JAAF

August 18, 1945

Brian Bennett 1981

Pilot  Captain Nario Iwanaga
Final Flight  September 18, 1945

Aircraft History
This aircraft manufacture number was likely 2783.

Wartime History
This Kate was based at Rabaul. One of only a handful of aircraft to survive the war in flying condition. After Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, Japanese requested permission to surrender their remaining aircraft to an Air Force, instead of the Australian Army that occupied Rabaul. This required the aircraft to be flown to the nearest Allied airfield at Jacquinot Bay. Japanese pilots were allowed to fly the aircraft.

A group of aircraft including this aircraft, A6M5 Zero 4043 and two other Zeros were painted in surrender markings to hand them over to New Zealand personnel. Flown by Japanese crews, the aircraft took off on September 18, 1945 from Vunakanau Airfield to Jacquinot Bay Airfield. After landing, the pilots saluted, made a report and were flown back to Rabaul aboard a RNZAF PBY Catalina.

Wreckage
Wing and center section abandoned at Jacquinot Bay. The remains of two Japanese aircraft were taken from the airfield area down to the shore and next to what had been the old district office, this aircraft and a B5N Kate.

Brian Bennett adds:
"The Ki-46 consisted of the fuselage less the tail group, the two main planes, I don't recall if the main carts were still attached. These wrecks I also tried to get something done about them years ago."

Recovery
In mid-2003, it was recovered by '75 Squadron', barged to Lae where it was put in a container and exported to Melbourne Australia, but was impounded by the PNG Museum and its ownership resolved in a court case ending in 2005, in favor of the salvagers.

References
The Siege of Rabaul page 87 - 89
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 20 (center)

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