Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

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Chronology

G4M1 Model 11 Betty

IJN
? Kōkūtai

Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi at Nagoya No. 3 Works. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 1 Attack Bomber (G4M1 Model 11 Betty) manufacture number unknown.

Wartime History
Assigned to an unknown Kokutai (Air Group). No known markings or tail code.

Mission History
On February 17, 1944 during the morning, this Betty took off from Rabaul on a flight to Truk. On board were the pilot, co-pilot and rear gunner. Also, Japanese interpreter Edward Chikaki Honda (aka "Ed Honda"), a guard and six Allied POWs were aboard the aircraft as passengers.

Major Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington pilot F4U 17915 crashed January 3, 1944
Lt. John M. Arbuckle pilot PBY 08428 ditched November 22, 1943
Major Donald W. Boyle pilot F4U 49891 crashed January 23, 1944
F/O Allen M. Brown wireless-gunner Beaufort A9-244 ditched October 21,1943
F/Lt. Brian P. Stacey co-pilot Catalina A24-34 shot down February 7, 1944
Captain Charles K. Taylor, Jr. pilot P-38H 42-66909 crashed October 23, 1943

During the flight, Boyington wrote years later that he thought of hijacking the aircraft, but others aboard thought he was exaggerating.

This Betty landed at the start of "Operation Hailstone" the U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 58 (TF-58) carrier aircraft attacks against Truk. After landing, F6F Hellcats began attacking the airfield. The prisoners were hastily untied to allow them to exit the bomber and take cover in a nearby foxhole as the airfield was bombed for an hour. During the attack, this Betty was destroyed. That night, the prisoners were held in a jail then aboard L2D Tabby (DC-3) flying via Saipan to Japan.

References
The Siege of Rabaul (1996) page 21, 23-24
Thanks to Henry Sakaida for additional information

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Last Updated
November 22, 2022

Betty

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