Vernon enlisted in the Marine Corps on January 19, 1941, soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He trained at Navy schools (Marine Aviators are trained by the Navy). Vernon returned home on leave in May 1942 after receiving his “wings” and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at the Miami Naval Air Station in Florida. Shortly after, he left for the west coast for additional training and deployment. He was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Vernon was among the first Marine Pilots stationed at Henderson Field, on Guadalcanal. The Marines landed on both Guadalcanal and at Tulagi on August 7, 1942, as “Operation Watchtower” (the first amphibious landings conducted by our Nation during the war, and the first since 1898). The Japanese were constructing an airfield, which at the southern most end of the Solomon Islands, would cut the supply routes to the North Eastern portion of Australia.

The Marines completed the construction of the airfield, naming it Henderson Field, in honor of Major Lofton Henderson, a Marine squadron Commander who had been lost during the battle of Midway. Vernon arrived on August 31st.

Henderson field was a dangerous place to fly from, let alone occupy. The Japanese constantly bombed, and strafed the field, as well as shelled it from the sea with everything from destroyers to battleships. And the enemy continually fought to retake the airfield. Front lines sometimes overlooked or came to the very edge of the runway. The Japanese were constantly reinforced by the “Tokoyo Express” coming down the “slot” between the islands in the Solomon group.

Marine Pilot Vernon Rubincam flew Navy Dive Bombers from Henderson field. He flew Douglas SBD Dauntless. Vernon flew almost daily attacking Japanese cruisers and destroyers, many times without fighter escort, taking his chances against the much vaunted Japanese Zero fighters. “But, we did a lot of damage to the jap ships anyhow” he was quoted as saying. After 6 weeks of intense flying and completing 30 combat missions, he earned a well deserved relief.

Vernon returned to the states in April 1943 for leave and additional training. He switched from dive bombers to torpedo bombers training to fly the Grumman TBF Avengers (the same aircraft former President Bush flew during the war). He returned to the Solomon Islands for his second tour of duty as a pilot and Executive Officer (XO) of a Marine Torpedo bomber unit with a promotion to the rank of Captain.

After several months of flying, and completion of 30 more combat missions, Vernon received a well deserved furlough and on November 23, 1943 boarded a Navy transport aircraft for a flight to Australia. On the return flight, the transport never arrived.

His transport, carrying Vernon as nearly 20 other pilots returning form a well deserved R&R (Rest and Relaxation), hit an island mountain, and all were lost.

On November 30th his parents received the usually terse telegram, notifying them that Vernon was Missing In Action. A second telegram was received January 20th from Lt. General A. A. Vandergrift, L. General USMC, for the Commandant (Alexander A. Vandergrift was to become the 18th Marine Commandant serving from 1944-1947)

“…Deeply regret to inform that you son, Captain Vernon G. Rubincam, United States Marine Corps, is reported to have died in an airplane crash, instead of missing as previously reported. When information is received regarding remains you will be informed. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.”

Shortly after receiving the latter telegram, they read an Associated Press story from the Solomon Islands, praising their son’s record as a dive bomber pilot. The story stated Vernon had at least 12 combat missions to his credit, attacking the Japanese at Kolombangara, Choiseul and Bougainville.

Captain Vernon G. Rubincam is honored on the Tablets of the Missing or Buried at Sea at the Punch Bowl National Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Vernon G Rubincam