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| JAAF 11th Sentai |
Pilot Captain Tomoari Hasegawa (survived) Damaged December 31, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Nakajima. Uncoded serial number unknown (three digits). Delivered to the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as Type 1 Fighter / Ki-43-I Oscar manufacture number unkown (three digits). Wartime History Assigned to the 11th Hiko Sentai (11th Flying Regiment). No known markings or tail code. Mission History On December 31, 1942 took off from Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul piloted by Captain Tomoari Hasegawa as one of eight Oscars led by Captain Miyabayashi on a patrol over Lae to intercept intercept A-20s, B-25s and B-26s bombing and strafing Lae Airfield. Over Lae, as the Oscars engage the bombers they are intercepted by twelve P-38 Lightnings 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) and 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS). During the combat, Hasegawa collided with P-38F Lightning 42-12652 piloted by 2nd Lt. Kenneth Sparks, damaging the right aileron and wing tip but returned from the mission. The Oscar sustained tail damage but landed safely at Gasmata Airfield. Several days later, Hasegawa returned to Rabaul and rejoined the 11th Sentai. It is unclear if his damaged aircraft was repaired or abandoned at Gasmata Airfield. Afterwards, Hasegawa reported he hit the tail of a "Lockheed bomber" which he claimed as destroyed (in fact it landed safely with only damage to its right aileron and wing tip). References Some sources incorrectly state Hasegawa landed at Lae Airfield, sic Gasmata Airfield "Initial Japanese Army Air Operations" by Richard Dunn Harvest of the Grim Reapers:The Illustrated History of the 3rd and 27th Bomb Groups During World War II Volume I: Prewar to December 1942 (2021) pages 437-438 (December 31, 1942) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 20, 2023 |
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