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| IJN 753 Kōkūtai Former Assignments Takao Kōkūtai   ATIS December 1, 1942 |
Pilot Kiyoshi Akamatsu (KIA) Co-Pilot Saburo Takahashi (KIA) Observer Kaku Yoned (KIA) Observer Tadashi Wada (KIA) Observer Mitsuo Takano (KIA) Observer Takeshi Nomiguchi (KIA) Radio Houichi Fukuya (KIA) Radio Ietomi Hachigou (KIA) Maintenance Naoyuki Fujise (KIA) Crashed November 24, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works on September 5, 1942. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 1 Attack Bomber / G4M1 Model 11 Betty manufacture number 5414. Wartime History Assigned to the Takao Kōkūtai (Takao Air Group). On November 1, 1942 redesignaed 753 Kōkūtai (753 Air Group) with tail code T-359. Mission History On November 23, 1942 at 11:33pm took off from Koepang Airfield on Timor piloted by Kiyoshi Akamatsu as one of fifteen G4M1 Betty bombers on a night bombing mission over Darwin. On November 24, 1942 at 3:39am the bombers were flying at an altitude of 22,500' in a "V" formation as they approached the target area. At 3:40am, intercepted by P-40E Kittyhawk A29-113 piloted by Richard C. "Dick" Cresswell. After a brief combat, this bomber was hit in the right engine causing a fire and crashed. This was the first Japanese aircraft shot down by an Australian pilot over the Australian mainland. The other bombers returned to Koepang Airfield by 6:30am. Wreckage This bomber crashed near Koopinyah Station to the east of Darwin. The entire crew was killed in the crash. The cockpit and center section were burned in the crash. The tail was crumpled and engines torn off on impact. Soon afterwards, the crash site was located soon afterwards and Air Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) who inspected and photographed the wreckage. During December 1-2, 1942 another visit was made to search for the right engine, tail gun and any material initially missed. Display A seat from this aircraft was recovered from the crash site and other artifacts. One seat (AWM REL/02407) is displayed at Australian War Memorial (AWM) in the aircraft hall. Also, a small dataplate tag with manufacture number 5414 (AWM REL30194) is part of the AWM Collection. References Kodochosho Takao Kokutai November 23-24,1942 Darwin's Air War (Revised Edition) page 79 An Analysis of P-40E A29-113 "In a 1981 letter to the RAAF Meteorological Service, Dick Cresswell stated the kill occurred at about 0130 on 24 November 1942" Australian War Memorial Collection Database - REL/02407 (seat) Australian War Memorial Collection Database - REL30194 (dataplate) Thanks to Minoru Kamada and Yoji Sakaida 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 August 13, 2022 |
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