重松康弘

War record

Born in Tokyo; graduated from Tokyo Prefectural Eighth Middle School → 1938.9 graduated from the Naval Academy with the 66th class → 1941.4 completed 〔the 34th flight training course〕; September joined Hiryū (the youngest officer pilot aboard) → 1941.12.8 took part in the Pearl Harbor attack → 1942.1 promoted division leader; fought through the Netherlands East Indies and the Indian Ocean → 1942.6 Battle of Midway: after escorting the first attack wave he returned to the ship and again covered 小林's dive-bomber unit in its attack on the US task force → rescued after Hiryū sank and posted as division leader aboard Jun'yō → 1942.10.26 Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, escorting the first attack wave against the US task force (he turned back after take-off with a fault, but changed aircraft and chased the main force alone) → after Operation "I" in the spring of 1943 he transferred to the 〔Yokosuka Naval Air Group〕 → 1943.10 appointed squadron leader of the newly formed 〔263rd Naval Air Group〕 → 1944.2 led the advance party to the Mariana Islands; heavily hit in combat with US carrier aircraft on 2.22, and after receiving replacements fought across the Marianas and Palau → 1944.7.8, leading the five surviving aircraft on the way to Palau, he was killed in an air battle near Yap (after his death he was named in a proclamation to the whole armed forces and promoted two ranks).