坂井三郎

War record

Born in Saga Prefecture; May 1933 enlisted as a seaman at the Sasebo Naval Barracks → November 1937 graduated top of the 38th pilot trainee course → September 1938 posted to the 〔12th Naval Air Group〕 (central China front); first victory in the attack on Hankou on 5 October → April 1941 again with the 〔12th Naval Air Group〕 (moved up to Hankou; attacks on Chengdu, Lanzhou and elsewhere) → June promoted Flight Petty Officer 1st Class; October transferred to the Tainan Naval Air Group → with the outbreak of war, the Philippine and Netherlands East Indies air campaigns (as a section leader) → April moved up to Rabaul and Lae (senior pilot of 笹井's chūtai) → on 7 August, the first day of the Guadalcanal air battles, he was severely wounded in the head by the rear gun of an SBD, flew back to Rabaul alone and was sent home (28 confirmed victories to that point) → transferred to the Ōmura and Yokosuka Naval Air Groups → June 1944 took part in the interceptions over Iwo Jima → with his eyesight failing he gave up air combat and served as an instructor with the 〔343rd〕 and 〔Yokosuka Naval Air Groups〕 until the war ended.