Rabaul – Lakunai – Balalae Island

On April 18, 1943 at 08:00 AM, Rabaul – Lakunai – Balalae Island experienced a crash involving Mitsubishi G4M, operated by Japan Air Self-Defense Force - Koku Jieitai, with the event recorded near Buin Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

13 people were known to be on board, 10 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 76.9%.

Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The aircraft left Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport in early morning bound for Balalae Island with an intermediate stop in Lakunai to pick up passengers. The twin engine aircraft was flying together with another Mitsubishi G4M and an escort of six Mitsubishi Zero. It left Lakunai Airfield at 0610LT and while approaching the south of the Bougainville Island, the formation was attacked by a squadron of 12 USAAF P-38. The G4M was shot down and crashed into the sea off Moila Point, some 15 km southwest of Buin. Two passengers and the captain were found alive while all other occupants were killed, among them several high rank Navy Officers who were performing an inspection of the Japanese installations in the area of the Solomon Islands and were accompanying Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Crew (705th Kokutai): F/O Hiroshi Hayashi, pilot, Cdr Hiroaki Tanimura 6. Passengers: Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki, Cpt Motoharu Kitamura, Cdr Rinji Tomoro, Cdr Kaoru Imananka, Cdr Suteji Muroi.

Aircraft reference details include registration T1-326, MSN 2659 ?.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -6.7485°, 155.6912°.