The Yamamoto crash site in the jungle near Buin, in southern Bougainville, marks where Japan's most celebrated naval commander died on 18 April 1943. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto — architect of the Pearl Harbor attack and the dominant figure in the Imperial Japanese Navy — was shot down here by American P-38 fighters in one of the most audacious targeted-killing operations in military history.
U.S. naval intelligence had decoded Yamamoto's inspection tour schedule four days earlier, and Admiral Nimitz personally authorised the intercept. The Americans flew a 700 km route at low level to avoid radar, and caught Yamamoto's transport aircraft over the jungle on its final approach. The crash site and the wreckage of the aircraft remained in the jungle for decades.
Visiting the site requires travel to the Buin area of southern Bougainville — a full day from Buka by rough road — and local guide arrangements. The site has historical significance but limited physical infrastructure. It is worth visiting if you have a strong interest in the Pacific War and can make the logistical arrangements.