Pilot  Lt. (jg) Keizo Kondo (survived)
Co-Pilot  PO1 Takeshi Takado (seriously wounded)
Observer  CPO Kiyoshi Arai (survived)
Radio  PO2 Morito Fujiwara (seriously wounded)
Mechanic  CPO Toshinorii Irikura (slightly wounded)
Crashed  December 28, 1942

Mission History
This was the lead aircraft of three that took off from Vunakanau Airfield at 7:30am, to Munda Airfield to pickup fighter pilots of the 252nd Kokutai , and transport them back to their base at Kahili Airfield. Escorted by nine Zeros, the bombers flew over Buin at 9:45.

Just prior to landing, the bombers were intercepted by two 70th FS P-39 Airacobras over the Munda area on a reconnaissance mission. The Airacobras evaded the Zero escort and dove on one of the Nells as it was making its final approach.

One of the Airacobras, piloted by Lt. Rex Barber forgot to jetison his drop tank, and begain to fire at the lead bomber. He scored hits and ccaused it to crash into the water off Munda Point, three of the crew were wounded, two seriously. The two P-39s departed and Barber claimed one Nell shot down.

Wreckage
The aircraft remains off Munda. The nose and fusealge section are damaged from the ditching. No armament is present. The dive site has generally poor water visibility.

Justin Taylan adds
"I dove this site in April 2006, and was amazed to find some of the cockpit perspex still intact on the cockpit 'clam shell' hatches. In September 2007, I met the pilot Keizo Kondo."

References
Kodachosho, 701st Kokutai, December 28, 1942
Thanks to Yohji Sakaida, Jim Sawruk and Ewan Stevenson for additional information.

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