Aircraft History
This aircraft was built by Mitsubishi in March 1942. Its crew, unit assignment or missions are unknown.

Wartime History
Crashed into the coastal waters off Binmaley, west of Dagupan into the sea, likely in January 1945.

Discovery
On July 7, 2005 local fisherman recovered an engine and propeller from an American WWII aircraft in the water 20m from shore in the sea between Binmaley and Dagupan. Also recovered was a rubber gas mask, missing the respirator and eye pieces.  And, a large piece of human pelvic bone.  Both items were reportedly with the wreckage and taken to the Police station at Dagupan.  People in Binmaley also reported the a helmet found in the wreckage and other bones, including an arm bone.  The water quality where the plane is murky. The wreckage was floated to shore with the use of several compressors and several fishing boats. Reported to police, the Dagupan Police SWAT team and environmental officials were dispatched to photograph and secure the wreckage, and transported it to the Binmaley Police Station. The find was first reported as a B-17 in local newspapers on July 10th. Controversy over the exact ownership of the wreck became a question, as it was discovered on the border of Dagupan and Binmaley, and was reportedly first discovered and salvaged by a San Fabian fisherman.

Justin Taylan adds:
"I inspected this wreckage on July 11th, four days after the discovery.  The engine is a 14 cylinder radial, possibly Kasei Type 11 engine. It was in a remarkably preserved condition for being in salt water, with only a minimal of marine growth, and most of the cowling still intact. All the rubber was still present on the engine and wiring in good condition.  The three propeller blades were only bent back slightly, and had faded yellow tips. It had been taken by a truck from the beach where it was salvaged, and taken to the Binmaley Police Station. A small sign nearby listed that this was an engine from an 'American Air Force Stealth Fighter Old Model'.  I explained it was a wartime relic, most likely from 1945, and there was no 'treasure' aboard it, rather its value is as an Missing In Action crash site, and historical relic, and hope the site will get immediate action from the US or Japanese embassy. Currently, the bones are with the Dagupan City Police. On September 24th, I returned to dive the wreckage still in the water. The area is a hard sandy bottom. Wet season water conditions were very poor. One of the landing gear legs is visible from the surface on clear days, and sand seems to cover most of the wreckage."

Identification
Justin Taylan / PacificWrecks.com investigated the engine and identified it as a Japanese aircraft. On July 11th, 2005 during a session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the wreck discovery was reported and discussed with Taylan providing testimonial. That same day, radio and ABS-CBN television news covered the story.

Jim Lansdale of J-Aircraft adds:
"I believe that it is a crashed Sally investigated by US Intelligence after it was captured/recovered. There is no doubt your serial number is from a Japanese aircraft, but it is not a serial number found on the Mitsubishi G4M."

Jim Long / AIR'TELL Publications & Research adds:
"That the serial number appears in at least one Allied intelligence report. The name of the report is Japanese Aircraft Makers' Plates and Markings, Report No. 68, "Life of Japanese Combat Airplanes," 20 March 1945. This report listed 301 Japanese aircraft of various models in order to support a study of how long they lasted in combat. The writers of this report got their data from other intelligence documents, such as reports of field inspections of crashed Japanese planes. I don't have a copy of any other reports associated with No. 4262, juts this one listing in the cited report No. 68."
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TAIU Report March 1945
via Jim Long