奥村武雄

War record

Born in Fukui Prefecture; 1935 enlisted at the Kure Naval Barracks → 1938.9 completed the 42nd Pilot Trainee Course; 1940.3 posted to the 14th Naval Air Group (South China front) → 1940.10.7 first combat, in the attack on Kunming led by Lt 小福田租, shooting down 4 → 1942.7 assigned to the carrier Ryujo and sent to the Solomons front → 1942.8.24 took part in the attack on Guadalcanal (briefly reported missing, returned safely) → after Ryujo was sunk he transferred to the Tainan Naval Air Group, shooting down 14 (officially credited) in the attacks on Guadalcanal from early September to the end of October → December withdrew to Japan → 1943.5 transferred to the 201st Naval Air Group; July moved up to Buin in the Solomons → on the morning of 1943.9.14, through five successive combats in the interception over Buin, he shot down 10 aircraft in all (8 fighters, 1 dive-bomber and 1 large aircraft shared); although never officially credited, this is said to be the highest single-day total of the Pacific War → for this feat he was presented with a sword by Admiral 草鹿 → a week later, on the 22nd, he took part in the attack on an enemy convoy off Cape Cretin led by Lt 河合四郎; in bad weather the formation fought some 50 enemy fighters and he went missing; officially declared killed