Strana 85
PO3c Masayuki Nakase, 12th Kōkūtai, Hankow airfield, China, May 1941
This is a late production A6M2 Zero Type 11
with shorter rear canopy glazing, standard
air intake under the engine cowling and
lower mounted exhausts. Nakase underwent
training with the Yokosuka Kōkūtai and after
completing fighter training in March 1938 was
assigned to the Ômura Kōkūtai. He then served
in China for six months with the 14th Kōtūtai
but did not come into contact with the enemy.
In the summer of 1940, he was assigned to the
12th Kōkūtai as a Zero pilot. During an air
battle south of Chengdu on October 4, 1940,
he landed with three other pilots at an enemy
base and set fire to a command post. In another
raid on Chengdu, this time on March 14, 1941,
he shot down five I-15 biplanes and claimed
as probable. He achieved three more victories
over Nanzheng on May 26 with the machine
3-143. From September 1941 Nakase served
with the newly formed 3rd Kōkūtai. He was
killed on February 9, 1942, during an attack on
a Dutch Army vehicle. He was posthumously
promoted two ranks to the rank of Ensign and
his name was cited in the All Units Bulletin.
He is credited with 18 victories.
BUILT
INFO Eduard
85
July 2026