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| IJN 381 Kōkūtai Sento 902 Hikotai |
Pilot Lt Sadao Ozaki (KIA) Crashed October 10, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Nakajima. Uncoded serial number unknown (two digits). Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 2 Land Based Reconnaissance Aircraft Gekko / J1N1-C Irving manufacture number unknown (three digits). Wartime History Assigned to the 381 Kōkūtai (381 Air Group), Sento 902 Hikotai (S902). Tail code 381-?? two digits unknown. Mission History On October 10, 1944 took off piloted by Lt Sadao Ozaki armed with 250 kg phosphorous aerial burst bombs on a mission to intercept B-24 Liberators over Balikpapan on southeast Borneo. Intercepted by P-38L Lightning 44-23964 pilot Major Richard I. Bong who dove from above and fired as this plane that he identified as either an Irving or Sally and observed it to turn, catch fire, roll over with the pilot bailing out before it crashed into the sea roughly a mile off Manggar Airfield. Bong was awarded his twenty-nine aerial victory for this plane. References Combat Report Major Richard I. Bong, October 10, 1944 Moonlight Interceptor (1985) page 46 Stars & Bars (1995) pages 155 (October 10, 1944) Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces 1932-1945 (2011) pages 228-229 (381 Ku), 259 (S902), 402 (losses 10/10/44) Ken’s Men Against The Empire: The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019) pages 165 (Japanese interceptors 10/10/44) Ace of Aces: The Dick Bong Story (2019) pages 90-91 (October 14, 1944), 145 (Appendix B 10/10/43 [sic 44]) Thanks to Osamu Tagaya 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 December 17, 2024 |
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