Mitsubishi G4M

Japan Air Self-Defense Force - Koku Jieitai

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 in a jungle located some 25 km north of Buin, killing all 12 occupants, among them Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and several high rank Navy Officers who were performing an inspection of the Japanese installations in the area of the Solomon Islands. Crew (705th Kokutai): W/O Takeo Koyani, pilot, W/O Takeo Kotani, pilot, F/S Akiharu Ozaki, copilot, P/O Haruo Ueda, flight engineer, P/O Nobuo Hara, radio operator, P/O Minoru Tanaka, air gunner, F/S Mitsuo Ueno, air gunner, F/S Harumasa Kobayashi, air gunner. Passengers: Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Admiral Takata, Cdr Kurio Toibana, Cdr Noburu Fukusaki.

Japan Air Self-Defense Force - Koku Jieitai

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.