Pilot Sekizen
Shibayama (survived)
Ditched November 11, 1943
Pilot History
Shibayama was an ace with the 253rd Kokutai, with 13 victories.
Aircraft History
Built by Mitsubishi, estimated date of assembly December 1943.
Mission History
Took off on a ferry flight from Rabaul to Truk. The plane developed engine trouble encountered a formation of eight F6F Hellcats of VF-9 (USS Essex). Damaged in combat with bullet holes in the cockpit and engine, Shibayama was wounded
in the knee by USN Lt. A. B. Smith, who claimed two victories that day. Ditched in 50' of water, in Simpson Harbor off Matupi
Island and Shibayama escaped.
Wreckage
The American Fighter Ace Association (specifically the work
of members Eugene Valencia, Marshall Beebe and Jim
French) was
interested to acquire a Zero for their San Diego based collection. They
put in requests to the Australian Historical Aviation Association in
1967.
Salvager Bob Scott heard about the request and offered
this Zero, that he had discovered while searching for a ship propeller in Simpson Harbor.
Salvage
Salvaged
with a large cradle in 1971 by Bob Scott. It was given a freshwater bath at Rabaul before being transported to Tokyo and then flown by a Hercules to Kern County Airport in Bakersfield, California.
The Zero arrived with great media attention, and the former pilot Shibayama visited
the aircraft. The machine guns were restored to firing condition with only hours
of work by US Navy personnel.
Display
Displayed at San Diego Aerospace Museum, Destroyed, along with the museum building in an arson fire on
February 22, 1978.
References
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks, page 23
Winged
Samurai page ?
Imperial Japanese Navy Aces page ?
Hostages To Freedom page 441
Thanks to Alan Renga, San Diego Aerospace Museum for additional information.
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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