- Thread starter
- #41
IJA Secret Intelligence Team at Chofu
- Thread starter Shinpachi
- Start date
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Shinpachi, great articles! I just found them now, and will continue to watch for your future articles.
I'm nisei and can't read japanese very much at all. Jpn was my worst subject at school. I collect IJN flight gear as well as try to do research. NONE of this stuff is available in english. I appreciate your translations VERY MUCH!!
Doomo Arigatoo Gozaimasu. Tote mo Jiyoozu desu!
I'm nisei and can't read japanese very much at all. Jpn was my worst subject at school. I collect IJN flight gear as well as try to do research. NONE of this stuff is available in english. I appreciate your translations VERY MUCH!!
Doomo Arigatoo Gozaimasu. Tote mo Jiyoozu desu!
great articles Shinpachi, please continue!
Wildcat
Major
Agreed, very interesting stuff!
- Thread starter
- #45
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
This is really interesting Shinpachi. Keep up the good work.8)
- Thread starter
- #48
Thank you Aaron, Bigxiko.
Your posts have kicked my heavy a-s forward. Thanks
************************************
Article No.35
Misfire
========
Author: Mr.Teruo Miyoshi
In all seasonal glory of the spring of 1945 when the cherry flowers looked as if they were racing gorgeous bloomings, the tide of war was all the more surging upon us and there were no major cities in Japan which had not been scorch by the incendiary carpet bombings by the B29s.
On our way home to the base after a daily reconnaissance mission was over, I couldn't help thinking that our mission had originally been planned to reconnoiter the enemy lines and forces in details so that our forces could make an effective attack on them. This should be a precondition to develop strategies. However, our recent mission was expected contribution to protecting ourselves, not to attacking the enemy, regretly.
When I had just completed my routine mission by sending final report "We home now" to the base, Sergeant-major said
"En route to the base, we'll check our defence system near the Boso for the future references" and flew over the edge of 'Okinoshima'- an offshore island. Altitude was 3,000feet high.
"Can't you see this Sun marking!" Sergeant-major who seldom raged had suddenly shouted in large voice.
We had had friendly shootings form the island.
On the other day before, our Sergeant G's aircraft also had had friendly attack from the ground above the Atsumi Peninsula nearby Nagoya. It would have been unavoidable incident under the circumstances then because he was tracking the B29s in the nighttime but, this time, it was daytime and sky was clear. No one could misidentify the Hinomaru(*painted in red as if a meatball) even with low magnifications of binoculars.
Our plane lowered the altitude to 300feet and I witnessed our friendly Twin Anti-Aircraft Cannon. The caliber would be as big as 30 millimeters. If we had got a shot on the engine, it would stop at once.
"We'll fly at the ultra-low-altitude. Take a picture."
Turning lower to 150feet and passing through their overhead, through my camera finder, I identified one figure who looked like an officer standing at the cannon's side. He was holding up a saber(Japanese sword) over his head.
That man would be trying to shoot down this friendly airplane by any means to delete the evidence that he had not only misidentified the target but ordered firing mistakenly. I wanted to say "Remember a military aircraft reports the situation to the base immediately."
I was sorry for the ground soldiers who were conducted by such a very novice officer.
Fortunately my Sergeant-major was a man of calm itself. If the pilot had been a short-tempered man, they would have received a volley of a 37mm cannon and a 20mm machine gun altogether. (*the aricraft type seems Ki-45kai 'c'. not 'a' because it had no two 12.7mm guns)
"We've got a friendly fire. Location, Boso Okinoshima. No damage to the aircraft." I reported to the base by A3(*radio phone). A few minutes later, I received a reply "Your report has been passed to the headquarters by way of our base commander immediately."
I felt an atmosphere which would never allow the incident ending like 'that's OK for the incident'.
After landing, a photo processing staff developed my film in a hurry.
We found a student officer holding up his saber with his mouth wide open.
He was identified as a student officer because a gleaming white spot was observed next to his rank badge on the collar.
The gleaming white spot was indicating us a small metal plate in the shape of star and was asked wearing until one's formal appointment as an officer. Probably, the student officer had been shouting "Fire, fire" many times.
