A combat report of 755th Kokutai, IJN on March 28th 1943 states :
Mission: Reconnaissance and attack of Funafuti Island
Commander: Lieutenat Commander Kaoru ISHIHARA
0308 hr. (probably “I” time = GMT+9 hr.) Six G3Ms took off Tarawa air base.
0605 hr. No. 3 A/C of the first element returned to base due to R/H E/G malfunction.
0615 hr. No. 2 A/C of the first element returned to base due to R/H E/G malfunction.
0710 hr. A warning condition was ordered.
0740 hr. Found two enemy fighters (F4F-3) ascending to attack, all four A/C jettisoned bombs and readied for air combat.
0745 hr. Two enemy fighters attacked from below, the Commander decided to return at 10 nm from Funafuti Island.
0752 hr. Continuing fierce combat, the No. 1 A/C of the second element was shot down by enemy fighters.
0753 hr. Shot down an enemy fighter.
0759 hr. The remaining enemy fighter ran away to 10 degree.
0804 hr. Another fighter emerged from 350 deg. attacked one pass and ran away to 140 deg.
0805 hr. The end of air combat.
0845 hr. Returned to a normal condition.
1158 hr. Five G3Ms returned to Tarawa air base.
The crew of the No. 1 A/C of the 2nd element
Pilot: Petty Officer 1st Class Rihê MURAMATSU, Co-pilot: Petty Officer 3rd Class Shôji ISHII, the element leader and Senior Observer: Lieutenant Junior Grade Takashi KUMAMOTO (“SUMIMOTO” is a misreading of the Chinese character), Observer: Leading Seaman Kiyonori KAWANO, Observer: Seaman Kyûsaku MIZUKAMI or MINAKAMI, Senior Radio Operator: Petty Officer 3rd Class Sôtarô KAWAGOE, Radio Operator: Leading Seaman Junzô WATANABE, Flight Engineer: Petty Officer 1st Class (a first name is illegible) TOKUNAGA. All killed in action.
If you can read hand written Japanese, please access http://www.jacar.go.jp/english/index.html , enter C08051705100 , and the 28th – 30th images are the above combat report.
Best regards !!
JY