The last Zero fighter : firsthand accounts from WWII Japanese naval pilots

476 Pages·2016·4.65 MB·English

by  King

Copyright © 2012 by Dan King.
First Published July 11, 2012 by Pacific Press
Revised April 30, 2013
All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the
purposes of review, no part of this publication may be reproduced without prior
written authorization of the author. The information in this book is true and
complete to the best of our knowledge.
To contact the author, or order signed or personalized copies visit
www.historicalconsulting.com
Or write to:
Dan King
c/o Pacific Press
P.O. Box 14872
Irvine, Ca. 92623

ISBN-13: 978-1468178807
ISBN-10: 1468178806
LCCN: 2012900583 Library of Congress Number
Cover and back photo courtesy of Gakken Publishing, Tōkyō, Japan
Cover design and maps by Rusty Shackleford
Japanese calligraphy by Mr. Satoru Ogawa
Proudly printed in the United States of America
CreateSpace
North Charleston, SC
Dedication
Dedicated to two ladies who bring me nothing but joy and happiness.
To a super lady, Spencer Chen, my shining star.
To my wonderful daughter Cindy,
whose high-voltage smile
can light up the darkest night.
Always remember, "ai rabyutte."

I never met a man I didn't like.
—Will Rogers
Table of Contents
Praise for The Last Zero Fighter
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Preface
Japanese Naval Aviation 101
Chapter 1
Kaname Harada
Chapter 2
Isamu Miyazaki
Chapter 3
Haruo Yoshino
Chapter 4
Toshimitsu Imaizumi
Chapter 5
Tomokazu Kasai
Epilogue
Maps and Photos
Endnotes
Footnotes
Praise for The Last Zero Fighter
"Dan King is to be congratulated for making this valuable contribution to the
history of World War II in the Pacific. By personalizing the individual
experiences of Japanese veterans, Dan provides some balance to the
stereotypical view of our enemy at the time. Through his interviews, he presents
unique insights into the social and cultural forces which molded the individual
warrior. I met some of these aviators at our Pacific Aviation Museum in Pearl
Harbor and at various commemoration events. I have discovered we share many
common traits, love of our Country, love of flying, and a camaraderie that is
prevalent among those who have faced life-altering experiences."
— Admiral Ron Hays, USN (Ret)
Former pilot and Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Forces
Chairman of the Board, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor
"We Americans do not hold a monopoly on courage and sacrifice. Our former
adversaries, the Japanese, also displayed these qualities in their commitment to
their nation. Dan King has interviewed Japanese pilots and obtained their
experiences in their own language. Valuable to understanding the Japanese
people who are now one of our closest and valuable allies in an area where we
have vital economic and national security interests. I encourage everyone who
wishes to learn more about the WWII Pacific theater to read this book."
— LtGen. Lawrence Snowden, USMC (Ret)
Former Company Commander, 23rd Marines, 3rd Division, Iwo Jima
"Most English-language histories of the Pacific War of 1941-45 suffer from a
dearth of Japanese sources. By conducting and translating interviews with
Japanese naval aviators, Dan King offers new and revealing perspectives on
many of the battles and campaigns that Japan and the United States conducted
within the confines of the world's largest ocean. Serious students of World War
II and more casual readers will welcome the release of The Last Zero Fighter
and clamor for King to make more of his interviews available in subsequent
companion volumes."
— Dr. Gregory J. W. Urwin, PhD
Professor of History, Temple University
"The history of World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations is not nearly
as well known as the history of the War in Europe. If the stories about the
as well known as the history of the War in Europe. If the stories about the
participants are not told now, they will disappear forever. I flew a P-51 against
them and had the occasion to speak to them once or twice. One of them said to
me, "There were no enemies in the sky." Their history is extremely important for
all to read."
— Capt. Jerry Yellin, US Army (ret)
Former P-51 Pilot over Japan, 78th Fighter Squadron based on Iwo Jima
The Blackened Canteen, and War and Weddings, a Legacy of Two Fathers
"Dan King combines his rich working knowledge of the Pacific War, his
unusually adept understanding of the Japanese language and culture, and his
deep personal interactions with some unique airmen to bring out this fascinating
look into history. The Last Zero Fighter takes the reader on a fascinating journey
through the fading past while experiencing the hearts and minds of boys
becoming men in the course of war, stories that pull you in and don't let you go!"
— T. Martin Bennett
Wounded Tiger
"I found the book absolutely fascinating. As a historian, I have written about the
Pacific campaigns from the American perspective, primarily through personal
accounts/oral history. This allows me and others to more fully document the war,
using personal accounts from both sides...giving the subject a more complete
accounting. As America's "greatest generation" passes from the scene, I want to
commend Dan King for documenting the personal accounts of the Japanese. This
has never been done before in such detail...by someone who has such an
excellent grasp of the language, as well as their customs and traditions. This
book is a one-of-a-kind look into the Japanese method of waging war from the
men who fought it."
— Lt.Col Dick Camp (USMC-ret)
Last Man Standing and Leatherneck Legends
This book is a must read. In it author Dan King answered many questions I had
about the Imperial Japanese Navy's use of Enlisted Pilots. He personally
interviewed these pilots – in their own language – which separates this book
from many before it. I recommended this book to many close friends from the
United States Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force; pilots and aircraft maintainers
alike, up to and including former Phantom, Harrier, and Hornet squadron
Commanders and Flag Officers.
— Mr. Robert Venema
Major USMC (Ret.)
Avionics
