The heroes of World War II came from all walks of life. From resistance fighters and medics to humanitarian workers and those on the home front in factories and shipyards, their contributions were vital. Without every one of them, victory might have been delayed for years. Still, without the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who faced the enemy in direct combat, victory might not have been possible at all. Fighter pilots played a crucial role in the war. This is the story of one of them, a native of Brooklyn. Read more at brooklyn-yes.com.
Early Life
Felix Schlamberg was born in 1924 into a large Jewish family and grew up in Brooklyn. His father, Shiome, left the family when he was young, and his mother, Molly, had to raise Felix—known to everyone as “Fellie”—and his seven siblings on her own. The family lived together in a small one-room apartment.
“Fellie” attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, graduating in 1942 with excellent grades. According to his family, he was one of the top students in his class, scoring a 99 on his Regents Examinations. After graduating in 1942, like many Brooklyn boys at the time, he decided to enlist in the United States Army. The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 spurred “Fellie” to request a post in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
In the service, the young Jewish man soon earned the nickname “Einstein,” a moniker that could have been for his sharp intellect or his Jewish heritage—neither of which he could hide. In his free time, when his fellow servicemen gathered, he would lift their spirits by playing the guitar.
A Daring Mission
Nearly three years passed on the front lines. In July 1945, Philip, then a lieutenant, took part in a bombing run over Osaka, Japan. His squadron of P-51 Mustangs was providing cover for American bombers. On the way to Osaka, the formation encountered a severe storm. Due to the storm warning, the squadron commander aborted the mission and ordered his pilots to turn back.
However, Philip Schlamberg either didn’t receive or didn’t hear the message. As the other fighters returned to base, the young lieutenant continued the mission alone, protecting the B-29s as they dropped their bombs on Osaka. He wasn’t the only pilot to fly through the storm, but the 27 other planes that didn’t turn back in time were lost, presumed crashed, and never returned to the squadron. Two weeks later, Philip Schlamberg was promoted to First Lieutenant.
The local newspaper, the *Brooklyn Daily Eagle*, wrote about the aviator’s heroic act. In the article, Philip’s comrades recounted how worried they were for their “Einstein.” One of them said he was sure Schlamberg would get hurt in the storm, because “he was always doing something wrong.”
Upon his return, Philip offered his own version of events. He explained that he had tucked in close to a bomber’s wing and simply got stuck. The then-lieutenant reported that he was continuing the mission to protect the bombers and flew with them all the way to Osaka, watching as they dropped their deadly payload.
In a now-famous conversation with his commander after the incident, Philip asked if the colonel had ordered a return, because, as the pilot said, he never heard it. The squadron leader reportedly replied, “You Brooklyn boys are always rushing into things.” Regardless, the young lieutenant earned his promotion.
The Final Mission
In August 1945, after atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the pilots of the 15th Fighter Squadron were stationed on Iwo Jima—nicknamed “Sulphur Island,” the site of one of the Pacific’s fiercest battles just six months earlier. They were anxiously awaiting Japan’s surrender and the announcement of victory. However, on August 13, another order came through: escort B-29 bombers on one more run over Japan.
Captain Jerry Yellin, Philip’s direct commander, later recalled that “Einstein” had a terrible premonition. The young man said he shouldn’t fly the mission because he felt he wouldn’t come back. After consulting with the division commander, Yellin allowed the first lieutenant to stand down, but first advised him to see the local doctor to be certified as unfit for duty.
But Philip Schlamberg refused, saying he couldn’t let a comrade risk his health or his life in his place. He decided he would fly. The next morning, before takeoff, Captain Yellin tried to encourage the young pilot, telling him to stick close to his wing.
Throughout the flight, the fighter squadron listened intently for the codeword that would signal the Allied victory over Japan: “Ohio.” But the entire way there, the announcement never came. Arriving at their target, the fighters began their mission, strafing Japanese targets on the ground.
After completing the objective, Commander Yellin pulled his plane up toward the clouds. Looking over, he saw “Einstein’s” plane right behind him. Jerry gave the first lieutenant a thumbs-up, and he returned the gesture. Then, both fighters headed into the clouds.
When Jerry Yellin emerged from the cloud cover, Philip Schlamberg’s plane was gone. Worse, Schlamberg wasn’t answering his radio, no matter how many times his commander called. At first, Yellin hoped Philip’s plane would pop out of the clouds, that he had just gotten lost. But he never appeared. Low on fuel, the squadron had no choice but to head back to their base on Iwo Jima.
Upon landing, they learned the joyous news: the war had been over for several hours. Japan had surrendered. The timing made Philip Schlamberg’s death all the more senseless. To this day, no one knows what happened to the first lieutenant’s plane. Whether he was shot down, suffered a mechanical failure, or simply got lost in the clouds remains a mystery.
Missing in Action
Given the circumstances, Philip Schlamberg was initially declared “Missing in Action.” His status was later changed to “Killed in Action,” making the boy from Brooklyn one of the last American soldiers to die in World War II.
Today, so many years after the war, the memory of those who defended the United States is honored in Brooklyn. Since his plane and body were never recovered, First Lieutenant Felix Philip Schlamberg is immortalized as missing in action. His name appears on a memorial plaque hanging on the wall of Abraham Lincoln High School, honoring the students who died in service to their country.
It was the same school where Philip Schlamberg had scored a 99% on his final Regents Examinations. He was 19 years old when he disappeared.
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