Pilot History
Robert was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 29, 1920. In 1926, his family moved to North Dakota. After graduating from high school there in 1938, he attended the University of North Dakota as a pre-med student, then transferred to the University of Minnesota. On January 20, 1942, he quit college and enlisted in the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. In November, he was sent overseas, and later assigned to the 339th.

Robert flew his first mission from Guadalcanal on January 13, 1943. On February 10, he claimed his first kill: a Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally. Three days later, he was shot down. Rist was earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart.

Aircraft History
Details on this Lightning are not noted in the MACR, probably generated after the combat. It is presumed to be a G model.

Mission History
Took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal on an escorting six B-24s on the second wave of a bombing mission to the Shortland to Buin area. Two P-38s and three P-40s had to return to Guadalcanal, leaving four P-38s (along with seven P-40s) to escort the bombers.

The B-24s were attacked by 30 A6M Zeros and 15 float-equipped fighters (A6M2-N Rufes?), with heavy flak fired by naval vessels below. B-24D 41-23975 was hit, its wing and engine on fire and dropped out of formation. Rist escorted it toward Choiseul. Ten to twelve A6M Zeros tried to finish it off. Rist claimed two Zeros, then, out of ammunition, continued to divert the attackers by diving on them.

His efforts enabled Lieutenant Harold G. McNeese to fly his crippled B-24 to the north coast of Choiseul and ditch. Finally, Rist was shot down. The MACR states: "Last seen by Major Westbrook, 44th FG, with right engine smoking and Zeros on his tail." Rist's aircraft and body were never located, suspected to crash.

Justin Taylan adds:
"I researched this mission at the Tokyo Defense archives. The following Japanese aircraft attacked: 11 Rufes (one aborted) of 802nd Kokutai, 20 Zeros of the 252nd Kokutai and 9 Zeros of the 204th Kokutai. A total of 39 Japanese aircraft."

Memorials
Rist was declared dead on December 15, 1945. Memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Air & Space A Bougainville Mystery Paul A. Roales, Nov 2006
HEROS #1 in a series Lt. Robert P. Rist, Minneapolis Minnesota by Paul Roales
Guadalcanal and the Origins of the 13th Air Force, page 180-181
Vampire Squadron, page 25-26
Kodochosho, 802nd Kokutai, February 13, 1943
Kodochosho, 204th Kokutai, February 13, 1943
Kodochosho, 252nd Kokutai, February 13, 1943
Thanks to Paul A. Roales for additional information

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 22, 2009

P-38

MIA