Bringing the photograph and the map, Sergeant-major and I visited the base commander's office to report what had happened.
Sergeant-major explained the course of event as follows logically.
1. Considering the fuel consumption, we normally flew at 15,000feet but, in order to avoid unexpected friendly misfire, we were flying lower at 3,000feet this time when we had had the attack.
(Even at this altitude, any ground soldier or officer with the binoculars could confirm the Sun markings well).
2. In case of an enemy aircraft, a single aircraft never flew at such a low altitude toward north.
3. In spite of having recognized the Sun markings at 300feet which was low enough to see even with the naked eyes from the ground, he did not order to stop the fire.
4. In consideration of aboves, it was natural for us to believe that the island commander(a student officer) might have issued his initial attack order not knowing well the aircraft was a friendly one mistakenly.
5. To the worse, issued the attack order once, he did not take it back even after the target had turned out to be a friendly plane. This action was considered he had apparently attempted intentional shooting-down to cover up his wrong decision for the misfire.
"It's a laxity of the army regulations. I'll meet Commander at the headquarters face-to-face and state my own opinion." said Base Commander.
Later, I heard that Commander of the headquarters "Lieutenant General Lee" had met Army Minister and told him a desire to act accordingly on this incident, showing the photograph I had taken. Lieutenant General Lee was always gentle and good-natured but was said terribly getting angry then.
(*Lieutenant General Lee was a descendant of the Lee Dynasty in Korea. He was taken hostage to Japan when he was a child. He married a princess Masako of the Japanese Imperial family to be a member of them.)
As it was "Lieutenant General Lee"'s direct request with the Imperial family status, it seemed impossible for the Minister to pacify "In the future, I will try to prevent a recurrence."
Court-martial was held.
The first reason "Under the circumstances that he was able to idnetify the aircraft even with the naked eyes, he still continued the attack. Referring to the army regulations, there should be no room for considerariton."
The second reason "It should not be allowed to have intended the shooting-down for the purpose of cover-up his misfire."
Court-martial's decision "Vilely act disturbing the army regulations. No room for leniency. Execution by firing squad."
It was said officially treated his execution as "Killed in action" though.
A lesson from this incident was - "self-defensiveness" and "Being afraid of mistake becoming a stain of one's career and a barrier for the future promotion" would not necessarily be advantageous for the military personnel.
I have honestly hesitated to write this former army's shame but, thinking it will also be useful in the modern society, dare to make public as "a story".
Incidentally, there is now Tateyama airbase of the Maritime Self-Defence Forces close to the island where we got the misfire.
It is interesting for me that the airbase has no house numbers and street addresses. (*Note by translator: I do not know well why no addresses interest him so much)
/End of Article No.35
Your posts have kicked my heavy a-s forward. Thanks
************************************
Article No.35
Misfire
========
Author: Mr.Teruo Miyoshi
In all seasonal glory of the spring of 1945 when the cherry flowers looked as if they were racing gorgeous bloomings, the tide of war was all the more surging upon us and there were no major cities in Japan which had not been scorch by the incendiary carpet bombings by the B29s.
On our way home to the base after a daily reconnaissance mission was over, I couldn't help thinking that our mission had originally been planned to reconnoiter the enemy lines and forces in details so that our forces could make an effective attack on them. This should be a precondition to develop strategies. However, our recent mission was expected contribution to protecting ourselves, not to attacking the enemy, regretly.
When I had just completed my routine mission by sending final report "We home now" to the base, Sergeant-major said
"En route to the base, we'll check our defence system near the Boso for the future references" and flew over the edge of 'Okinoshima'- an offshore island. Altitude was 3,000feet high.
"Can't you see this Sun marking!" Sergeant-major who seldom raged had suddenly shouted in large voice.
We had had friendly shootings form the island.
On the other day before, our Sergeant G's aircraft also had had friendly attack from the ground above the Atsumi Peninsula nearby Nagoya. It would have been unavoidable incident under the circumstances then because he was tracking the B29s in the nighttime but, this time, it was daytime and sky was clear. No one could misidentify the Hinomaru(*painted in red as if a meatball) even with low magnifications of binoculars.
