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| IJN 751 Kōkūtai |
Pilot SPO Shigeyuki Uchibaba (survived, POW) Observer 2nd Class Petty Officer Kato (KIA) Engineer 1st Class Petty Officer Furubayashi (KIA) Radio 2nd Class Petty Officer Hogaki (survived, POW, died) Tail Gunner Sup. Airman Iizawa (KIA) Ditched September 22, 1943 at 12:00 Pilot History Pilot Shigeyuki Uchibaba was 23 years old, and had completed primary and middle school. Prewar he was a poultry farmer from Miyagi-ken, Sendai. He volunteered for the Navy on June 1, 1937 at Yokosuka. During December, he was transferred to the Kanoya Kōkūtai (Kanoya Air Group) for training. In April 1941 to Tsukuba Airfield. In October 1941 to Omura and February 1942 to Kisarazu Airfield. On July 23, 1943 flown to Tinian and assigned to 751 Kōkūtai (751 Air Group) as a pilot. During the end of August 1943 he departed Tinian via Truk for Vunakanau Airfield arriving September 1, 1943. Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works. Manufacture number unknown. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Assigned to the 751st Kōkūtai. Tail 328 painted in white. This bomber had green upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces. Mission History On September 22, 1943 at 10:00am took off from Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul piloted by SPO Shigeyuki Uchibaba armed with an aerial torpedo as one of eight Bettys on a mission against the Allied convoy in the Huon Gulf off Lae. The bombers were escorted by approximately twenty A6M Zeros. At noon, while on its torpedo run targeting a U.S. Navy destroyer, one engine was hit by gun fire and crashed into the Huon Gulf. Pilot Uchibaba was knocked unconscious during the crash but survived. Also, radio operator Hogaki survived. The other crew are presumed to have died in the crash or drown when the bomber sank. Fates of the Crew Uchibaba and Hogaki were rescued by the destroyer and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Later, Uchibaba was interrogated by the advanced echelon of ATIS No. 1 (AE 71). References Kodochosho, 751 Kōkūtai, September 22, 1943 ATIS No. 1 (AE 71) interrogation Report No. 237 via Richard Dunn Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 21, 2022 |
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