Scored the US Navy’s first U-boat kill of World War II

LCDR William Tepuni, USNR

Status: Deceased

Nomination Application:

Born on 30 October 1915 in San Francisco, CA, the youngest of two sons to immigrant parents, William "Bill" Tepuni was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve in June 1940 and assigned to VP-44 at Sand Island, WA flying the P2Y3 Ranger. In January 1941, the squadron was redesignated VP-61 and transferred to Alameda, CA, and in April, relocated to Pensacola, FL where aircrew qualified in four different variants of the PBY Catalina. Three months later, now in Norfolk, VA, the squadron was redesignated VP-82 and sent to Floyd Bennett Field, NY for training in anti-submarine warfare tactics.

In the autumn of 1941, the squadron accepted twenty aircraft originally destined for British Lend Lease and underwent training in the Lockheed PBO-1 Hudson. Previously, the Navy was only allowed to operate flying boats, float planes, and carrier-based aircraft. This decision made VP-82 the Navy's first land-based patrol squadron.

In January 1942, VP-82 established a twelve-plane detachment at Argentia, Newfoundland to provide protection to local and trans-Atlantic convoys. On 1 March, Ensign Tepuni and his crew spotted U-656 on the surface roughly 30 nm south of Cape Race, Newfoundland, deployed both MK XVII depth bombs and scored the US Navy's first U-boat kill of World War II. On 4 April 1942, Tepuni was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In October 1942, the squadron transitioned to its seventh aircraft type, the PV-3 Ventura and Tepuni continued to fly convoy protection missions from both Floyd Bennett Field and Argentia. That same month, he was promoted to Lieutenant.

In April 1943, LT Bill Tepuni was transferred to the staff of Commander, Anti-Submarine Development, Atlantic (ASDEVLANT) as a test pilot flying the PV-1 Ventura. During his eight-month tenure with ASDEVLANT, he worked to perfect airborne ASW tactics and improved employment of depth charges and the introduction of 3-inch solid head rockets to the maritime patrol arsenal.

LT Tepuni joined VB-128 (the current VP-1) deployed to San Juan, Puerto Rico in early 1944. It was during this period that air ASW assets were confronting surfaced U-boats armed with 20- and 37-mm anti-aircraft guns. Tepuni joined the squadron in time for the squadron PV-1 aircraft to be refitted with rockets and to assist in training aircrews in their use as a stand-off weapon against surfaced U-boats.

In September 1944, the squadron (redesignated VPB-128) transferred to Alameda and on 7 October boarded the USS Bataan (CVL-29) in San Francisco arriving at Pearl Harbor on 13 October. That same month, Tepuni, now a LCDR and squadron executive officer, oversaw a six-plane detachment to Midway Island to conduct ASW patrols and collect weather data aloft.

On 23 December 1944, the squadron departed Hawaii bound for Guiuan, Samar Island, Philippines. Upon arrival, the squadron was assigned coastal and ASW patrols around northern Borneo, as well as flights in multi-plane strike groups against Japanese encampments. During the first week of March 1945, the squadron conducted several photo-reconnaissance missions against Cebu City in preparation for the upcoming invasion by US forces. Both missions confirmed the presence of a Japanese mini-submarine which would have to be neutralized prior to the invasion.

On 20 March 1945, LCDR Tepuni led a three-aircraft rocket strike against the mini-submarine tied up at the Cebu City docks with limited success. The following day, in a follow-up mission, Tepuni led a five-

aircraft strike into Cebu City armed with 500-lb general purpose bombs, only to be shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft artillery. He and his entire crew perished.

LCDR William Tepuni, USNR is credited with the first U-boat sunk by US forces during WWII. He was qualified in multiple variants of four different maritime patrol aircraft types ? both flying boats and landbased. His awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross (two Gold Stars), Air Medal (three Gold Stars), the Purple Heart (posthumous) and the Soviet Order of Glory, 3rd Class (posthumous) for the sinking of U-656. Tepuni was one of 217 American sea service personnel awarded Soviet medals for action in the Atlantic (19 going to maritime patrol aviators). After the war, he was interred at the Manila American Cemetery, administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission. VP-30 dedicated Building 846 at NAS Jacksonville as Tepuni Hall in his honor.

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