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Japanese aircraft wrecks at Cape Gloucester Airfield (Tuluvu)
December 30, 1943
Cape Gloucester I (Old Strip, West Airfield)
Lat 5° 27' 32S Long 148° 25' 57E  Located to the west, running roughly north-west to south-east, nearest to the ocean
. Built pre-war by Australians, 750 yards long. When the Japanese occupied the airfield on December 17, this runway was unserviceable due to trench barricades, erosion, floodwaters and vegetation.

Ki-61 Tony Constructor's Number 263
Captured by USMC on December 30, 1943, recovered for testing

Ki-45 Nick 1024 Tail 10
Captured December 30, 1943 burned out on the ground.

Ki-61 Tony Manufacture Number 467
Built in early September 1943, probably assigned as a replacement aircraft in October 1943. Burned out completely.


Cape Gloucester II (No. 2 Strip, East Strip, New Airfield)
During late late December 1942, the Japanese built a second runway that became known as Cape Gloucester II (No. 2 Strip, East Strip, New Airfield).

Ki-51 Sonia Manufacture Number 901
Built February 1943 with engine serial number 3602. Dark gray camouflage paint scheme. Destroyed on the ground at East Strip.

Ki-51 Sonia Manufacture Number 1082
Dark green upper surfaces, gray lower. Destroyed on the ground.

Ki-45 Nick Manufacture Number 237
Demolished condition, believed destroyed in June 1943.

Ki-45 Nick Manufacture Number 1023
Captured largely intact by on December 30, 1943
.

Ki-43-I Oscar Manufacture Number 776
Abandoned at airfield

Ki-43 Oscar Manufacture Number 804
Built in December 1942 at Nakajima, at Ota. Nakajima, No. 8232, dated July 1942 light green and the lower surfaces were unpainted. Fair condition. possibly disabled in August 1943. Probably this aircraft was assigned to the 11th Sentai and had a tail fin flash. Armed with two 7.7mm machine guns.

Ki-43 Oscar Manufacture Number 808
Built in December 1942 at Nakajima, at Ota.  Dark green on upper surfaces and unpainted underneath. Destroyed on the ground, possibly around late May 1943.

D3A2 Val Manufacture Number 3019
Built in mid-September 1942. An engine found nearby bore serial 5487 and was built in October 21, 1942, possibly associated with this plane.

G3M3 Model 23 Nell Tail P-905 Manufacture Number 197
Nakajima built in December 1941. Dark green upper surfaces, unpainted lower. Served in a bomber group, the became an unarmed transport, with bomb racks removed. Damaged on the ground, ATIU determined it to be salvable.

G4M1 Betty Manufacture Number 4758
Built early May 1943 estimated to be unservicable during September 1943

G4M1 Betty Manufacture Number 2836
Built mid June 1943 estimated to be unservicable during September 1943

G4M1 Betty Manufacture Number 1420 Tail 350
Pilot Yagita force landed September 4, 1943

G4M1 Betty Manufacture Number 6078
Pilot Yagita (?) force landed December 25, 1943

A6M2 Model 21 Zero Manufacture Number 1491
Nakajima built in early December 1942, crashed in late 1943 at the strip.

A6M2 Model 22 Zero Manufacture Number 3580
Mitsubishi built in late March 1943.

Ki-49-II Helen Manufacture Number 3297
Force landed December 16, 1943

References
Tuluvu's Air War (Chapter X: The Aircraft of Tuluvu) by Richard Dunn

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