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| IJN Tainan Kōkūtai |
Pilot PO2c Nobuo Tokushige (MIA / KIA) Crashed August 17, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi or Nakajima. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 0 Carrier Fighter / A6M2 Model 21 Zero manufacture number unknown. Wartime History Assigned to the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group). Tail number V-1?? (last two digits unknown). Mission History On August 17, 1942 took off from Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul piloted by PO2c Nobuo Tokushige on a mission to provide close escort for G4M1 Bettys on a bombing mission against 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. This Zero was part of the 2nd Chutai, 2nd Shotai led by WO Tora'ichi Takatsuka with PO2c Nobuo Tokushige and FPO2c Masayoshi Yonekawa. The bombers included G4M1 Bettys from 4th Kōkūtai (4th Air Group) and Misawa Kōkūtai (Misawa Air Group). At 9:15am the Japanese formation arrived over the target area and caught the Allies by surprise. No Allied fighters were airborne nor were any scrambled to intercept. By 9:23m the Bettys released their bombs over 7 Mile Drome and the formation turned bound for Rabaul. On the return flight, the formation experienced bad weather between New Guinea and New Britain. As a result of the weather, the formation split up with most bombers and Zeros diverting to land at Lae Airfield. PO2c Nobuo Tokushige and PO2c Masayoshi Yonekawa contuned towards Rabaul and became seporated. Around 1:00pm, Yonekawa landed safely at Lakunai Airfield as the only Zero that mangaged to reach Rabaul. When Tokushige failed to arrive, he was declared Missing In Action (MIA) and presumed lost due to bad weather over the mountains north of Gasmata. References Other sources list the pilot's first name as "Norio" versus "Nobuo". Kodochosho, Tainan Kōkūtai, August 17, 1942 Winged Samurai (1985) page 88 "Tainan Kōkūtai Pilot Casualties" Eagles of the Southern Sky (2012) pages 249-251 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 10, 2024 |
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