SCUBA December 2023 issue 141 | Page 16

FISH
EYE

Fragment of a forgotten story

In Kimbe Bay , New Guinea , a perfectly intact Mitsubishi Zero aircraft has lain in black sand since its emergency landing at the height of the Second World War . The intact aircraft was discovered by a fisherman , who reported his find to the late Max Benjamin , owner of Walindi Plantation Resort . Max and his wife Cecilie located the aircraft ’ s serial number ; their research established that the Zero had gone missing during the Battle of Cape Gloucester on 26 December 1944 . The pilot on that day was one Tomiharu Honda . The absence of bullet holes or human remains suggest he ran out of fuel and ditched the Zero before swimming to land . Whatever his fate , his final touchdown must have been a finely-judged manoeuvre ; in doing so he left behind a dark treasure for future generations to discover . �
16