CRASH LANDING OF A JAPANESE ZERO
ON MELVILLE ISLAND
ON 19 FEBRUARY 1942

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visits since 17 October 1999

 

On 19 February 1942, an Imperial Japanese Navy A6M2 "Zero", Serial No. 5349, coded BII-124, was hit in the oil tank by a single .303" rifle bullet over Darwin Harbour during one of the largest Japanese bombing raids on Darwin.

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A6M2 "Zero", BII-124 on Melville Island

 

When the engine seized and the propeller shearded off, the pilot, Flight Sergeant Hajimi Toyoshima, crash landed his damaged aircraft on Melville Island, north-west of Darwin whilst returning to his aircraft carrier, Hiryu.

nt39-02.jpg (32848 bytes) Toyoshima under the watchful eye of Sergeant Les Powell.

Les was using Toyoshima's .32 calibre Belgian pistol to guard his prisoner

 

OTHER INTERNET SITE

Crash of a Japanese Zero on Melville Island
Details of capture of Toyoshima by local Tiwi (Aboriginal) inhabitants
and his later role in the "Cowra Breakout" in July 1944.

The above home page is produced by Garth O'Connell

 

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Darwin's Air War - 1942 - 1945 An Illustrated History"
By Bob Alford

 

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This page first produced 17 October 1999

This page last updated 31 October 1999