Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  A6M2 Model 21 Zero Manufacture Number ? Tail V-1??
IJN
Tainan Kōkūtai

Pilot  P. O. 1st Class Tooru Oshima (KIA)
Crashed  May 14, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by either Mitsubishi or Nakajima. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as Type 0 Carrier Fighter / A6M2 Zero manufacture number unknown.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group). Tail code V-1??

(last two digits unknown).

Mission History
On May 14, 1942 took off from Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul pilot P. O. 1st Class Tooru Oshima on a mission against Port Moresby. Over the target area, engaged by P-39 Airacobras from the 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS) "The Flying Fiends". This Zero was intercepted by P-39 Airacobra piloted by Brown who opened fire for for a second before his left wing collided with this Zero's tail. The collision damaged the tail, rudder and stabilizer causing the Zero to go into a tight spiral to the right then crashed into the ground, killing Oshima in the crash. When this aircraft failed to return it was declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Wreckage
This Zero crashed into jungle somewhere near 7-Mile Drome. Later, Australian Army soldiers took a piece of the Zero embedded into the left wingtip of P-39 Airacobra piloted by Brown into a match box and presented to 1st Lt. Paul G. Brown as a souvenir.

This aircraft might have been A6M2 Zero 641 crashed at "Wirraway Valley" and investigated by Allied Technical Inteligence Unit (ATIU) and designated "AD 7" estimated to have crashed May 12, 1942. This estimated date of crash is incorrect, as the Japanese lost no Zeros over Port Moresby. Two Zero losses over Port Moresby are possibilities: A6M2 Zero piloted by Honda crashed May 13, 1942 or this aircraft. Both aircraft were lost during that timeframe.

References
Kodochosho, Tainan Kōkūtai, May 14, 1942
36th Figher Squadron Diary - May 14, 1942
Winged Samurai "Tainan Kōkūtai Pilot Casualties" page 88
"Zero Lost - Zero Found" by Robert Piper April 2017 pages 34-35
"Latter-day Japanese records, copies of which are held in (of all places) Australia and the United States, have confirmed that Petty Officer Oshima was the only Zero airman lost that day. Both the American and Australian air forces have considerable interest in this incident as they are keen to assess the strength of the legendary light Zero against their frontline and heavier, less-nimble American-made fighters. However, there is more to this story. Newly-promoted American Captain Brown from Chicago – who had the mid- air collision with Petty Officer Oshima’s Zero – also became a tragedy of war. He disappeared on a lone and short ferry flight in another Airacobra between Townsville and Mareeba, inland from Cairns, on September 25, 1942. His aircraft is yet to be found. It is a rare coincidence that I have photos of both airmen to provide with this story. Oshima’s photo was provided many years ago by his pilot school classmate in Japan, Kuzuyoshi Toyota."
Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
September 18, 2021

Tech Info
Zero
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram