Operation Vengeance - The mission to take down Isoroku Yamamoto - 18th April 1943

On 18th April 1943, commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, took a flight from Rabaul to an island near Bougainville as part of a tour to raise morale following the defeat of Japanese forces at Guadalcanal. Over Bougainville at 09:34, Yamamoto’s flight of 2 G4Ms and 6 A6M3 Zeroes were intercepted by 16 American P-38Gs of 347th and 18th Fighter Group who had flown a precisely timed flight plan for 2 and a half hours from Guadalcanal. Yamamoto’s aircraft was successfully shot down into the jungle by Lt. Rex Barber; Yamamoto’s body was later found to be still in his seat clutching his sword. Thanks to Henry Lamshed for the improved audio! My Patreon: Patreon members: David from Czechia, Ren, Zach Collins Sources We Killed Yamamoto: The long-range P-38 assassination of the man behind Pearl Harbour, Bougainville 1943 by Si Sheppard Killing a Peacock by Maj Adonis C. Arvanitakis