Captain Harl Pease, Jr. was a U.S. Army Air Forces officer and pilot who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II. Pease Air Force Base was named in his honor.
Harl Pease was born on 10 April 1917 and raised in Plymouth, NH. He 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 a year later and awarded a Pilot rating upon completion of flight training at Kelly Field, TX. He was immediately called to active duty and participated in B-17 bombing missions in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
During one of these missions on 6 August 1942, one engine of CPT Pease's B-17 failed, and he was forced to return to his base in Australia. His unit, the 19th Bomb Group (Heavy), was scheduled to deploy to Papua, New Guinea, to support a maximum effort mission on 7 August that would require all available aircraft. With their aircraft out of commission, CPT Pease and his crew were scrubbed for the mission.
Determined not to "miss the big show," the crew voluntarily selected and worked-over B-17E SN 41-2439 (nicknamed "Why Don't We Do This More Often," at the base that was deemed to have weak engines and had aborted several missions, but it could still fly. They rejoined the 19th at Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea at 0100 after having flown almost continuously (flew 19 of 22 hours) since early the preceding morning.
With only 3 hours rest, CPT Pease took off with the group to bomb targets at Rabaul, New Britain. Forty to fifty miles from the target, the group was attacked by more than 30 Japanese A6M2 Zero fighters. CPT Pease and his crew shot down several of the fighters, fought their way to the target, and successfully bombed their target.
After leaving the target, CPT Pease's crippled B-17 fell behind the rest of the formation. Once again attacked by over 30 Japanese fighters, he was seen to drop a bomb bay gasoline tank that was aflame, and it is believed that he and his crew were subsequently shot down in flames. However, as his aircraft lost altitude, CPT Pease and another crew member, SGT Chester M. Czechowski [Honoree Record ID 132154] bailed out. They were both captured and taken to a POW camp in Rabaul. CPT Pease languished there until 8 October 1942. On that date, Pease, along with three other Americans and two Australians, were forced to dig their own grave; they were then beheaded. CPT Pease was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 6-7 August 1942.
Place and date: Near Rabaul, New Britain, 6 -7 August 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 inspiration to the officers and men of his unit.
On 2 December 1942, the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously to Captain Pease for his heroism in combat, was presented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the hero's parents. His actions represented the true spirit of New Hampshire's patriots.
Captain Harl Pease, Jr. was executed while being held by the Japanese as a Prisoner of War. The remains of Pease and Czechowski have never been located and both remain Missing In Action (MIA).
A memorial headstone for Captain Pease is located at Trinity Churchyard Cemetery in Holderness, Grafton County, NH.
Captain Pease's name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Manila City, Philippines.