University of Wyoming
Thomas G. Lanphier, 1915-1987, was a World War II pilot, famous for shooting down the bomber carrying Japanese Admiral Yamamoto over Bougaineville Island, April 18, 1943. After the war, as a vice president for military sales, General Dynamic, Convair Division, he served as the Washington liaison and was a strong proponent of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and Global Surveillance System in the 1950s.
The collection contains a single manuscript, "Esprit de Corps", written by Lanphier at the end of his career. It gives a family history of involvement in military aviation that includes his father's World War I experiences and his own World War II experiences in the Pacific Theater, particularly the event when Lanphier shot down Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Also highlighted is Lanphier's civilian career with Convair as a missile-age executive and advocate for advanced missile defense systems against the Soviet Union in the 1950s and early 1960s.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by Thomas G. Lanphier at the date of processing.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.