Background
Yoshimitsu Maeda was born on May 5, 1918 in Tokyo in Japan. He joined the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and became a fighter pilot assigned to the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) with the rank of Pilot Officer 3rd class (PO3c).
Wartime History
On April 21, 1942 took off from Lae Airfield on a combat air patrol over Lae, his first combat missions. On April 22 he flew another CAP mission over Lae. On April 23 he flew two CAP missions over Lae. On April 24 he flew two CAP missions over Lae. On April 25, 1942 he flew another CAP over Lae. On April 26, 1942 flew another CAP over Lae.
Mission History
On April 28, 1942 in the morning took off from Lae Airfield piloting A6M2 Zero 1575 on patrol and returned. At 1:00pm took off again from Lae Airfield with A6M2 Zero pilot Arita in pursuit of a "Lockheed Hudson" in fact, B-25C "Der Schpy" 41-12496 that Arita claimed as shot down but was only damaged. During the pursuit, Maeda became separated and did not return. When this aircraft failed to return, he was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).
If fact, Maeda crossed the Owen Stanley Range and ended up over the south coast of New Guinea where he spotted MV Laurabada to the east of Abau Island. As he turned to strafe it, and hit a coconut palm on Otamata plantation. Damaged, he force landed in the plantation with little damage to his Zero. Maeda survived unhurt but was stunned from the impact.
Prisoner of War
The crash was observed by locals and ANGAU spotter Duffy based at the plantation. Maeda was captured without resistance and became a Prisoner Of War (POW). Afterwards, he was transported to Abau Island. On May 4, 1942 he and the wreckage of his Zero were loaded aboard MV Matoma and transported to Port Moresby.
In captivity, he used the alias "Hideo Oki" or "Maida" (misspelling of his real name) and was assigned prisoner number PWJA.110008. Afterwards, a transported by ship to Australia arriving at Broadmeadows on September 12, 1942. Then, marched to Hay arriving two days later. On October 22, 1942 admitted to the hospital for medical treatment until discharged on November 4, 1942 and returned to Hay. On January 8, 1943 transferred to Cowra POW Camp. Between June 5, 1943 to June 7, 1943 he was taken to the hospital. On September 5, 1943 transfered to Murchison camp. After the end of the Pacific War, he was embarked aboard Daikai Maru and repatriated to Japan.
References
The official Japanese report claims Maeda was ill due to oxygen starvation and force landed, this is incorrect. Other reports incorrectly state this Zero was hit by Allied gunfire, this is also inaccurate.
Production figures of the Mitsubishi/Nakajima A6M Zero by Jim Long
Kodochosho, Tainan Kōkūtai, April 21-28, 1942
New York Times "Japanese Flier Fears for Family If Tokyo Learns of His Capture" by Byron Darnton, 1942
Australian Post "Where Japs got the third degree" by David Sissons, July 17, 1986, page 3
Private War of the Spotters (1990) mentions this loss and Zero:
"Maeda crashed in a plantation at Otamata, East of Abau on 28th April 42. There were two Spotters posted to Otamata, [Duffy and Fahey]. Vic Fahey was on walkabout and Duffy had malaria. He was in a canoe crewed by locals going to a passing supply ship [Elevada] when a zero passed overhead at 50 feet. He returned to the beach and was met by the local labourers who told him that the plane had crashed in the plantation. The pilot was stunned by the crash and Duffy took him prisoner. He was taken to Abau, where the District office was. The pilot couldn't speak English, but by signs Duffy was able to understand him. The pilot wanted Duffy to kill him. Duffy refrained. Duffy recorded that he was rather a good type of Japanese, handsome and only about his own age, 19 years. The plane was salvaged by two Air Force men and taken back to Port Moresby."
The New Guinea Diaries of Philip Strong:
"The Anglican Bishop Strong was traveling on the Matoma from Port Moresby to Samarai On the 28th April. They anchored at Otamata at 4.30 PM. The Engineers went ashore. Shortly afterwards he saw a a Jap plane flying low, and was horrified to see it turn around and make as if it was coming for them. He woke the skipper, who had to search for the stored MG ammo. By the time they found it, the plane had disappeared. One of the soldiers from the spotting station came along in a canoe. a little later, a dinghy came out with the pilot of the Jap plane. He had crashed on the Coconut trees and had come down. He had a wound on his head, having gashed it in the crash. The Bishop asked for the pilots needs. when these had been supplied, and his wounds bound, he was fed and searched. Then a mattress was put down for him and he lay down. Later on two soldiers came on board to keep guard over him. The next morning they reversed direction and sailed for Abau, where they arrived about noon. The prisoner seemed very depressed. By signs he asked if he would be shot or have his head cut off. At Abau he was handed over to the the District Officer, Claude Champion. Claude said that the prisoner had implored them to shoot him."
Col. Hal Maull [A-20 pilot, 3rd BG, 13th BS] memoir written around 1992:
"...The schooner Matoma arrived. They have to move on around Milne Bay to the north coast to pick up some other crews. We politely declined the skipper's offer to take us aboard, stating that we'd wait until he returned. Several days later the Matoma was back with a P-39 pilot and a B-17 [or another bomber] crew. We boarded and started back to Moresby. But we had to stop at Abau to pick up a Jap Zero which had landed on the beach. As it was [being] lightered out on two native canoes lashed together, I was saddened by the damage that had been done to it in moving it to the Matoma. I took some pictures nonetheless."
Milne Bay 1942 (1992) page 15
The War Diaries of Eddie Allan Stanton (1996) pages 13, 15
"A report has been received that a Japanese Zero fighter had crashed at Otawatu, near Abau, and that the pilot, a young fellow about 19, had been captured. His plane had run out of petrol. The Japanese pilot had asked to be shot, but his wish was not granted. He was shaken up, and given a glass of whiskey. It must be stated that the Japanese handle their planes with courage & skill. The Japanese pilot captured near Abau could name and draw most of the Allied planes, especially the number of guns and their armament. His knowledge of the aerodromes was also good. They apparently don't mind dying, this fellow in particular was always demanding to be shot or bayoneted However, until more evidence in this respect is forthcoming, it is difficult to say whether this Japanese was an exception or one of many."
Eagles of the Southern Sky (2012) pages mention this loss and Zero
Thanks to Edward Rogers, Harumi Sakaguchi, John Douglas, Jim Long for additional information
