Pilot Captian Kuniharu Kobatashi (KIA)
Crashed April 10, 1942
Aircraft
History
Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). Assigned to the 4th Kōkūtai (4th Air Group). Tail F-???, last three digits unknown.
Mission History
On April 10, 1942 one of seven bombers that took off from Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul on a bombing mission against of Port Moresby. The bombers were escorted by six A6M2 Zeros. Over the target, intercepted by nine RAAF 75 Squadron P-40E Kittyhawks. Shot down over the Owen Stanley Range, going down in a flat spin with smoke streaming from the tail.
References
Kodochosho, 4th Kōkūtai, April 10, 1942
Other sources list pilots name (小林 国) could be translated as "Kobayashi"
War Diary 1942 page 51 (Raid 25)
"Apparently as a reprisal for yesterday's raid on Rabaul, seven Jap bombers and six Zero fighters raided Moresby this morning. They dropped their bombs ineffectively when our Kittyhawks tackled them and made off for home at high speed. Our fighters chased them right out of Papua into New Guinea, fighting a series of running dogfights for over half an hour. One Jap bomber was caught in the guns over the terrible jungles of the Owen Stanley Range an went down in a flat spin with smoke streaming from the tail. All our planes got back safely."
Thanks to Yoji Sakaida and John Douglas for additional information
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Last Updated
March 3, 2021
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