南郷茂章

War record

Born into a naval family: his grandfather was a senior Navy Ministry official in its early years and a member of the Genrōin, his father a rear admiral and head of the Kōdōkan → after the Gakushūin middle school he entered the Naval Academy in 1924 → graduated with distinction in 1927 and served with the fleet → 1932.11 completed 〔the 22nd flight training course〕, qualified as a fighter pilot → after Akagi and the 〔Yokosuka Naval Air Group〕 he became assistant naval attaché at the embassy in Britain in 1935 and spent over two years in London → recalled on the outbreak of the China Incident, in 1937.10 he became division leader of the 〔13th Naval Air Group〕 and went to the central China front → on 2 December six Type 96 fighters under Lieutenant 南郷's command pushed in over Nanjing and fought a fierce battle with thirty enemy fighters that came up to intercept; thirteen were shot down, two of them by 南郷 himself; he was given a letter of commendation by the commander of the China Area Fleet and the Order of the Golden Kite, 5th class. His personal score during his time with the 〔12th Naval Air Group〕 is not known → in December he became squadron leader aboard Sōryū, and in the summer of 1938 again moved up to Anqing as squadron leader of the newly formed 〔15th Naval Air Group〕 in support of the Wuhan operation → on 7.18, in an air battle over Nanchang, 南郷's aircraft, having shot down a Gladiator while still carrying its drop tank, collided with the enemy machine as it fell out of control, went down into a lake, and he was killed (aged 33, unmarried). Navy Vice-Minister 山本五十六, calling on the family, is said to have wept aloud before the altar.