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| JAAF 61st Sentai 1st Chutai |
Pilot Captain Katsuhiro Ohta (KIA, BR) Crew Warrant Officer Katumi Nakahara (KIA, BR) Crew Sergeant Major Hiroshi Tuchiya (KIA, BR) Crew Sergeant Major Nasakatu Shinagawa (KIA, BR) Crew Sergeant Major Harukichi Jitukawa (KIA, BR) Crew Sergeant Major Naburo Hayakawa (KIA, BR) Crew Sergeant Kaichiro Hariya (KIA, BR) Crew Sergeant Haruyuki Kadota (KIA, BR) Crashed June 20, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Nakajima. Uncoded serial number 74. Delivered to the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as Type 100 Heavy Bomber Donryu / Ki-49-I (Helen) manufacture number 174. Wartime History Assigned to the 61st Hiko Sentai (61st Flying Regiment), 1st Chutai. No known markings. Mission History On June 20, 1943 took off piloted by Captain Katsuhiro Ohta on a bombing mission against Darwin. Over the target, shot down and crashed near Koolpinyah. Wreckage The crash site was investigated by Allied Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) that found the manufacture number 174. Richard Dunn adds: "After the army raid of 20 June, the wreckage of No. 174 was found and inspected by Allied crash intelligence. No. 174 was a model I version of the Type 100 heavy bomber but found to be equipped with the 1,450 HP engines which were standard on the model II. This raises the possibility that some of the model I's produced were retrofitted by replacing their 1,250 HP engines with the more powerful engines. Aircraft that did not receive the upgrade were probably relegated to training or transport duties." Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered and buried. Memorials The remains of the crew were buried at Cowra Japanese War Cemetery at graves B04-02 to B04-09. It is unclear if these are individual graves or a collective grave (group burial) that spans those graves. References Nakajima Ki-49 Serial Numbers by Jim Long Darwin's Air War (Revised Edition) page 79 Rikai Means Understanding by W. W. Appleton pages 12-13 The Empire Strikes South (2017) by Tom Lewis pages 105-112, 198 Thanks to Richard Dunn and Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 7, 2023 |
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