Our plane lowered the altitude to 300feet and I witnessed our friendly Twin Anti-Aircraft Cannon. The caliber would be as big as 30 millimeters. If we had got a shot on the engine, it would stop at once.
"We'll fly at the ultra-low-altitude. Take a picture."
Turning lower to 150feet and passing through their overhead, through my camera finder, I identified one figure who looked like an officer standing at the cannon's side. He was holding up a saber(Japanese sword) over his head.
That man would be trying to shoot down this friendly airplane by any means to delete the evidence that he had not only misidentified the target but ordered firing mistakenly. I wanted to say "Remember a military aircraft reports the situation to the base immediately."
I was sorry for the ground soldiers who were conducted by such a very novice officer.
Fortunately my Sergeant-major was a man of calm itself. If the pilot had been a short-tempered man, they would have received a volley of a 37mm cannon and a 20mm machine gun altogether. (*the aricraft type seems Ki-45kai 'c'. not 'a' because it had no two 12.7mm guns)
"We've got a friendly fire. Location, Boso Okinoshima. No damage to the aircraft." I reported to the base by A3(*radio phone). A few minutes later, I received a reply "Your report has been passed to the headquarters by way of our base commander immediately."
I felt an atmosphere which would never allow the incident ending like 'that's OK for the incident'.
After landing, a photo processing staff developed my film in a hurry.
We found a student officer holding up his saber with his mouth wide open.
He was identified as a student officer because a gleaming white spot was observed next to his rank badge on the collar.
The gleaming white spot was indicating us a small metal plate in the shape of star and was asked wearing until one's formal appointment as an officer. Probably, the student officer had been shouting "Fire, fire" many times.
Bringing the photograph and the map, Sergeant-major and I visited the base commander's office to report what had happened.
Sergeant-major explained the course of event as follows logically.
1. Considering the fuel consumption, we normally flew at 15,000feet but, in order to avoid unexpected friendly misfire, we were flying lower at 3,000feet this time when we had had the attack.
(Even at this altitude, any ground soldier or officer with the binoculars could confirm the Sun markings well).
2. In case of an enemy aircraft, a single aircraft never flew at such a low altitude toward north.
3. In spite of having recognized the Sun markings at 300feet which was low enough to see even with the naked eyes from the ground, he did not order to stop the fire.
4. In consideration of aboves, it was natural for us to believe that the island commander(a student officer) might have issued his initial attack order not knowing well the aircraft was a friendly one mistakenly.
5. To the worse, issued the attack order once, he did not take it back even after the target had turned out to be a friendly plane. This action was considered he had apparently attempted intentional shooting-down to cover up his wrong decision for the misfire.
"It's a laxity of the army regulations. I'll meet Commander at the headquarters face-to-face and state my own opinion." said Base Commander.
Later, I heard that Commander of the headquarters "Lieutenant General Lee" had met Army Minister and told him a desire to act accordingly on this incident, showing the photograph I had taken. Lieutenant General Lee was always gentle and good-natured but was said terribly getting angry then.
(*Lieutenant General Lee was a descendant of the Lee Dynasty in Korea. He was taken hostage to Japan when he was a child. He married a princess Masako of the Japanese Imperial family to be a member of them.)
As it was "Lieutenant General Lee"'s direct request with the Imperial family status, it seemed impossible for the Minister to pacify "In the future, I will try to prevent a recurrence."
Court-martial was held.
The first reason "Under the circumstances that he was able to idnetify the aircraft even with the naked eyes, he still continued the attack. Referring to the army regulations, there should be no room for considerariton."
The second reason "It should not be allowed to have intended the shooting-down for the purpose of cover-up his misfire."
Court-martial's decision "Vilely act disturbing the army regulations. No room for leniency. Execution by firing squad."
It was said officially treated his execution as "Killed in action" though.
A lesson from this incident was - "self-defensiveness" and "Being afraid of mistake becoming a stain of one's career and a barrier for the future promotion" would not necessarily be advantageous for the military personnel.
I have honestly hesitated to write this former army's shame but, thinking it will also be useful in the modern society, dare to make public as "a story".
Incidentally, there is now Tateyama airbase of the Maritime Self-Defence Forces close to the island where we got the misfire.
