中村佳雄

War record

Born 1923 to a farming family in Hokkaidō → entered the navy in 1940 as an engine-room rating → 1941.2 entered Tsuchiura Naval Air Group as a 3rd Hei-class flight trainee → 1942.1 completed the 18th flight training course, took extended training at 〔Omura Naval Air Group〕, and on 7.1 was posted as an airman 1st class to the 〔6th Naval Air Group〕, moving up to Rabaul in October → for about a year thereafter he fought in the fierce air battles based on Rabaul and Buin and survived → 1943.6.7 shot down three (one of them unconfirmed) in air combat over the Russell Islands → on the 16th he flew as No.4 to Lt 宮野 in the air battle off Lunga, was hit and wounded, and force-landed on Kolombangara → 1944.1 transferred to the 〔302nd Naval Air Group〕 and returned to the homeland → by way of Kanoya Naval Air Group he moved in 1945.1 to Fighter Squadron 701 of the 〔343rd Naval Air Group〕, where the war ended for him.