Avionics
"Dan King has accomplished something incredible for historians outside of
Japan. He spent years personally interviewing almost 100 of our WWII veterans
for their priceless combat and life experiences in our own language. In The Last
Zero Fighter he introduces five former naval fighter aviators who made history
at Pearl Harbor, Midway, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and other battles. He has
shared many of their day-to-day experiences. Three of the men who appear in
the book have since passed away. Without Dan King's interviews, many of their
important historical facts would have remained unknown to us even in Japan.
We the readers, both in Japan and in the West, owe much to him."
— Mr. Koji Takaki
Genda's Blade, Japan's Squadron of Aces, 343 Kokutai
"I have seen Mr. King work tirelessly visiting Japan, traveling up and down
Japan meeting our WWII veterans. I observed his methods and am impressed
with his compassion, attention to detail and eagerness to dig out the truth. These
stories need to be told and I am grateful to Mr. King for stepping up to shoulder
the task. He is doing what we Japanese need to do."
— Ms. Yukie Sasa
Hakushi Shoshu de Chiru Gunzokutachi no Gadarukanaru Senki
(WWII Japanese military contract workers on Guadalcanal)
Onna Hitori Gyokusai no Shima wo Yuku
(English title - Toward the Island of Graves)
About the Author
Dan King first visited Japan in 1981 as a summer exchange student. He then
obtained his bachelor's degree in Japanese before working at Toyota Motors for
fifteen years, ten of which were in Japan. He was awarded the Japanese Ministry
of Education's top level of written/spoken language certification for non-native
speakers. He put his historical knowledge and language skills to use on several
movies and documentaries. His first film job was Japanese technical/historical
consultant on director John Woo's WWII Saipan-based epic war film
Windtalkers. His next major film was director Ed Zwick's The Last Samurai,
where he spent six months in New Zealand working with Tom Cruise and Ken
Watanabe. In 2003, he wrote a book titled Japanese Military Sake Cups 1894–
1945.
King conducted historical research for director Clint Eastwood's film Flags of
Our Fathers. He also worked as a consultant for the movie Only the Brave, the
story of Japanese-Americans' heroism against the Germans in WWII. He was
Japanese-language consultant and Voice Over artist for the HBO series The
Pacific. He traveled to Wake Island to appear in the Emmy-nominated two-hour
documentary Wake Island, Alamo of the Pacific. In addition, he appears in the
documentary Peleliu: The Forgotten Battle, War Stories by Oliver North. King
worked as a Japanese technical consultant for a series of WWII-based video
games from EA Games, including Pacific Assault and Rising Sun. He appeared
on-camera with former Marine and TV personality R. Lee Ermey in three
episodes of Mail Call, and on-camera in the series Shootout from the History
Channel. He most recently worked with the US National Parks Service as a
historical & language consultant for the Pacific War Museum on Guam.
He enjoys traveling, and whenever possible likes to scuba dive on sunken
WWII aircraft and warships in the Pacific.
He survived a brush with death when diagnosed with stage IV Lymphoma
cancer. Initially, doctors suggested hospice but the stubborn patient refused to
give up. He started a two and a half year struggle including chemotherapy,
radiation, a broken hip, surgery, and finally a stem cell transplant. He was left
with an even greater respect for the precious gift of life.
He resides with his wife in Orange County, California, with their shōtai of
rescued cats.
Acknowledgments
Researching, transcribing, translating and writing this book has been an
incredible adventure. I had no idea what I was getting in to when I started. As
the saying goes, "No man is an island." What began as an idea has become a
reality thanks to assistance and guidance from some wonderful people.
Special thanks are due to the late Mr. Jirō Yoshida of Unabarakai, the
association of former naval enlisted aviators. He passed away in December 2011
as we began the editing phase of this book. I was familiar with Mr. Yoshida
through aviation historian Henry Sakaida, but I finally met Mr. Yoshida during
our mutual visit to the shores of Iwo Jima in March 2002. I attended the joint
US-Japan "Reunion of Honor" ceremony to remember the fallen. He was with
Tarō Kuribayashi, son of the famous Iwo Jima general. Eight years later, I again
found myself on Iwo Jima with Mr. Yoshida and this time I met Gen. Tadamichi
Kuribayashi's grandson, Yoshitaka Shindō.1 Mr. Yoshida's introductions to
WWII pilots and timely advice have helped immensely; I owe him a debt of
gratitude I can never repay.
I gratefully acknowledge the help from many friends in Japan: Mr. Nobuhirō
Nakamura, who generously and unselfishly spent countless hours assisting my
research. He helped with complex translations, put me up in hotels on several
occasions, and often eased my fatigue with exquisite Japanese cuisine in Kyoto.
I am forever grateful; Mr. Kōji Takaki, a distinguished scholar and a true
gentleman who has authored several books on the Pacific War; Mr. Shirō Wakita
(former WWII naval pilot) for his efforts in assisting my Japanese-language and
historical research; Ms. Yukie Sasa, a well-respected historian who has penned
three books in Japanese on the Pacific War. We met during the March 2008 trip
to Peleliu, and she has proven to be a valuable asset in research and connections
with WWII army and naval veterans; Ms. Junko Sakashita, who helped locate
and interview several WWII veterans who will appear in a later book; Mr.
Sachio Kageyama and Mr. Katsuhiko Shirakata for their assistance with
interviews in Japan and for their work in building US-Japan relations.
Special thanks to my father, Marvin King, a former B-29 gunner whose plane
was shot down over North Korea in 1951. He survived a North Korean
concentration camp when 1/3 of the other captives did not. He demonstrated
faith, strength, determination and endurance to all his children. And to my late
mother, Virginia King, who loved to read and encouraged my efforts to bridge