Originally shared by Lord Anubis

Artwork of Ki-61 ace Susumu Kanjinami of the 68th Sentai shooting down a B-25 of the 348th Bombardment Group on 22nd Decmber 1943 during low-level raids on Japanese airfields in New Guinea. After attacking two Mitchells with his wingman, Kanjinami lost contact with him and went after a lone B-25. Years later, he recalled the combat:

“From behind, I was chasing the fleeing B-25 along the coast line at very low altitude. The familiar shape of the bomber, painted in matt green or brown colour, got bigger and bigger in my sight. I fired both my 12.7mm fuselage cannon (NB:these are classified as machine guns in the West but in Japan machine guns with a calibre larger than the one used in rifles were called cannons), targeting the left engine and inner wing, very close to her so I could see the bullets sparking on the B-25. The upper panel of the engine broke off and flew away under the nose of my six-one (NB 2: the is what many Japanese pilots called the Ki-61, instead of Hein or Type 3 Single-Seat Fighter). After a while the engine started to pour black smoke and she turned right and climbed towards the mountains. When she climbed to 300 meters I fired again at the burning engine. At that time I saw three black figures bail out of the B-25. When the third figure passed away behind me the B-25 became a fireball and crashed into the jungle near the shore in a pillar of red fire”

Kanjinami’s victim was possibly B-25D 41-30080 “Little Stinky” of the 501st Bombardment Squadron, 348th Bombardment Group. Only the pilot was rescued with the rest of the crew being reported as Missing In Action.