岡部健二

War record

1937.11 graduated from the 38th pilot trainee class → 佐伯 and 〔Omura Naval Air Group〕 → 1938.7 transferred to the 〔12th Naval Air Group〕 (China front; no chance of air combat) → joined Shōkaku just before the war (flew patrol over the carrier during the Hawaii attack) → 1942.4.9 air combat over Trincomalee (his first combat; two Hurricanes shot down) → 5.8 the Battle of the Coral Sea (combat air patrol; eight US dive-bombers shot down); the carrier was bombed and he ditched and was rescued → 1943.7 aboard Shōkaku again → 11.1 moved up to Rabaul, and on 11.2 fought the great raid → 〔Omura Naval Air Group〕 → 1944.7 transferred to the newly formed 〔634th Naval Air Group〕 → October, the Shō operation (moved overland via Okinawa and Taiwan to the Philippines; the Leyte operation) → withdrawn to the homeland at the end of the year → the war ended for him with the 〔601st Naval Air Group〕.