Photo: Fold3

HISTORY

When Allied units entered Buna airstrip on New Guinea at the end of 1942, they found a former Tainan Kōkūtai Zero which became subject of many photos and also souvenir hunting. A6M3 Type

32 “V-187” (c/n 3028) carries typical markings of Tainan Kōkūtai – the V code and diagonal identification band. Latest research indicates this aircraft with shorter range belonged to Buna detachment of Tainan Kōkūtai and carried yellow markings. The Hókoku 870 marking with inscription Ko Gen indicates the aircraft was donated by civilian volunteer group.

a middle of cross-fire, exploded, and the pilot

was instantly killed. The airplane crashed at the

end of the runway.

Both Americans were credited with a single victory. They applied two basic rules in duels with

Zeroes: “Hit and run” and “Don't dogfight”. In this

case, it paid off. The shocked Sakai watched the

return of the five Zeroes instead of the expected

six. His faithful friend and wingman was dead.

The apologies of Watari Handa were useless.

It could not return Honda´s life. Handa did not

stop to blame himself for the death of Sakai's

wingman until the end of his life. According to

Sakai's memories, Honda's score exceeded 15

victories.

In the middle of May, Sakai is said to have participated in one of the most epic events of Pacific war – aerobatics over enemy airfield. The

story in book “Samurai!” says that on the night

of 16 May, Sakai and his colleagues, Hiroyoshi

Nishizawa and Toshio Ota, were listening to

a broadcast of an Australian radio program,

when Nishizawa recognized the eerie "Danse

May 2022

Macabre" of Camille Saint-Saëns. Inspired by

this, Nishizawa came up with the idea of doing

demonstration loops over the enemy airfield.

The next day, Sakai´s flight included fellow aces

Hiroyoshi Nishizawa and Toshio Ōta. At the end

of an attack on Port Moresby that had involved

18 Zeros, the trio performed three tight loops in

close formation over the allied air base. Nishizawa indicated he wanted to repeat the performance. Diving to 6,000 ft (1,800 m), the three

Zeros did three more loops, without receiving

any AA fire from the ground. The following day,

a lone Allied bomber flew over the Lae airfield

and dropped a note attached to a long cloth ribbon. A soldier picked up the note and delivered

to the squadron commander. It read (paraphrased): "Thank you for the wonderful display of aerobatics by three of your pilots. Please pass on

our regards and inform them that we will have a

warm reception ready for them, next time they

fly over our airfield". The unit commander was

furious and reprimanded the three pilots for

their stupidity, but the Tainan Kōkūtai's three

leading aces felt Nishizawa's aerial choreography of the "Dance Macabre" had been worth it.

Evidence in historical documents for this event

is lacking. There are five days when the trio flew

together, but May 17 is not matching. There are

also no reports from Allied side of such activity

of Japanese airmen over Allied airfield.

FIGHTS WITH MEDIUM BOMBERS

Saburō Several times Saburō Sakai clashed

with American twin-engine bombers over New

Guinea The first battle occurred on May 25, 1942.

Six B-25 Mitchell belonging to 13th and 90th

Bomb Squadron attacked Lae. Ten miles before the target, the Americans noticed the starting Zeroes. The bombers successfully dropped

their cargo and were departing from the target,

accompanied by accurate flak fire. The American formation was then attacked by fifteen

Zeroes. Bomber pilots wanted to find protection in low-level flight over the water. This was

supposed to make fighter attacks more difficult.

According to information from American side,

INFO Eduard

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