Farewell Rabaul (さらばラバウル)

We would like to thank the Far East Command...

of the American Air Force for providing...

copies of their archival air battle footage for this film.

TOHO PRESENTS

FAREWELL RABAUL

THE LAST FIGHTER JET

Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka

Written by Takeshi Kimura, Dai Nishijima, Shinobu Hashimoto

Photographed by Kazuo Yamada

Music by Tetsuo Tsukahara

Special Effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, Akira Watanabe, Hiroshi Koyama

Starring

Ryo Ikebe

Mariko Okada

Rentaro Mikuni

Akihiko Hirata

Akemi Negishi

Chieko Nakakita

Directed by Ishiro Honda

Yeah!

Hayama.

Wakabayashi!

We may die tomorrow.

Let them enjoy.

Don't be such a bore!

Noguchi.

Noguchi!

Oni! Oni!

Kim! Dance!

Kim!

Dance!

Let's drink!

Three months ago I said the same thing to Wakabayashi.

Three months ago.

A pilot's eyes are his life.

Playing all night before an attack,

or a binge...

are strictly forbidden.

Sleep punctually.

But what's the use at this moment?

Hey!

Correspondent!

What are you going to write about our days here in Rabaul?

There's nothing to write about.

Go back to Japan.

Go back to Japan?

Are they...

making planes for us back home?

Tell them about Rabaul!

My Katase team members!

Without my order, no one leaves!

Drink!

Drink till you drop!

Kim! Dance! Dance!

You, of all people, should be calm.

OK!

Sit down.

Drink.

Stop it!

This is not the time to dance!

We're alive tonight,

but we may die tomorrow in the southern skies!

Keep on drinking.

CAPTAIN WAKABAYASHI ACE PILOT OF RABAUL

Oni.

Hate!

Kim hates him a lot.

From this picture it's hard to get how he'd have this nickname.

It's not up to you to comment.

You're head over heels with Katase.

Wake up!

Do I look like it?

Lousy reporter!

Not just Captain Katase.

All navy pilots are my sweethearts.

When they go up,

not everyone can make it back.

Yuck! 13 planes! So unlucky!

I think 30 set off this morning.

I have a feeling he won't make it back.

Captain Oni!

The leading plane, No. 333.

Captain.

What a battle!

Katase.

Katase!

You too, Yada?

Sorry, Captain!

Sorry.

Lieutenant Hayama is missing!

I know.

Don't stand here! Send some rescue planes!

- It's useless. - He's still alive!

Useless!

At 08:50 above Kolombangara, Wakabayashi team...

runs into 150 American P38 fighters.

We shot down 16, and hit more than 10.

Our team lost 16 men, 1 missing.

Hayama is missing, 4 wounded.

Captain Katase and Pilot Yada are severely hurt.

Any chance of finding the missing?

No.

No?

Yes!

- Noguchi! - I confirm Hayama is just missing.

Location is a reef 30 miles off the southeast of Bougainville.

- Send a plane! - Noguchi!

That's enemy territory.

We might lose some more men.

HAYAMA

Pilots for tomorrow's attack.

Captain!

Hayama and I have been flying together since we joined.

We're together all along. So...

He'll be replaced.

This ward.

Congratulations, Shimada. You're discharged.

Yes! Thank you so much!

Your captain is here.

- Captain Wakabayashi? - Yes.

He's a good captain.

Treasure of the navy. Ace pilot.

49 planes?

2 more today.

That makes it 51.

And you?

One unconfirmed.

From now on, I'll be as good as Captain-

That song lyric, "I'll be this big tree"?

But your record...

proves how good you are.

Really?

Yes!

Training... and training.

To perfect my skills,

and win the war!

The captain said so?

Yes.

It's true, Nurse Komatsu.

Without much talk, he proves it by his flying!

So, be like him as soon as possible, Mr. Shimada.

Yada!

Captain Katase got hit too.

The enemy have so many planes!

Be careful.

I'll be OK.

I'll let them have it!

I see.

If it's one on one, we won't lose.

I know that.

But I saw their supply fleet today. 150...

No, 200 ships.

Our torpedoes can sink 20 or 30 at most.

Their supplies are overwhelming.

Injection.

Thanks.

A plane?

We shot one down, there's another.

No, many many more.

I'm so tired.

Nonsense.

Our Zero fighters were the world's best, right?

But no more after Midway.

Compared to Zero,

Grumman F6F is much better.

The Yamato Spirit isn't our monopoly.

They're brave too.

They made excellent planes like the Yellow Snake.

Shut up.

You're a defeatist!

Absolutely not!

I saw reality with my own eyes! We must...

This is not up to us. Let the HQ think...

Enough!

He needs rest.

Katase.

From now on, only think of getting well as soon as possible.

That's all.

Coming in!

I'm Pilot Shimada, now returning to the team!

Oh. Come in.

Yes.

Captain.

It was very sad in the barracks.

No way!

No way!

Too gloomy.

They're depressed!

Shimada.

Have spirit!

Yes!

Salute!

Sub-lieutenant Yoshida and 5 pilots report for duty.

Thanks.

- Wait for orders. - Yes! Salute!

Sergeant Kono.

- Just 6? - Should be 12.

6 were shot down.

What are you looking at?

How beautiful.