岡野博

War record

Born in Ibaraki Prefecture; 1938.6 enlisted at the Yokosuka Naval Barracks → 1941.5 graduated from the 54th Pilot Trainee Course; via the Yokosuka Naval Air Group he was posted in September to the Chitose Naval Air Group (air defence of the Marshall Islands with Type 96 carrier fighters when the war began) → 1942.4 transferred to the 1st Naval Air Group; in late May he was sent to the Tainan Naval Air Group at Rabaul as part of the reinforcement unit under Lt 山下丈二 (until he rejoined his parent unit in November he took part in the heavy air fighting of the Southeast Area, scoring 6 in all, 1 of them unconfirmed, beginning with his first victory over Port Moresby on 25 June) → 1942.12 transferred to the 201st Naval Air Group (air defence of the Marshall Islands) → the following March he withdrew to Japan and trained at Matsushima → in July, with the 201st Naval Air Group moving to the Southeast Area, he went forward to Buin aboard the carrier Un'yo; in November, on promotion to CPO (Senior Flight Petty Officer), he transferred to the 331st Naval Air Group (for about four months, until the unit moved to the Southwest Area, he built up his score in daily combat) → 1944.3 transferred from the 331st Naval Air Group to Fighter Squadron 603 of the 202nd Naval Air Group; after the Biak operation he returned to the Omura Naval Air Group in September, and was attached to Fighter Squadron 401 of the 343rd Naval Air Group at the end of the war