Legacy of October 17, 1942 over Guadalcanal
Research by Justin Taylan

October 17, 1942 Kaname Harada 1941 Area Photos 2003 Map 1990

Mission History On October 17, 1942 at 7:15am Japanese aircraft carriers Hiyo and Junyo each launch eighteen planes on a mission to bomb Henderson Field and shipping off Lunga Point on Guadalcanal. After take off, one B5N2 Kate from Junyō experienced mechanical issues aborts the mission and returns to the carrier. The formation consists of eighteen A6M2 Zero (9 x Hiyo, 9 x Junyo) plus seventeen B5N2 Kates (9 x Hiyo, 8 x Junyo) each armed with a single 800kg bomb. Inbound, they spot USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) and USS Lardner (DD-487) shelling Japanese supply dumps and forces near Kokumbona on Guadalcanal. During the attack, B5N2 Kate pilot Sai Goro Kanko was shot down in flames by anti-aircraft fire. The Junyo group was intercepted by F4F-4 Wildcats from Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121). Within two minutes, they shot down three Kates (misidentified as Vals), B5N piloted by PO2c Abe Keiji, B5N2 piloted by Sasho Hisashi, B5N2 piloted by PO2c Konno Kiyoshi (all three into the sea) and two others were damaged. Three other Kates B5N2 piloted by Ito, B5N2 piloted by PO1c Shikakuma Kumekichi and B5N2 PO1c Okono Mitsuji were also shot down by the Wildcats. Together, these losses account for seven Kates lost that mission, and three others that crash landed at Buin Airfield (Kahilli Airfield), plus ?? Zero losses (two claimed). The Japanese shot down one F4F Wildcat piloted by Wiley H. Craft. Meeting In The Jungle A6M2 Zero piloted by Harada was shot down after a head-on pass with a Wildcat, and crashed on Cape Esperance. In the jungle, alive he encountered a Japanese aviator, from a B5N2 Kate pilot Setsuo Kuno. One of his crew died and the other was trapped in the aircraft but died. Harada and the sole survivor Sato stayed with the bodies for the night. The next morning, they departed and reached the coast where they were rescued by a group of Japanese engineers who were building a submarine base Kamimbo Bay (Tambea). Legacy Zero pilot Harada has been haunted by this incident ever since. He has always wanted to find the crash site of the Kate, and see that the remains of the two crew members left there are recovered to Japan. Known Wrecks There are several known wrecks in the Cape Esperance areas of Visale and Tambea area. During the war, a B5N2 9611 and A6M2 Zero Tail D1-158 were investigated by American forces during the war. Today, there are several known wartime aircraft wrecks, including Zeros and B-24 crashsite. The Search During January 2006, Justin Taylan searched for the crash sites of the A6M2 Zero and B5N2 Kate in the area on Guadalcanal. The aim of this search is to ideally find the wrecks, and report them to Harada and the Japanese government. Also, to retrace the path of the crewmen's escape to pay respect to this history. References Kodochosho Hiyō - October 17, 1942 History of the Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) pages 105-106 "The fresh squadrons (VMF-121 and VMF-212) sail into the Japanese bombers accompanied by Zeros with great effect: on the 17th [October 1942] Duke Davis led a flight 8 in an interception which accounted for 9 planes." Thanks to Kaname Harada for additional information