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Mission History
Ditched in Deboyne Lagoon off Nivani Island during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
This Zero was either one of two A6M2 Zeros led by Lt. Notomi that ditched after Shoho was sunk. Or, A6M2 piloted by PO2c Okura Shigeru from the 14th Shotai from Zuikaku ditched after was sunk.
Jim Sawruk adds: "I think it is most likely the Zuikaku one as it is alone."
Seaplane pilot W. O. K. Nemoto was at Deboyne and witnessed the ditching of A6M2 Zero piloted by P. O. Okura. Later, Nemoto was KIA at Salamaua on June 28 and his diary was captured. His diary states:
"At 3p.m. [May 7, 1942] a fighter pilot made a force landing. He [P. O. Okura] is from Zuikaku and they [he?] told us the vivid story of today's battle... He shot down [claimed] three enemies." (Ref via Richard Dunn)
Wreckage
This wreck is in shallow water on a sandy bottom, just off the northern tip of Nivani Island, in 2-4m of water.
Investigated by Australian Army on June 3, 1942.
This wreck is identified in Allied reports as 'AD4, Zeke, 8 May 42, Deboyne group' with only an asterisk where the serial number should be, possibly there is another report
Lt Mac Rich, Lousiade Archipelago Patrol diary: June 3, 1942:
"spent the afternoon with Ivan [Champion] and a couple of the crew salvaging what we could from a crashed ZERO fighter on the bed of the lagoon in about 1—15ft of water. An attempt to raise this and move it into shallower water with empty oil drums found on the beach proved unsuccessful, so we had to be content with diving down with swimming goggles. We were able to get the radio transmitter and receiver suspended on rubber cords on one side of the cockpit. Ivan wanted the spherical faced compass set in the control panel, this proved quite a job trying to cut and price it out its mounting but we succeeded in the end. Being an amateur I was content with the morse key which I still have, though strange to relate it does not carry a brand of any description. It was strange to see through the prospect canopy behind the pilot’s seat an oblong box branded in big white letters 'Bandit Homing Compass' - we did not consider this worth salvaging as it was obviously an American product. Late in the afternoon two Panniet Island village Constables and Councilors arrived by sailing canoe and were duly questioned about any survivors in their area, but they had nothing to report."
References
Thanks to John Douglas, Jim Sawruk, Richard Dunn for additional information.
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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