Fleet Admiral Yamamoto held several important posts in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and undertook many of its changes and reorganizations, especially its development of naval aviation. He was the commander-in-chief during the decisive early years of the Pacific War and so was responsible for major battles such as Pearl Harbor and Midway. He died during an inspection tour of forward positions in the Solomon Islands when his transport aircraft was ambushed by American P-38 Lightning fighter planes. His death was a major blow to Japanese military morale during World War II. Following a topic in another section, it is interesting to note that he was the holder of the German Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. But who got him that day in '43? The Yamamoto Mission Tom Lanphier played a leading role in one of the most successful and controversial missions of WWII, the shoot-down of Admiral Yamamoto. Lanphier was temporarily attached to the 339th squadron, and selected to lead the flight of four "shooters," the Lightnings that would actually intercept the Betty bombers of Yamamoto's party. On April 18, sixteen Lightnings took off from Guadalcanal, headed for Bougainville and their deadly rendezvous with Admiral Yamamoto. The caught him and shot him down. There lies another controversy that seems to always plague these actions. Many believe that Barber had the better claim. Besby Holmes wrote that during the battle, it was his impression that Barber had shot down Yamamoto. A group of aviation enthusiasts and pilots, led by the ace George Chandler, has lobbied strenuously on Barber's behalf. Nonetheless, Lanphier always maintained that he had scored the kill, gunfire from his P-38 sawing off the Betty's right wing. It is a big very interesting story for all enthusiastes to read and as there is far to much in it to print it all here. Here it is. John W. Mitchell, led Admiral Yamamoto Mission, P-38 Lightning flier
Seems this might help Japs realize code breaking Seems like this mission, might help the Japs realize, their code had been compromised. Our top long distance fighter, just happens to find a very high value target, 400 miles from Guadalcanel. All this, not long after, we were able to ambush their fleet at Midway. Sooner or later they were gonna get wise.
