上平啓州

War record

Born in Yokohama; graduated from Yokohama Second Middle School; applied for and passed into the first Kō-class Yokaren, founded in September 1937; graduated in June 1939 and, after the Ōita, 〔Omura〕 and 〔Yokosuka Naval Air Groups〕, was posted to the 〔12th Naval Air Group〕 in August 1940 (moving up to Hankou) → in the attack on Chengdu on 14 March 1941 he sortied as a wingman flying No.2 and shot down four at a stroke (one unconfirmed) → October 1941 transferred to the Tainan Naval Air Group; beginning with one shot down in the attack on Luzon on the opening day of the war, he fought through the Philippine and Netherlands East Indies air campaigns → April 1942 transferred to the newly formed 〔6th Naval Air Group〕 (the unit earmarked for Midway) and took part in the Aleutians operation → July transferred to the Ōita Naval Air Group; promoted Flight Warrant Officer in April the following year; in October he transferred to the 〔381st Naval Air Group〕 and flew air defence over Borneo and Celebes, using the Type 3 bomb to good effect against B-24s (in particular, in the interception over Menado on 5 September 1944 he shot down two P-38s and five B-24s [two unconfirmed] single-handed, a notable feat) → later wounded, he returned to the home islands and ended the war as an instructor with special-attack units.