It is interesting for me that the airbase has no house numbers and street addresses. (*Note by translator: I do not know well why no addresses interest him so much)
/End of Article No.35
- Thread starter
- #49
Interesting again...doesn't pay to shoot at friendly aircraft!
- Thread starter
- #51
Haztoys
Senior Airman
Good stuff thanks for your time it takes to do this ... Rea-con flyer's had real nerve
- Thread starter
- #53
Aaron Brooks Wolters
Brigadier General
Good material Shinpachi. I always look forward to a new post on this thread for the hold my interest. Great photos also. Keep up the good work and do not worry about the time. It is well worth the wait.
- Thread starter
- #55
Thank you Aaron for your kind words.
I must say thank you again because when I checked your last post,
I was in a serious business trouble and I thought I had NO time for the translation.
I tried to forget the trouble and concentrated on the translation.
When I had just finished the translating work, the business trouble had also be ended by itself. A great experience for me.
I'll step forward for the next.
Thank you Bigxiko too
Are you interested in Samurai?
My ancestor was Samurai too. When I was a child, I was banned to show my teeth in front of my parents, to run in the house making a sound and .... forgot. They said it was vulgar!
I can't believe it nowadays absolutely.
Good day everyone!
I must say thank you again because when I checked your last post,
I was in a serious business trouble and I thought I had NO time for the translation.
I tried to forget the trouble and concentrated on the translation.
When I had just finished the translating work, the business trouble had also be ended by itself. A great experience for me.
I'll step forward for the next.
Thank you Bigxiko too
Are you interested in Samurai?
My ancestor was Samurai too. When I was a child, I was banned to show my teeth in front of my parents, to run in the house making a sound and .... forgot. They said it was vulgar!
I can't believe it nowadays absolutely.
Good day everyone!
Wildcat
Major
Thanks again for another interesting read Shinpachi
eddie_brunette
Senior Airman
Another good read, thanks.
Edd
Edd
- Thread starter
- #58
- Thread starter
- #59
Article No.80
Forced landing
==============
Author: Mr. Teruo Miyoshi
Sortie order issued,
[Kashima Nada coastal regions on the north of Cape Inubouzaki are being attacked by the allied forces naval gunfire.
Search the scale and location of the enemy task force.] and added
[Sergeant G's plane also to accompany.] The base commander would be knowing that Sergeant G was not fully understanding the whole covering area of our team yet.
If the attack was really by a task force, following air raid by the carrier-based aircrafts was expected. I asked Communication Sergeant to make his best efforts catching the communication of U.S.aircrafts.
Aiming at the Cape Inubouzaki, the two reconnaissance aircrafts took off.
In a few minutes later we confirmed the Cape Inubouzaki below, the attack by the naval gunfires from two submarines at about 3miles offshore was witnessed. This kind of attack was commonly called "harassing attacks".
"We attack them from the right, so request you from their back." I sent the message to Sergeant G and took altitude higher enough not to be seen from the submarines.
However, the U.S.submarines would already be on the high alert about attacks from the air because I could observe the sailors on the deck moving busily from a high distance.
We immediately dove from about 9,000feet to send a cannon volley to the bridge of a submarine.
In spite of the close air surveillance on the submarine, they were slow to find us before the attack. Following was my wonder - Such skills as one could identify if it was an enemy or a friend instantly by viewing a black spot in a point of the sky could be obtained through experiences only. It never be mastered in a short time.
Submarine's crew might be good at it in the sea but not necessarily in the air.
We could see the submarines dove rapidly toward the south well but the figures were out of sight as the depth went deeper. The other submarine Sergeant G attacked had lost the periscope. They would be forced to rely on the compass navigation only. The one my Sergeant-major attacked had left a few sailors who served bombardment in the sea, floating among the waves. As the whole story would have been observed from the coastal fishing village, they would be arrested as POWs sooner or later.
Reporting the situation to the base, I was advised by Sergeant-major
"Tell the base not to inflict injury on the sailors, to use the police telephone to tell a ban quickly to the residents through the local police and village offices."
"We have already arranged the ban before your request. It was the base commander's decision." replied the base.
We had been forestalled.
Warning came from the base.
