田中民穂

War record

1939.6 entered the 11th Otsu-class Yokaren (one of the youngest aces) → 1942.9 completed the 23rd flight training course → 1943.6 assigned to the 261st Naval Air Group (1st Air Fleet) → end of 1944.2 moved up to Saipan → 3.30 moved to Peleliu → 3.31 intercepted US carrier aircraft (first combat; the 261st Naval Air Group lost 20 of its 28 aircraft) → moved to Woleai (intercepted PBYs, 2 shot down) → early June to Halmahera → concentrated at Yap → 6.18 escorting Ginga bombers in an attack on a US convoy off Saipan (2 F6Fs shot down) → landed on Guam and flew interceptions daily → after the commanding officer and others had got away, 「田中 and three others」 stayed behind and continued attacks on shipping and strafing of airfields until mid-July → on the day of the US landing he got away to Woleai Island carrying a 60-kg bomb → reached Cebu via Palau → transferred to the 201st Naval Air Group (escorting kamikaze special attacks) → 1945.1 returned to Japan → 252nd Naval Air Group → 203rd Naval Air Group (air defence of the Kanto and Kyushu districts, escorting the Okinawa special attacks) → end of the war → after the war, a pilot with All Nippon Airways