At 07:25 Mitchell began to lead out the 18 P-38s for takeoff, 2 aircraft, part of the 'Kill Team', aborted when 1 had a tyre 'blow-out' and the other would not feed fuel from the auxilliary tanks.The spares, Lieutenants Holmes and Kline now joined Capt Thomas Lanphier and 1stLt Rex T Barber to form the 'Kill Team'.Following an uneventful flight Bougainville appeared out of an early morning mist, Mitchells planning and navigation was so precise, they reached their 'hopefully' intercept point at 09:34 one minute ahead of schedule.High above descending through the mist, 2 G4M 'Betty' bombers.Mitchell made the only radio call of the mission "drop tanks and GO!", Barber and Lanphier began a full power climb to intercept.Holmes was unable to drop his tanks and turned back to sea trying to shake them free, followed by his wingman Hine.The rest raced to provide top cover.The Zero pilots saw the Americans,three dropped tanks and dived down.Lanphier climbed, heading straight at the Zero's, Barber climbed above the bombers then turned and engaged from directly behind.His four .50 cal machine guns raked the fuselage and starboard wing and engine, with it's engine trailing smoke the bomber rolled violently to port and dived into the jungle.Barber then spotted the second bomber flying low over the water off Moila Point.Holmes had gotten rid of his tanks and he and his wingman Hine were attacking it.Holmes damaged the starboard engine which began emitting a white vapour trail.Barber dived in and attacked the stricken bomber, his 20mm cannon blew chunks out of the aircraft, Barbers aircraft being struck by flying debris.The bomber slammed into the ocean and broke up, there were three survivors from this plane including Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki.Barber, Hine and Holmes were now attacked by Zeros and a brief melee ensued.Close to PNR fuel levels the P-38s broke off contact and headed for home, Hines aircraft had disappeared at this point, presumably shot down.Holmes was so short of fuel he was forced to land in the Russel Islands.Landing back at Guadalcanal Lanphiers port engine died from fuel starvation during landing rollout.Barbers plane was found to have 140 bullet holes as well as damage from the collision with flying debris. In the jungle of Bougainville, the wrecked bomber contained the bodies of 8 crew and 4 passengers, among them Admiral Yamamoto, architect of the attack on Pearl Harbour..... From the moment they landed Lanphier always claimed HE alone shot down Yamamoto's plane though he was later to get a half share with Barber.All the pilots who took part recieved the Navy Cross.Lanphier had also claimed a Zero, but post war, records showed none of the escort fighters were lost and Lanphier was stripped of this Kill.Post war investigation including examination of the wreck of Yamamoto's plane (still a popular tourist attraction today) concluded without any doubt that Lanphier could not have shot down the plane as he described the event and Rex T Barber is recognised as 'the man who got Yamamoto' Rex T Barber passed away on July 21st 2001 aged 84. 60th Anniversary : On April 18,2003,Governor Ted Kulongoski proclaimed the day "Rex T.Barber Day." The previous week, the Oregon State Legislature had declared that the new bridge on U.S. Highway 97 over the Crooked River was to be named the Rex T. Barber Veterans Memorial Bridge in his honor. (This bridge replaced the Crooked River High Bridge.) The new bridge, plaque and kiosk honoring Barber were dedicated on August 9, 2003 at Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint. P-38 by Bazze Figures by ThunderR and Poser, Japanese equipment by Siosai,Pilot gear from Google Sketchup,Betty bomber and retexturing by me....