
Born: 4 February 1920, Lucknow, India.
Accredited to: Massachusetts.
Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Air Medal.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty as fighter pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 215 in action against enemy Japanese forces at Bougainville Island, 1 November 1943; and New Britain Island, 24 January 1944. Undeterred by fierce opposition, and fearless in the face of overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with daring aggressiveness. On 1 November, while flying cover for our landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly attacked 6 enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison their bombs and destroying 1 Japanese plane during the action. Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory during a high cover flight over Simpson Harbor on 24 January, 1st Lt. Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against hostile interceptors as they were orbiting to attack our bombers and, striking with devastating fury, brought down 4 Zeroes and probably a fifth. Handling his plane superbly in both pursuit and attack measures, he was a master of individual air combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft in this theater of war. His great personal valor and invincible fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
