杉田庄一

War record

Born in Niigata Prefecture; left agricultural school before graduating → volunteered for the navy in 1940 and in 1942.3, aged 17, entered the 〔6th Naval Air Group〕 (later the 〔204th Naval Air Group〕) → sortied for the Battle of Midway (no chance of air combat) → autumn 1942 moved up to the Solomons front (Buin); on 8/26 he was hit, bailed out by parachute with burns over his whole body and was sent back to Japan → on 1943.4.18 he took part in the interception of the enemy aircraft that attacked the aircraft carrying Admiral 山本五十六, shooting down two (the source states that 山本's aircraft was not shot down) → 1944.3 incorporated into the 〔263rd Naval Air Group〕, fighting across the Marianas and the Carolines → July, the 〔201st Naval Air Group〕 (under Lt 菅野, flying the Shiden-kai) → 1945.1 incorporated into Fighter Squadron 301 of the newly formed 〔343rd Naval Air Group〕, playing a leading part in the homeland air defense and Okinawa air battles → killed on 4.15 when he was jumped by enemy fighters while taking off from Kanoya airfield.