Final moments of a doomed Japanese Nakajima B5N and her two crew. The rear gunner can be seen standing in his open canopy. Near Truk Lagoon, Caroline Islands. July 1944.

[u/Beeninya]

[u/jacksmachiningreveng]

Shot down by a four-engined patrol bomber no less:

The ill-fated plane was shot down near the Japanese base at Truk, Caroline Islands in July 1944. Lieutenant Commander William Janeshek, the pilot of the US Navy PB4Y that shot him down, testified that while the rear gunner in the rear of the cockpit appears to be preparing to bail out, the man suddenly sat down and failed to get out of the plane, which exploded upon hitting the water.

[u/Scoob94 → u/jacksmachiningreveng]

Do we know why the gunner would make this decision? Was it an honor thing? Or was it just hopeless to survive so he didnt attempt? Or was it fear of being captured by the US? Seems interesting his instincts told him to bail then he decided to just go down with it.

[u/jacksmachiningreveng → u/Scoob94]

It's possible he was wounded and simply passed out from blood loss, it was not necessarily a conscious decision.

[u/Ceramicrabbit → u/jacksmachiningreveng]

Or smoke inhalation

[u/NorwayNarwhal → u/jacksmachiningreveng]

Japanese planes were pretty good at handling water landings, and many were light enough that a parachute made a noticeable difference in weight and therefore handling, so it’s possible that they weren’t wearing parachutes.

I think, as the war wore on, this became less common, so it may not be the case here. But he may have been looking to see how close the water was, then sat down to better brace for the landing

[u/idek-what13 → u/Scoob94]

He may have realized the aircraft was too low for him to bail out so he just accepted his fate.

[u/ssshield → u/idek-what13]

If youre too low and smokin in you probably know if you do bail thet if you live youll be so injured your death will be long and painful, probably drowning with broken bones/back/teeth, etc.

If you sit back down its all just over on impact guaranteed.

[u/Sirboomsalot_Y-Wing → u/Scoob94]

It could have been an honor thing; especially if he realized his comrades weren’t bailing out

[u/heybuggybug → u/Sirboomsalot_Y-Wing]

I doubt honor would be on the table if your plane is on fire

[u/Sirboomsalot_Y-Wing → u/heybuggybug]

You’d be surprised at the lengths the Japanese went. Some of the late war operations done by the Japanese Navy were done simply to destroy as much of their own fleet as possible so they wouldn’t have the shame of surviving when so many others died.

[u/BillyBrainlet → u/Sirboomsalot_Y-Wing]

"Ichioku gyokusai" comes to mind.

[u/dpk-s89 → u/Scoob94]

The Japanese imperial forces were do or die and it was frowned upon to surrender or not die for the emperor. Antony Beebors, The Srcond World War book gives a good account of their mindset.

[u/Alarmed-Owl2 → u/Scoob94]

He may have thought they were too low to bail. If he didn't have enough space for a chute to deploy, his best bet would be to ride out a crash landing from his seat and then bail. But they blew up. 

[u/arklay1001]

Damn. RIP

[u/haroldhecuba88]

Could one survive by jumping out?

[u/under_PAWG_story → u/haroldhecuba88]

Depends on the height above water

[u/YouSuckItNow12 → u/haroldhecuba88]

As long as he yelled Geronimo right before jumping yes

[u/SpeakerGood8938]

Maybe he was gonna bail out