周防元成

War record

1934 graduated with 〔the 62nd class of the Naval Academy〕 → 1937.9 completed 〔the 28th flight training course〕 → 1938.2 sent to the central China front (a newly joined lieutenant j.g.), and injured in a flying accident → 4.29 the raid on Hankou (his first action; his aircraft hit) → 7.4 air battle over Nanchang (two shot down) → transferred to the 〔15th Naval Air Group〕 and returned home → instructor, Ōita Naval Air Group → 1939.10 promoted Lieutenant, division leader of the 〔14th Naval Air Group〕 (again to the China front) → 1939.12.30 / 1940.1.10 attacks on Liuzhou and Guilin (two shot down each time) → autumn 1940, familiarisation training on the Zero at Hankou → 10.7 forward to Hanoi; as leader of the second section of six Zeros under Lieutenant 小福田 he pushed in to Kunming (four shot down single-handed, one of them by mid-air collision) → 1942 Genzan Naval Air Group → 1943.4 test pilot at the Naval Air Technical Arsenal (service trials of the Raiden) → 1942.12 squadron leader of the 〔252nd Naval Air Group〕 (Munda base, succeeding Lieutenant 菅波, killed in action) → air defence of Munda and Ballale, the attack on Buna, covering the withdrawal from Guadalcanal, the Lae convoy → after the unit was wiped out he was gathered in at Roi → 11.24 he led nineteen Zeros in a strafing sortie against Makin, was surprised over the sea by F6Fs, had a fuel tank hit and landed (the attack failed) → 1944.3 returned home; May promoted Lieutenant Commander; ended the war as squadron leader of the Genzan and Tsuiki Naval Air Groups → after the war he joined the Air Self-Defense Force, rising to lieutenant general before retiring.