Thomas George Lanphier Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas George Lanphier Jr.
Born	November 27, 1915 Panama City, Panama
Died	November 26, 1987(1987-11-26) (aged 71) La Jolla, California, US
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Known for	Mission to shoot down the plane of Admiral Yamamoto
Spouse(s)	Phyllis Lanphier
Children	5
Parent(s)	Thomas George Lanphier Sr. Janet Cobb Lanphier
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force (Idaho Air National Guard)
Years of service	1941–1971
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	World War II Guadalcanal Campaign Operation Vengeance

Thomas George Lanphier Jr. (November 27, 1915 – November 26, 1987) was an American colonel and fighter pilot during World War II. He was known for his part in shooting down the plane carrying Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Yamamoto was the commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy. While Lanphier was first given full credit for this, later on, the credit was shared with another pilot, Rex T. Barber. Today, many historians believe Barber was the one who shot down the plane.

Early Life and Education

Thomas George Lanphier Jr. was born in Panama City, Panama, on November 27, 1915. His parents were Thomas George Lanphier Sr. and Janet Grant Cobb. He later married Phyllis, and they had five daughters. Thomas studied journalism at Stanford University and finished his studies in January 1941. His younger brother, James Lanphier, became a well-known actor in movies and on TV.

Military Career and Early Victories

Lanphier finished his pilot training on October 30, 1941. He then joined the 70th Pursuit Squadron, which was part of the 35th Pursuit Group. He served in Fiji until December 1942. After that, his squadron moved to Guadalcanal, where he joined the 347th Fighter Group.

He achieved his first aerial victory on Christmas Eve in 1942. He shot down an A6M Zero, which was a Japanese fighter plane. In March 1943, Lanphier was promoted to captain. The next month, on April 7, 1943, he destroyed three more A6M Zeros over Cape Esperance. By the end of his time there, he had flown 97 combat missions. He flew in P-39 and P-38 planes. After World War II, he helped start the Idaho Air National Guard and retired as a Colonel.

The Yamamoto Mission: A Famous Flight

One of Lanphier's most famous missions was to shoot down Admiral Yamamoto's plane. Allied codebreakers had figured out Yamamoto's flight path and schedule. This was possible because they had broken a secret Japanese code. Lanphier was chosen for this important mission.

The mission was a success. Both of the Japanese "Betty" bombers carrying Yamamoto and his team were destroyed. Officially, the report after the mission gave Captain Lanphier and his wingman, First Lieutenant Rex T. Barber, half-credit each for shooting down the plane. However, there has been a lot of discussion about who truly shot down the plane. Many other pilots and a Japanese pilot who was there have given accounts that suggest Rex Barber was the one who got the final shot.

In February 1945, Lanphier was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He then worked as the director of operations for the 72nd Fighter Wing until late 1945. After the war, he joined the National Guard. This later became the Air National Guard when the U.S. Air Force was created in 1947. He was promoted to colonel in the Air National Guard in 1950.

Life After the War

Lanphier's grave at Arlington National Cemetery

After World War II, Thomas Lanphier Jr. worked as an editor for newspapers like the Idaho Daily Statesman. He also continued to serve as a pilot in the Idaho Air National Guard. From 1947 to 1948, he was the president of the Air Force Association.

In 1949, he took a trip around the world to promote aviation. He flew 22,140 miles in less than five days using regular airlines. He carried a letter from President Harry Truman to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight.

He later became a special assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. He also worked as a vice president for Convair, a part of General Dynamics, from 1951 to 1960. He was a big supporter of advanced missile and surveillance systems. In 1965, he worked as a senior projects manager at North American Aviation's Space Division.

His Final Years

Thomas Lanphier Jr. passed away on November 26, 1987, in San Diego, California. He died from cancer. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a special place where many American heroes are laid to rest.

Awards and Achievements

During World War II, Colonel Lanphier was recognized for shooting down three and a half Japanese planes. He also damaged eight planes on the ground and sank a destroyer. He received several important awards for his bravery and service: