Strana 60
c/n 5379, PO1c Tsuguo Matsuyama, Hiryū Fighter Squadron, aircraft carrier Hiryū,
December 7, 1941
PO1c Saburō Sakai, Tainan Kōkūtai, Lakunai airfield, Rabaul, New Britain island, August 1942
During the second attack against Hawaii, the
Hiryū aircraft carrier sent nine Zeros under
Lt. Sumio Nōno‘s command. His pilots attacked
Kaneohe and Bellows bases, claiming two
destroyed aircraft and one car. Third Shōtai was
led by PO1c Matsuyama, who, in coopeartion
with his wingman, shot down the P-40s piloted
by 2
nd
Lieutenants George Whiteman and Samuel
Bishop of the 44
th
Pursuit Squadron. Matsuyama
had already on his account successful combat
missions with the 13
th
Kōkūtai in China.
On February 25, 1938, as wingman of the
legendary Sadaaki Akamatsu, he participated
in shooting down four aircraft. During the raids
on Ceylon on April 9, 1942, Matsuyama‘s shōtai
shot down a Blenheim Mk.IV, probably of S/Ldr
Kenneth Ault´s crew, who was leading formation
of No. 11 Squadron RAF in an attack on Japanese
ships. Matsuyama later served on the aircraft
carrier Hiyō and was killed on April 7, 1943, in
combat with Wildcats off Guadalcanal. The
airplane „BII-124“ was shot down on February
19, 1942, during the raid on Darwin. After being
hit by anti-aircraft fire, Seaman 1st class Hajime
Toyoshima landed on Melville Island and was
captured by Aboriginal Matthias Ulungura.
Toyoshima was the first captured Zero pilot and
used alias „Tadao Minami“. He became one of
the organizers of the largest prisoner escape
in World War II. On August 5, 1944, at Cowra
POW Camp he gave signal to escape. Total of
1,104 POWs attempted to escape, 231 were killed
and four Australians lost their lives as well.
Toyoshima was mortally wounded, so he lighted
a cigarette and committed suicide.
Saburō Sakai is the most famous Japanese
fighter pilot, thanks to his memoirs and meetings
with Allied airmen after World War II. He was
born in 1916 and served from September 1938
with the 12
th
Kōkūtai in China. In October 1941,
he was assigned to the newly organized Tainan
Kōkūtai in Taiwan and took part in campaign
heading South until he was wounded on August
7, 1942, off Guadalcanal. After recovering,
he served as an instructor with Ōmura Kōkūtai,
and later, despite bad eyesight, was combat
deployed with Yokosuka Kōkūtai on Iwo Jima.
By the end of war he served with Kōkūtai 343
(II) and Yokosuka Kōkūtai. He is listed as an ace
with 64 victories, but Sakai himself claimed
the number of his victories was lower. With his
first two units he actually achieved 12 individual
victories, 8 shared and 4 probables. The „V-128“
was also flown by PO2c Arita and PO1c Hiroyoshi
Nishizawa, who is credited with 87 victories.
The color of the stripes is chosen from Sakai‘s
recollection, but there are other interpretations,
such as a black or yellow stripe on the fuselage.
During a fighter escort to Guadalcanal on August
7, Sakai shot down Wildcat „F12“ from VF-5
piloted by „Pug“ Southerland in an epic dogfight.
Sakai was later severely wounded in the face
by fire from VB-6 Dauntless near Tulagi Island.
After nearly five hours and more than 1,000 km,
he managed to land back at Rabaul. Sakai died
in 2000 after a formal dinner with members of
the US Navy.
KITS 09/2026
INFO Eduard60
September 2026