Toshio Ōta (太田 敏夫, Ōta Toshio; 20 March 1919 – 21 October 1942) was a World War II Japanese fighter ace. In early 1942…
Toshio Ōta (太田 敏夫, Ōta Toshio; 20 March 1919 – 21 October 1942) was a World War II Japanese fighter ace. In early 1942, at the age of 22, he flew a Mitsubishi A6M Zero with the Lae-based Tainan Air Group. There the young petty officer, 1st class became one of the so-called "Clean-up Trio" of Japanese aces, along with his squadron mates Saburo Sakai and Hiroyoshi Nishizawa. Ōta's first confirmed kill, of a U.S. Army Air Force P-40E Warhawk, was over New Guinea on April 11, 1942. Transferred to Rabaul in August, Ōta was killed in a dogfight with U.S. Marine Corps Grumman F4F Wildcats over Guadalcanal on October 21, shortly after shooting down a Wildcat himself. His victorious opponent is believed to be 1st Lt. Frank C. Drury of VMF-212. Ōta is credited with 34 victories, making him the Imperial Japanese Navy's fourth-ranking ace. In his autobiography, Sakai described Ōta as outgoing and amiable, in contrast to the more reserved Nishizawa, and said he would have been "more at home in a nightclub" than in Lae.
Famous People from Nagasaki Prefecture
Nagasaki Prefecture: 3 people
Shigeharu Murata (村田 重治, Murata Shigeharu; 9 April 1909 - 26 October 1942) was a torpedo bomber pilot officer in the…
Shigeharu Murata (村田 重治, Murata Shigeharu; 9 April 1909 - 26 October 1942) was a torpedo bomber pilot officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. He was the commander of torpedo bombers in the Attack on Pearl Harbor that crippled several United States Navy (USN) battleships and during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands that resulted in the sinking of carrier Hornet, where he was killed in action.
Ryūsaku Yanagimoto (柳本 柳作, Yanagimoto Ryūsaku; 9 January 1894 – 5 June 1942) was captain of the Japanese aircraft…
Ryūsaku Yanagimoto (柳本 柳作, Yanagimoto Ryūsaku; 9 January 1894 – 5 June 1942) was captain of the Japanese aircraft carrier Sōryū of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.