Thumpalumpacus
Major
"Through its vertical fin", as well. Sliding from the left to the right, it'd seem hard to avoid the fuselage.
Listen My Children and You Shall Hear.....
- Thread starter MIflyer
- Start date
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"Through its vertical fin", as well. Sliding from the left to the right, it'd seem hard to avoid the fuselage.
33k in the air
Staff Sergeant
- 1,354
- Jan 31, 2021
Were gun cameras not carried for the mission?
Thumpalumpacus
Major
I'm not sure. They may have been stripped due to the mission length?
33k in the air
Staff Sergeant
- 1,354
- Jan 31, 2021
There was gun camera footage of the shoot down. See the period newsreel report available on the ZenosWarbirds channel on YouTube: Japanese Admiral Yamamoto Shot Down by P-38s! (1943-Restored).
Note that the newsreel does cut in aerial footage from other missions to tell the story, but there does definitely seem to be some gun camera from the Yamamoto operation included. Of interest here would be that shown at 2:51 to 2:55, which is close behind the bomber and bullet strikes can clearly be seen on the wing root and fuselage; 2:59 to 3:00, also close behind the bomber and bullet strikes readily visible; and 3:02 to 3:05, further out from the bomber but bullet strikes are apparent, ending with an eruption of flame from the right wing root.
The idea that the Betty bombers were not struck by bullets would seem demonstrably disproved by this footage.
Note that the newsreel does cut in aerial footage from other missions to tell the story, but there does definitely seem to be some gun camera from the Yamamoto operation included. Of interest here would be that shown at 2:51 to 2:55, which is close behind the bomber and bullet strikes can clearly be seen on the wing root and fuselage; 2:59 to 3:00, also close behind the bomber and bullet strikes readily visible; and 3:02 to 3:05, further out from the bomber but bullet strikes are apparent, ending with an eruption of flame from the right wing root.
The idea that the Betty bombers were not struck by bullets would seem demonstrably disproved by this footage.
Clayton Magnet
Staff Sergeant
- 902
- Feb 16, 2013
Didn't the Japanese recovery of the body indicate that he died by bullet wounds to the head?
R Leonard
Staff Sergeant
What's that supposed to mean?
Thumpalumpacus
Major
This is what I've read and seen in documentaries.
R Leonard
Staff Sergeant
Still waiting for your erudite exposition
Peter Gunn
Master Sergeant
Yeah, as I recall from many different sources I've read over the decades, I was pretty sure the fighters were front and center so I'm curious as well about where:
"4. . . . Just like Midway, most of the fighters on both sides were with the cheerleaders or in the locker room."
comes from.
