Author Topic: Who shot down Yamamoto? (Read 557 times)

Soulyss · « **on:** May 10, 2004, 08:32:25 PM »

I know the debate over who actually shot down Yamamoto has been going on for awhile now, while traditionally Tom Lanphier has been credited with the kill some people have argued that it was really Rex Barber who downed the great Japanese general.

There's a rather interesting article n the most recent issue of Combat Aircraft that I picked up at the bookstore this weekend. I won't go into the details of it here unless someone wants me to (I have to read the whole article first, I've only skimmed it so far) but the conclusion drawn by The American Fighter Aces Association as well as the Commemorative Air Force (formerly the Confederate Air Force) was that Rex Barber alone and unassisted shot down Yamamoto's plane.

Like I said if anyone wants details of the article I'll go through it and see if I can pull some info out to post here, at least the main arguments.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2004, 01:41:03 PM »

I remember the History Channel doing a feature on this on one of their "History's Mysteries" series. Was really well done. I wonder if they ever had any gun camera footage and if so what happened to it?

Rafe35 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2004, 02:03:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
I remember the History Channel doing a feature on this on one of their "History's Mysteries" series. Was really well done. I wonder if they ever had any gun camera footage and if so what happened to it?

I have to believe that two pilots (Capt. Lamphier and 1st Lt. Barber) do have gun camera on their P-38 Lighting, but I don't know what happened to their Gun camera or US Air Force got the gun camera. Only two G4M Betty were shot down and one of them is Yamamoto and his staff.

Rafe

Cobra412 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2004, 06:28:41 PM »

I just watched a show on this the other day on Wings. It did have gun cam footage of the attack. They were about to call off the strike when someone spotted the planes if I remember right. Yamamotos plane was struck supposedly on the initial passes and looked as if it were going down. They left the plane for dead figuring it would crash. If I see it again on Wings I'll write down the shows title.

MaddDog · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2004, 10:18:42 AM »

I live about 10 miles from where Rex Barber did, theres a sign that says some stuff about him here. (Redmond, OR)

Widewing · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2004, 12:06:12 AM »

There's little doubt that Barber shot down Yamamato's Betty. Lanphier could be a shameless self-promoter. Lanphier's claim of shooting down a zero on that mission was officially disallowed after post war records proved that none of the Zero escorts were lost. Additionally, he tried for years to get sole official credit for Yamamoto, but the Air Force refused. As a result, Lanphier never made ace status coming up short with 4.5 kills.

Lanphier's after action report contained contradictions and was disputed by many of the pilots who flew the mission and Japanese survivors who were interviewed after the war.

Author John Stanaway researched this story and his evidence establishes that Lanphier probably never even got near Yamamoto's Betty, much less fired at it. He probably fired on the other Betty bearing Yamamoto's staff.

My regards,

Widewing

Pongo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2004, 10:34:19 AM »

Billy Bishop shot down Yamamoto. He took of in his Se 5 on a lone dawn patrol and shot down the whole formation.

manybeer · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2004, 06:55:18 PM »

LOL Pongo.

It could have been Bishop....or maybe it was Roy Brown in his Sopwith camel....However rumour has it that the Australian 53rd Battalion has made the claim as well......

sb1086 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2004, 07:39:22 PM »

Naaaa, kilroy did it, he was bored after Germany surrendered, so he went west