http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews ... tory01.htm
The Japanese crew of the bomber had been involved in an attack on Clark Field, in the Philippines, on December 12, 1941.
Its left engine was hit by anti-aircraft fire and the aircraft forced to alight on the northwest side of Mount Arayat.
Subsequently, the entire crew of eight was captured. Meanwhile, back at base, as the men had failed to return, they were listed as missing in action and according to naval custom given a one rank promotion.
As Japanese ground forces overran the Philippines, the men were discovered and released. This is when things began to become increasingly embarrassing.
Officially, the men were dead, but here they were back like a proverbial bad penny with their promoted rank.
Not the best example so early in the war to the rest of the services and of an instruction of no surrender.
Segregated from other aircrew, for morale purposes, this crew was continually placed in the most vulnerable position of bomber formations sent against Australian targets.
But, despite the fury and danger of the battles in which it was embroiled, the crew just kept coming back.
Finally, when the matter could no longer be tolerated, Admiral Takajiro Onishi issued an instruction that the bomber crew was to fly over Port Moresby, with no escort, and a last order: “Do not return”.
