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| IJN Tainan Kōkūtai  IJN August 4, 1942  RAAF August 27, 1942 |
Pilot Lt. Jôji Yamashita (KIA) Crashed August 27, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as A6M3 Zero manufacture number unknown. This aircraft was either an A6M3 Model 22 or A6M3 Model 32. Wartime History Assigned to the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) with tail code V-??? (three digits unknown). During late August 1942 a detachment of A6M3 Zeros including this aircraft were flown from Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul to operate from Buna Airfield on the north coast of New Guinea. Mission History On August 27, 1942 took off from Buna Airfield piloted by Lt. Jôji Yamashita as one of five Tainan Kokutai Zeros on a mission to escort D3A Vals from the 2nd Kokutai against Milne Bay but did not rendezvous with them until 8:20am over the target area as they were completing their dive bombing runs and departing the area. Afterwards, the five Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai dove to strafe No. 1 Strip (Gurney Field) firing at LB-30 Liberator AL-818 that was already destroyed and unservicable. Over the runway, two of the Zeros including A6M3 Zero pilot Kakimoto were hit by anti-aircraft fire. From the ground, one of the Zero was photographed after strafing flying at low level. Yamashita reported over his radio that he was leaving the area and while climbing encountered a flight of B-26 Mauraders from the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), Headquarters Squadron (HQ) and 33rd Bombard Squadron (33rd BS) searching for Japanese shipping. He made unsuccessful firing passes before going down. It is unknown if his was brought down by defensive fire from the bombers or if it this Zero was damage by anti-aircraft fire, or a combination of both, and likely crashed on land. Also lost was A6M3 pilot Kakimoto (POW, died), A6M3 pilot Yamashita (KIA) and A6M3 pilot Ninomiya (KIA). References Kodochosho Tainan Kōkūtai - August 27, 1942 The Hidden Chapters (1995) by Robert Piper "Zero Hour" pages 134-143 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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