"Emergency report. Nakajima aircraft factory in Gunma Prefecture has got an air-raid by the Grummans. Analyzing the communications among the U.S.aircrafts, their withdrawal route will be above Tochigi and Ibaragi Prefectures.
We request you to prepare for encounter." and continued
"Each aircraft seems taking each diffrent withdrawal route. At least TWO aircrafts are flying toward your Cape Inubouzaki."
"I haven't contacted with a Grumman for a long time. I'll try my skill if it's still OK. Change radios to A3(*communication by voice)." said Sergeant-major.
Then a base translation soldier suggested on the radio,
"Shall we surprise the U.S.aircrafts a bit? We have fully caught their A3 frequency and are able to communicate with them anytime. Tell us your message and I'll translate simultaneously."
"What are you guys thinking about?" asked Sergeant G who had no this kind of mission experience.
"We'll show you our unique performance. Please look that well." I replied but there was no answer from Sergeant G as he would be suspecting what we were going to do.
"Three Ki-84 Hayates from a hidden airfield are now tracking the Grummans." the base reported and added
"Maybe the Grumman pilots don't know our fighters tracking them yet. Two American pilots are showing off their war-results on radio each other. Judging from their intonations, they are talking as if they were already home safely though they are still above the enemy's territory."
"Shoot them down or capture?" asked me Sergeant-major. I replied
"Here are two armed reconnaissance planes and coming three Hayates. We are to have five fighters against two target aircrafts. It will never be our honor even if we shot the two down. Having close cooperations with the Hayates, let's force them landing if possible." ....."All right."
I asked to the base
"Please ask the Hayates to change A3 frequencies to ours. Also, please tell the Grummans what we say from now by your simultaneous translation."
The leader of the Hayates cut in
"Let me know what begins from now."
"In the cooperation with your three and our two, we attack them first but are going to force them landing finally. Any opinion?"
"Interesting. In these days, all are frustrating things and I feel unwell. We have been chasing the Grummans to refresh ourselves. Let's do it." He seemed much interested.
"OK. Translate and tell the Grummans what I say from now" I asked again the translation soldier of the base.
"Five Japanese aircrafts 'Hayate' are tracking you 6miles behind. Three fighters are also waiting for you above the Cape Inubouzaki." I put pause and added
"If you have the courage of air combat, you fight. We'll opponent. Check how many bullets you have. Fight or surrender. There are two choices."
They kept silence.
Two Grummans were now visible.
They were heading for us.
Sergeant-major attracted them close enough, suddenly went up and turned a somersault to stall, then gave them a volley of machine cannons when they were surprised and tried to escape.
I asked further translation to the base
"Our skill is different from the other Japanese aircrafts' you have ever encountered. As Top Gun, we are the veterans who shot down a lot of your aircrafts. Are you still going to fight?"
Our translation soldier was speaking smoothly and added some false informations about the numbers of our fighters in order to give them a fear.
Three Hayates were surrounding the Grummans and our two planes(Ki-45kai and Ki-46) were staring at them from high above.
They were desperately trying to escape but unable to do so as the Hayates were always ahead to box them.
"They seem having no sufficient bullets to fight and now discussing surrender" advised our translation soldier.
They would have shot almost all bullets to leave few during the air-raid over Nakajima's factory.
Inexperienced young pilots were not understanding that the withdrawal route was still the battlefield.
I asked our translator
"Tell them 'Fly to the direction that I say from now at altitude 3,000feet with speed 220knots.' Never use the coordinates value the U.S.military use. Leak risk expected. Guide them with the East longitude and the north latitude values I will say."
"I have never experienced this kind of tactics before. This will be the first and last for me. We will guide them to our base. Fearing our bluff, they seem having no intention to fight any more and will never shoot me behind. I will lead the way." said the Hayate leader.
"By the way your unit belonging?" he asked,
"We are an intelligence specialist team under the direct control of the 1st Air Force but unable to tell further details as they belong to a sensitive area. I request you to understand." I replied and continued
"In addition, the tactics to cut in the Grummans' communication is our original one. If this was leaked to the U.S.military, there would be obstacles in our future operations. We request you to keep it confidential."
