Wreck of G4M bomber whose crash killed Admiral Yamamoto, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Apr 1943

Caption     Wreck of G4M bomber whose crash killed Admiral Yamamoto, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Apr 1943 ww2dbase
Photographer    Unknown
Source    ww2dbaseThe Reluctant Admiral by Agawa, Hiroyuki
More on...   
G4M   Main article  Photos  
Isoroku Yamamoto   Main article  Photos  
Photos on Same Day 19 Apr 1943
Photos at Same Place Buin, Bougainville, British Western Pacific Territories
Added By C. Peter Chen

This photograph has been scaled down; full resolution photograph is available here (1,114 by 747 pixels).

Licensing  This work is believed to be in the public domain.

Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you.




Did you enjoy this photograph or find this photograph helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this photograph with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds


Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
6 Oct 2011 01:42:03 PM

Wreckage of Mitsubishi G4M1, Model 11 "Betty"
of the 705th Kokutai, T1-323 c/n 2656 that carried Adm. Yamamoto was shotdown by P-38 Lightnings from the 339th Fighter Squadron,
347th Fighter Group, 13th Air Force on
April 18, 1943. Both Betty bombers T1-323 and
T1-326 that carried Yamamoto and his staff were on an inspection tour of Japanese bases.

GET YAMAMOTO!

The six Zero fighter escorts, tried to fight off the sixteen P-38s, both Betty bombers and one P-38 were lost in the attack.

THE SITE TODAY:

The wreckage of Yamamoto's "Betty" bomber, is
one of the most historically significant of WWII. The crash site, is located in jungle near Moila Point a few kilometers from a road.
Today the wreckage is guarded from theft and souvenir hunters,permission must be obtained to visit he wreck.
Did you know the "Betty" bomber carrying Yamamoto, was a brand new aircraft, and was built in March 1943, at the Mitusbishi plant No 3 at Nagoya.
2. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
6 Oct 2011 09:58:52 PM

What happened to the other "Betty" T1-326
After being shotup by P-38s aircraft ditched in the sea off Moila Point. When the P-38s
attacked, both Betty bombers took evasive action Yamamoto's bomber was shotdown and crashed in the jungle, the second betty flew low over the water taking hits trailing smoke and ditched in the water.

Survivors were Vice Admiral Ugaki Yamamoto's Chief of Staff, the pilot and one other crewmember all made it ashore and were later rescued.
The wreckage reportedly remains near the shore off reefs. No zero escorts were lost during the attack on Yamamoto.
3. Commenter identity confirmed Bill says:
26 Nov 2011 11:44:19 AM

BOUGANVILLE AMBUSH: WHAT ABOUT THE ZERO ESCORTS

The six escorts were from 204 Kokutai that
was based at Lakunai (Rabaul East).
The Zeros were A6M3 Model 32 Hamp and A6M3 Model 22.
During the battle, both G4M Betty bombers were shotdown, none of the zero fighters were lost fighting the P-38s of the 347th FG.
Of the six pilots flying that day, five were
later killed in action and one survived the war.

CONTROVERSY TO THIS DAY:

Who shotdown Yamamoto. Both USAAF pilots 1st Lt.Barber and Capt.Lanphier claimed the kill another pilot Lt.Holmes claimed the Betty bomber shotdown and crashed into the water.
In 2003 Barber was given credit for shooting
down Yamamoto.

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Search WW2DB
Modern Day Location
WW2-Era Place Name Buin, Bougainville, British Western Pacific Territories
Lat/Long -6.7861, 155.5523
Famous WW2 Quote
"I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil."

General Douglas MacArthur at Leyte, 17 Oct 1944


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!