VADM Fukudome and Plan “Z”
1 APRIL 1944
VADM FUKUDOME AND PLAN “Z”
After diverting to Cebu to escape the path of a violent storm, VADM Shigeru Fukudome’s “Emily” seaplane still found itself in dire straits. On the approach to Cebu’s harbor this dark night the pilot momentarily lost his reference to the water surface and nose-dived into the sea from a height of 150 feet. Fukudome bobbed to the surface near a spreading blanket of burning fuel and grabbed for floating debris. He had had the foresight to collect his briefcase carrying the written operational Plan “Z” as he escaped the plane. Others of Koga’s staff had also survived the crash, ten in all, and collected themselves for the swim to land.
But after eight hours of paddling Fukudome had still not reached the shore. Alone now as the others had swum ahead, Fukudome observed several native canoes departing the beach in his direction. These hauled him from the water, but then turned away from the familiar silhouette of Cebu’s Japanese settlement. Fukudome soon realized he had been picked up by “hostile” Filipinos not allied to the Japanese. In spite of his protestations that he be taken to Cebu City, he was instead marched for eight days through thick jungle to the headquarters of LCOL James M. Cushing, the American leader of the Philippine guerrillas. Now febrile, with wounds that were becoming infected, Fukudome there received the care of a Philippine doctor and nurse.
Other of the seaplane’s survivors were luckier, and when news of the crash reached Japanese island commander COL Onishi Seito he sent battalions of troops into the hills in search of Fukudome. These troops rampaged and pillaged through the countryside, threatening to slaughter all the native Filipinos they found unless Fukudome was returned. When they began to make good on this threat, Cushing arranged to release Fukudome in Cebu City. The VADM was recovered by the Japanese, rested a few days, then departed for Tokyo on April 20th.
And what of his briefcase full of plans? Upon recognizing the importance of this intelligence, Cushing had gotten word to MacArthur’s Allied Intelligence Bureau on nearby Negros Island. The submarine HADDO (SS-255) appeared off the coast of Cebu and transported the documents to a waiting plane. They were quickly translated by MacArthur’s staff and distributed to Allied theater commanders. VADM Mitscher received his copy just in time for Operation Forager, the invasion of the Marianas Islands. (Mitscher’s copy arrived a bit wet. In attempting to air-drop the document to the carrier commander the Navy PB4Y missed the deck of LEXINGTON (CV-16). Mitscher’s copy had to be fished from the drink by a whaleboat).
Watch for more “Today in Naval History” 6 APR 23
CAPT James Bloom, Ret.
Manson, Frank A. “Koga’s Last Stand.” Sea Classics, Vol 33 (8). August 2000, pp. 26-31.
Prados, John. Combined Fleet Decoded: The Secret History of American Intelligence and the Japanese Navy in World War II. New York, NY: Random House, 1995, pp. 549-51.
Wilds, Thomas C. “The Admiral Who Lost his Fleet.” United States Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol 77 (11), Whole No. 585, November 1951, pp. 1175-81.
