The story
11 B-17 bombers attacked Rabaul, New Britain before dawn. A J1N nightfighter (pilot Senior Flight Petty Officer Shigetoshi Kudo, observer Warrant Officer Michitaro Ichikawa) shot down B-17F bomber "Taxpayer's Pride" and B-17E bomber "Naughty But Nice", which made Shigetoshi Kudo the first Japanese nightfighter ace.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.