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| IJN Hiryū   Reverend Denise via U.S. Army December 17, 1941  KT Budde-Jones 2006  KT Budde-Jones 2007  Justin Taylan 2019 |
Pilot PO1c Shigenori Nishikaichi (died December 13, 1941) Force Landed December 7, 1941 Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi estimated date of assembly July 1941. 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 2266. Wartime History Assigned to Hiryū. Tail code B11-120. The rear fuselage had two vertical blue stripes on the rear fuselage. Mission History On December 7, 1941 took off from Hiryū piloted by PO1c Shigenori Nishikaichi as one of six Zeros over Pearl Harbor and Oahu that strafed Bellows Field. Returning low on fuel, Japanese pilots were briefed to land on Niihau Island (Niʻihau) and await rescue by submarine. Following these instructions, Nishikaichi made a wheels up landing into an open field on Niihau Island (Niʻihau). From the Japanese Navy perspective, this Zero and pilot went missing and was presumed lost over the target. Fate of the Pilot In fact, pilot Nishikaichi landed unhurt but momentarily dazed. His landing was observed by Hawaiian Hawila Kaleohano who immediately approached the plane and recognized it as Japanese based on the markings and appearance of the pilot. Before Nishikaichi could react, Kaleohano took his pistol and papers as a precaution, aware of the tensions between the United States and Japan, but was unaware hostilities had commenced. The pilot's papers included maps, radio codes and other information that he was to destroy if he landed to prevent capture. As other Hawaiians arrived, Nishikaichi was treated with courtesy and hospitality, but none spoke Japanese. Later in the afternoon, they held a lūʻau (party) for him. Although they recognized the plane and pilot were Japanese, they were not aware of the Japanese attack or the start of hostilities. In accordance with the Japanese Navy plan for down pilots, Nishikaichi was to to await the arrival of a Japanese submarine to rescue him. The island lacked electricity or a radio so he planned to return to his Zero and use the radio. Also, he wanted to get his papers back to destroy them as ordered. The Hawaiians could not speak Japanese and there were only a few Japanese on the island. First, they sent for issei (Japanese born immigrant) Ishimatsu Shintani to serve as a translator but he only spoke a few words to him then departed. Next, they requested nisei (second-generation Japanese) Yoshio Harada. Pilot Nishikaichi told them both about the start of hostilities and they did not inform the Hawaiians. Using Harada as a translator, Nishikaichi asked for his papers to be returned, but Kaleohano refused. That night, an islander using a battery operated radio and learned about the Japanese attack and Harada translated the news. The next morning, the island's owner Aylmer Robinson was scheduled to return and the pilot would be taken by the same boat to nearby Kauai Island (Kaua'i). The Hawaiians decided the next morning Nishikaichi would depart for Kaua'i with the island's owner Aylmer Robinson who was scheduled to return but were unaware boat travel was banned after the attack. Nishikaichi was allowed to stay at Harada's home. Although guarded by five Hawaiians, the two were able to speak in Japanese freely. Nishikaichi played on the nationalism and loyalties of Shintani and Harada to help him escape. On December 12, 1941 Shintani acting on behalf of Nishikaichi and Harada attempted to bribe Kaleohano with ¥200 to return his papers, but he refused and fled to avoid reporting he had failed. Meanwhile, Nishikaichi and Harada were only guarded by a single 16 year old Hawaiian while the others were away. They overpowered him then entered a warehouse and stole the island's only firearm a shotgun and recovered his pistol. Together, they proceeded to Kaleohano's house to find his papers but he was in the outhouse and they fired at him, alerting the rest of the island. Kaleohano attempted to warn the others to but they were skeptical until the guard escaped and nearby residents fled and later departed with five others to row to Kaua'i. In the late afternoon, Nishikaichi and Harada returned to his Zero and attempted to use the radio to signal Japanese forces but were unsuccessful. Together with the help of a Hawaiian captive they removed the two 7.7mm machine guns and belted ammunition then set fire to the Zero destroying the cockpit section. They departed using a wagon to tow the machine guns. On December 13, 1941 in the early morning they returned to Kaleohano's house and set fire to it to destroy the papers. During the night they captured Kaahakila "Kalima" Kalimahuluhulu who they released to find Kaleohano who still had the pilot's papers. Instead, he found his friend Benehakaka "Ben" Kanahele attempted to steal the machine guns but was captured and ordered him to find Kaleohano and detained his wife, Kealoha "Ella" Kanahele as a hostage. After pretending to look for him, he returned. Nishikaichi realized he was being deceived and Harada told him the pilot would kill everyone if Kaleohano was not found. As Nishikaichi handed the shotgun to Harada, Kaleohano jumped up and grabbed it. Nishikaichi drew his pistol but his wife grabbed his arm until Harada pulled her off and he shot Kaleohano three times hitting him in the groin, stomach and upper leg. Despite the wounds, he picked up the pilot and threw him into a stone wall and knocked him unconscious and his wife used a rock to bash him in the head until dead. Harada used the shotgun to commit suicide ending the "Niihau Incident". On December 14, 1941 in the afternoon Coast Guard lighthouse tender Kukui reach Niihau Island with a squad of U.S. Army soldiers from Company M, 299th Infantry under the command of Lieutenant Jack Mizuha plus the Hawaiians who rowed to Kauai and the island's owner Aylmer Robinson. Ashore, they are informed about the "Niihau Incident". Wounded "Ben" Kanahele was taken to Waimea Hospital on Kauai to recuperate. In 1945, he earned the Medal of Merit and Purple Heart. His wife never was never officially recognized for her role. The conduct of Yoshio Harada and repercussions of the "Niihau Incident" fueled the anti-Japanese sentiments that Japanese immigrants or descendants would aid the enemy and led to the decision by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to have Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans in the United States detained in internment camps. Wreckage The Zero force landed wheels up largely intact bending the lower two propeller blades indicating the propeller was not turning on impact. On December 12, 1941 in the late afternoon, pilot Nishikaichi returned to the crash site with Harada and a Hawaiian captive and attempted to use the radio then removed the two 7.7mm machine guns from the upper cowling then set fire to cockpit destroying from the engine firewall to the tail section. When the fire burned out, the tail section the engine, wings and tail remained intact. On December 17, 1941 the crash site was extensively photographed by Reverend Denise on behalf of the U.S. Army. During the Pacific War, the wreckage was further salvaged by U.S. personnel that visited Niihau Island (Niʻihau) and cut off pieces of wreckage as souvenir including the rear fuselage stencil using a hatchet or ax. Until August 2006, the remaining wreckage remained in situ where it force landed. Salvage During August 2006, Syd Jones and wife KT Buddle-Jones negotiated with the land owners for permission to document the crash site and salvage the wreckage from Niihau Island (Niʻihau) to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (Pacific Aviation Museum). Display The salvaged wreckage is displayed at the Pacific Aviation Museum (Ford Island Museum) in a diorama depicting the crash site on Niihau Island (Niʻihau) as it appeared in 2006 before being salvaged. To the right is a Cletrac tractor owned by the Robinson family. Suspended from the ceiling overhead is Aeronca 65TC Tandem NC33768. Nearby is A6M2 Zero 5356 painted in the markings of this Zero. Jim Lansdale adds: "Todd Pederson and I have the lion's share of the less than 100 photos of over four-hundred taken by Reverend Denise of the of the Nishikaichi Zero [A6M2 Zero 2266] when he went to Niʻihau acting on behalf of the USA. From these photos, Todd spotted the serial number applied in stencil form to one of the starboard wing cannon cover. I helped out Mike Wilson via Ryan Toews and gave Ryan all the information for the restoration." Artifacts The propeller and hub from this aircraft is displayed at the Quiet Birdmen at Hickam AFB. The tail light is on displayed at the Kaua’i Museum. Four small pieces of aluminum from the wreckage are displayed at the Kissimmee Air Museum. References Note, other sources state it was damaged by ground fire, causing it to leak fuel, this is incorrect. The tail code is sometimes listed as BII-120 [sic B11-120]. Production figures of the Mitsubishi/Nakajima A6M Zero by Jim Long The Niihau Incident (1982) covers the history of the Niihau Incident J-Aircraft "Pearl Harbor Zero & Other Photos" J-Aircraft "The Nishikaichi/Ni'ihau Zero, part V The Missing Machine Gun Mystery! J-Aircraft "The Nishikaichi/Ni'ihau Zero part VI Other Ni'hau Artifacts J-Aircraft "The Nishikaichi/Ni'ihau Zero, part VII More Ni'hau Zero Artifacts Flypast Magazine, March 2007 pages 55-57 Air & Space Magazine July 2007 "The Niihau Zero" by Nick D'Alto J-Aircraft Forum "NI’IHAU Zero Propeller" by Mike Wilson and Jim Lansdale December 2, 2007 Thanks to Jim Lansdale and 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 September 25, 2024 |
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