Operation Z (1944)

Operation Z was a defensive plan put into place by the Japanese during World War II to defend the Marianas Islands, and in particular, Saipan.

Background
Early in 1944 the United States military, after landing on Kwajalein Atoll, set their eyes on the Marshall Islands. To help with the attack, on February 17, 1944, they bombarded Truk, Caroline Islands, due to its proximity to the Marshall Islands. During this bombardment, the Japanese lost 300 aircraft and some 200,000 tons of merchant shipping.

Defense of Marianas
With the impending invasion of the Marianas Islands looming, Admiral Mineichi Koga, on March 8, sponsored Operation Z, as a defense against the American attack. The operation called for the utilization of the remaining land-based aircraft numbering approximately 1055 in the Marianas, the Caroline Islands, and in western New Guinea. The plans success also called on a naval force of around 9 aircraft carriers and their 450 or so aircraft assisting in the defense. The plan was intended to create one final battle that would devastate the American forces and force them to sue for peace.

Cessation of operation
Throughout the Spring of 1944, the aircraft losses for the Japanese continued to mount which was severely endangering the success of the operation; however the death knell occurred on March 31, 1944, when Mineichi Koga and some of his staff were killed in 2 separate plane crashes, while the remainder were captured. Among those captured was Shigeru Fukudome, who was in the second plane (not Koga's). After extricating himself from the wreckage, he was able to locate land and began to swim ashore. During this portion of the ordeal, he maintained control of the briefcase that contained the top secret documents concerning Operation Z. After spending hours in the ocean, all the while approaching the coastline, he was spotted by some Fillipino fishermen. Not sure if they were friendly or rebels, Fukudome released the briefcase with the intention of allowing it to sink; however as he was picked up, the local fishermen noticed the slowly sinking briefcase and brought it aboard. Upon reaching land, the documents were sent to the American forces for analysis. Admiral Toyoda Soemu rewrote the plans in a more aggressive manner and named it Operation A-Go.