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| IJN Tainan Kōkūtai    Damien Parer June 1942  USAAF 1942  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot PO3c Yoshimitsu Maeda (POW, survived) Force Landed April 28, 1942 at 4:30pm Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi completed February 9, 1942. At the factory, painted overall gray with a black engine cowling. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as A6M2 Model 21 Zero manufacture number 1575. Assigned to the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group). Tail code V-110 with a diagonal stripe behind the fuselage Hinomaru. Mission History On April 28, 1942 in the morning took off from Lae Airfield piloted by PO3c Yoshimitsu Maeda on patrol and returned. At 1:00pm took off again from Lae Airfield with A6M2 Zero pilot Arita in pursuit of a "Lockheed Hudson" in fact, B-25C "Der Schpy" 41-12496 that Arita claimed as shot down but was only damaged. During the pursuit, Maeda became separated and did not return. When this aircraft failed to return, he was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). If fact, Maeda crossed the Owen Stanley Range and ended up over the south coast of New Guinea where he spotted MV Laurabada to the east of Abau Island. As he turned to strafe it, and hit a coconut palm on Otamata plantation. Damaged, he force landed in the plantation with little damage to his Zero. Maeda survived unhurt but was stunned from the impact. Prisoner of War The crash was observed by locals and ANGAU spotter Duffy based at the plantation. Maeda was captured without resistance and became a Prisoner Of War (POW). Afterwards, he was transported to Abau Island. On May 4, 1942 he and the wreckage of his Zero were loaded aboard MV Matoma and transported to Port Moresby. In captivity, he used the alias "Hideo Oki" or "Maida" (misspelling of his real name) and was assigned prisoner number PWJA.110008. Afterwards, a transported by ship to Australia arriving at Broadmeadows on September 12, 1942. Then, marched to Hay arriving two days later. On October 22, 1942 admitted to the hospital for medical treatment until discharged on November 4, 1942 and returned to Hay. On January 8, 1943 transferred to Cowra POW Camp. Between June 5, 1943 to June 7, 1943 he was taken to the hospital. On September 5, 1943 transfered to Murchison camp. After the end of the Pacific War, he was embarked aboard Daikai Maru and repatriated to Japan. Wreckage This Zero crashed largely intact into coconut palms on Otamata plantation. Afterwards, Australians were told to salvage the aircraft and cut off the wings so it would fit into the back of a truck and transported to shore then aboard a boat to nearby Abau Island. On May 4, 1942 Australians told to salvage the wreckage from Otamata plantation cut off the wings so it would fit inside the back of a truck and transported to Abau. Loaded onto two native canoes aboard the MV Matoma during late May and transported to Port Moresby. During late May or early June, the Zero was displayed and photographed on its belly near a hangar, Next, the engine was removed and the center section placed nose down leaning against the hangar. While in Port Moresby, Allied personnel looking for souvenirs stripped the plane of almost every instrument, dataplate, indicator, and lever. Internal structure including many cables and pulleys were also taken. Next, the Zero was loaded as cargo on a ship and taken to Brisbane then transported to Eagle Farm Airfield to Air Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) at Hangar 7. They found this Zero was not particularly useful for intelligence value because of all the items removed. The fact both outer wings wings were cut prevented the plane from being repaired to airworthy condition. The Zero was also studied by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and was the subject of technical report S-4 titled "Mitsubishi Navy Fighter" dated September 14, 1942. On July 31, 1943 in the afternoon the Zero appeared in a parade in Brisbane as part of an "air parade" with 1,000 air cadets from the RAAF and WAAF to encourage more volunteers. The wreckage including the engine, wing and fuselage were placed on a a flatbed truck with a sign stating (incorrectly) "Jap Zero Fighter shot down by U.S. Air Force". Also displayed were captured Japanese weapons. The Zero was photographed being towed on George Street in front of the Queensland Government Printing Office. Ultimate fate is unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Jim Long adds: "No report was made regarding the condition of the plane immediately after the crash, but observers told intelligence officers that it was in good enough condition to easily be made airworthy. Orders for the plane to be shipped to Melbourne for reconditioning and flight tests were issued, but in order to ship the plane the attending salvagers literally chopped off the outer panels of the main wings. It was crated and shipped, but by the time it reached Brisbane, souvenir hunters had removed practically every instrument, name plate, indicator, and lever that would come off and many cables and pulleys were missing. After intelligence officers inspected the plane at Brisbane, it was shipped on to Melbourne to be studied further for whatever could be learned. But it was not in condition to be easily rebuilt after the the souvenir hunters had done their work. It was a mean lesson for the Technical Air Intelligence officers to learn. In future crashed planes were guarded vigorously, and souvenir hunting was discouraged with new regulations and procedures designed to preserve valuable enemy aircraft and equipment for intelligence studies." References The official Japanese report claims Maeda was ill due to oxygen starvation and force landed, this is incorrect. Other reports incorrectly state this Zero was hit by Allied gunfire, this is also inaccurate. Production figures of the Mitsubishi/Nakajima A6M Zero by Jim Long Kodochosho, Tainan Kōkūtai, April 21-28, 1942 The New York Times "Japanese Flier Fears for Family If Tokyo Learns of His Capture" by Byron Darnton, May 12, 1942 "At advanced United Nations AIr Base [Port Moresby], Southwest Pacific, May 11 – Japanese fliers are less afraid of death than they are of what thier government may do to their families if they are are captured, according to evidence brought here today by an American cameraman, Earle Crotchett of Universal Newsreel, who has recently returned from Port Moresby." Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Mitsubishi Navy Fighter Type 0 Report S-4, September 14, 1942 (Page 1) "This Report is based upon an inspection of a Mitsubishi Navy Fighter, Type 0, shipped to Melbourne after a forced landing in New Guinea, and inspected in Melbourne in September, 1942... Practically all detachable equipment had been removed before the inspection and thereafter a complete report could not be prepared, but the information contained in the following pages is all based upon actual inspection and measurement." The Courier Mail "1000 In City Parade" July 31, 1943 page 3 "A feature of the procession will be a Japanese Zero plane, which with Japanese weaons will be mounted n a large float." Australian Post "Where Japs got the third degree" by David Sissons, July 17, 1986, page 3 Private War of the Spotters (1990) mentions this loss and Zero: "Maeda crashed in a plantation at Otamata, East of Abau on 28th April 42. There were two Spotters posted to Otamata, [Duffy and Fahey]. Vic Fahey was on walkabout and Duffy had malaria. He was in a canoe crewed by locals going to a passing supply ship [Elevada] when a zero passed overhead at 50 feet. He returned to the beach and was met by the local labourers who told him that the plane had crashed in the plantation. The pilot was stunned by the crash and Duffy took him prisoner. He was taken to Abau, where the District office was. The pilot couldn't speak English, but by signs Duffy was able to understand him. The pilot wanted Duffy to kill him. Duffy refrained. Duffy recorded that he was rather a good type of Japanese, handsome and only about his own age, 19 years. The plane was salvaged by two Air Force men and taken back to Port Moresby." The New Guinea Diaries of Philip Strong: "The Anglican Bishop Strong was traveling on the Matoma from Port Moresby to Samarai On the 28th April. They anchored at Otamata at 4.30 PM. The Engineers went ashore. Shortly afterwards he saw a a Jap plane flying low, and was horrified to see it turn around and make as if it was coming for them. He woke the skipper, who had to search for the stored MG ammo. By the time they found it, the plane had disappeared. One of the soldiers from the spotting station came along in a canoe. a little later, a dinghy came out with the pilot of the Jap plane. He had crashed on the Coconut trees and had come down. He had a wound on his head, having gashed it in the crash. The Bishop asked for the pilots needs. when these had been supplied, and his wounds bound, he was fed and searched. Then a mattress was put down for him and he lay down. Later on two soldiers came on board to keep guard over him. The next morning they reversed direction and sailed for Abau, where they arrived about noon. The prisoner seemed very depressed. By signs he asked if he would be shot or have his head cut off. At Abau he was handed over to the the District Officer, Claude Champion. Claude said that the prisoner had implored them to shoot him." Col. Hal Maull [A-20 pilot, 3rd BG, 13th BS] memoir written around 1992: "...The schooner Matoma arrived. They have to move on around Milne Bay to the north coast to pick up some other crews. We politely declined the skipper's offer to take us aboard, stating that we'd wait until he returned. Several days later the Matoma was back with a P-39 pilot and a B-17 [or another bomber] crew. We boarded and started back to Moresby. But we had to stop at Abau to pick up a Jap Zero which had landed on the beach. As it was [being] lightered out on two native canoes lashed together, I was saddened by the damage that had been done to it in moving it to the Matoma. I took some pictures nonetheless." Milne Bay 1942 (1992) page 15 The War Diaries of Eddie Allan Stanton (1996) pages 13, 15 "A report has been received that a Japanese Zero fighter had crashed at Otawatu, near Abau, and that the pilot, a young fellow about 19, had been captured. His plane had run out of petrol. The Japanese pilot had asked to be shot, but his wish was not granted. He was shaken up, and given a glass of whiskey. It must be stated that the Japanese handle their planes with courage & skill. The Japanese pilot captured near Abau could name and draw most of the Allied planes, especially the number of guns and their armament. His knowledge of the aerodromes was also good. They apparently don't mind dying, this fellow in particular was always demanding to be shot or bayoneted However, until more evidence in this respect is forthcoming, it is difficult to say whether this Japanese was an exception or one of many." Eagles of the Southern Sky (2012) pages mention this loss and Zero Thanks to Edward Rogers, Harumi Sakaguchi, John Douglas, Jim Long for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 4, 2025 |
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