Pilot  Lt. Katsuro Nagatomo (POW / KIA)
Crashed  February 28, 1942

Pilot History
Born in January 24, 1920 in Miyazaki-ken on Kyushu.

Aircraft History
One of the six Zeros to first arrive in Rabaul, February 16, 1942. Nagatoma and this Zero participated in the interception of B-17s over Rabaul, including B-17E 41-2446 on February 23, 1942 America's first bombing mission against Rabaul.

Mission History
This aircraft participated in a six Zero escort mission to Port Moresby, and then the fighters dove down to attack.  They tested their guns on the wreck of the SS Pruth, then strafed Australian PBY Catalinas moored at Napa Napa, sinking two: A24-3 and A24-6.  Nagatoma's Zero was hit by anti-aircraft fire from a 7.7mm lewis machine gun emplaced above Napa Napa, causing it to crash into Bootless Bay.

Prisoner Of War
Nagatomo was able to bail out and was captured but was badly burned on his legs. He became Australia's first POW taken in Australian territory during the war. He was taken to a hospital, the to Australia. He was interned at Corwa POW Camp beginning on May 3, 1943. Nagatomo was killed in the Corwa POW riot on the night of August 4-5, 1944. Killed by a gun shot woulnd to the left side of the chest He was buried at Corwa, grave 21125.

Wreckage
Small pieces of his aircraft were also recovered at the time of the crash by soldiers on the ground. A small gear recovered from the wreck by Australian ground forces after the crash is displayed at the Australian War Memorial.

SCUBA divers in Bootless Bay report the presence of a wreck in murky water in that portion of the bay. Photographic evidence is yet to be produced by a diver.

References
Thanks to Harumi Sakaguchi for additional information

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