[Larry deZeng]

Sakaida, Henry. The Siege of Rabaul. St.Paul (MN): Phalanx Publishing Co., Ltd., 1996. ISBN: 1-883809-09-6. Pb (oversize with laminated cover). 96p. Heavily illus. Appendix.
Chapter 8: Rabaul’s Torokina Campaign, pages 35-37.

Using the original Japanese flight records together with a lengthy article published in a 1975 issue of Maru Magazine entitled, “Saigo No Rabaul Zero Sen Tai Kito Seiri” (“Last Zero Squadron Returns Safely”), author Sakaida describes how IJN HQ at Rabaul was notified by radio that 4 enemy battleships were approaching Kavieng on 20 March and 10 Zeros were dispatched from Tobera airfield south of Rabaul. Shortly after take-off, the formation was fired on by Japanese AA near Vunakanau, one Zero was hit and several experienced technical problems at about the same time so the mission was aborted. A few hours later in the afternoon a second mission with 7 bomb-carrying Zeros was launched and on their arrival in the Kavieng area, spotted the Natoma Bay, and went after it claiming a near hit. This is the same combat in which the American after-action report, “Bombardment of Kavieng”, states that Navy fighters shot down a Tony 45 miles off the Natoma Bay. Japanese records reported no losses. Nor does the author mention the presence of any Tonys anywhere near Rabaul or Kavieng.

Go figure.