The leader seemed being pretty surprised at such an unprecedented tactics.
Positioning the two Grummans in the midst of our formation, we headed for the direction of Kinugawa of Tochigi Prefecture.
A streamer of the hidden airfield for the Hayates was visible.
Details of the incident would have been reported. There were a crowd of soldiers on the ground.
After landing the Hayate leader, two Grummans followed. As expected, the landing distance of the carrier-based aircraft was short and it looked as if they were dropped on the ground with a thud.
After all fighter aircrafts landed, our two reconnaissance aircrafts circled above the airfield and swang the main wings a few times to say good-bye.
We went home to the base.
/End of Article No.80
Forced landing
==============
Author: Mr. Teruo Miyoshi
Sortie order issued,
[Kashima Nada coastal regions on the north of Cape Inubouzaki are being attacked by the allied forces naval gunfire.
Search the scale and location of the enemy task force.] and added
[Sergeant G's plane also to accompany.] The base commander would be knowing that Sergeant G was not fully understanding the whole covering area of our team yet.
If the attack was really by a task force, following air raid by the carrier-based aircrafts was expected. I asked Communication Sergeant to make his best efforts catching the communication of U.S.aircrafts.
Aiming at the Cape Inubouzaki, the two reconnaissance aircrafts took off.
In a few minutes later we confirmed the Cape Inubouzaki below, the attack by the naval gunfires from two submarines at about 3miles offshore was witnessed. This kind of attack was commonly called "harassing attacks".
"We attack them from the right, so request you from their back." I sent the message to Sergeant G and took altitude higher enough not to be seen from the submarines.
However, the U.S.submarines would already be on the high alert about attacks from the air because I could observe the sailors on the deck moving busily from a high distance.
We immediately dove from about 9,000feet to send a cannon volley to the bridge of a submarine.
In spite of the close air surveillance on the submarine, they were slow to find us before the attack. Following was my wonder - Such skills as one could identify if it was an enemy or a friend instantly by viewing a black spot in a point of the sky could be obtained through experiences only. It never be mastered in a short time.
Submarine's crew might be good at it in the sea but not necessarily in the air.
We could see the submarines dove rapidly toward the south well but the figures were out of sight as the depth went deeper. The other submarine Sergeant G attacked had lost the periscope. They would be forced to rely on the compass navigation only. The one my Sergeant-major attacked had left a few sailors who served bombardment in the sea, floating among the waves. As the whole story would have been observed from the coastal fishing village, they would be arrested as POWs sooner or later.
Reporting the situation to the base, I was advised by Sergeant-major
"Tell the base not to inflict injury on the sailors, to use the police telephone to tell a ban quickly to the residents through the local police and village offices."
"We have already arranged the ban before your request. It was the base commander's decision." replied the base.
We had been forestalled.
Warning came from the base.
"Emergency report. Nakajima aircraft factory in Gunma Prefecture has got an air-raid by the Grummans. Analyzing the communications among the U.S.aircrafts, their withdrawal route will be above Tochigi and Ibaragi Prefectures.
We request you to prepare for encounter." and continued
"Each aircraft seems taking each diffrent withdrawal route. At least TWO aircrafts are flying toward your Cape Inubouzaki."
"I haven't contacted with a Grumman for a long time. I'll try my skill if it's still OK. Change radios to A3(*communication by voice)." said Sergeant-major.
Then a base translation soldier suggested on the radio,
"Shall we surprise the U.S.aircrafts a bit? We have fully caught their A3 frequency and are able to communicate with them anytime. Tell us your message and I'll translate simultaneously."
"What are you guys thinking about?" asked Sergeant G who had no this kind of mission experience.
"We'll show you our unique performance. Please look that well." I replied but there was no answer from Sergeant G as he would be suspecting what we were going to do.
"Three Ki-84 Hayates from a hidden airfield are now tracking the Grummans." the base reported and added
"Maybe the Grumman pilots don't know our fighters tracking them yet. Two American pilots are showing off their war-results on radio each other. Judging from their intonations, they are talking as if they were already home safely though they are still above the enemy's territory."
"Shoot them down or capture?" asked me Sergeant-major. I replied
"Here are two armed reconnaissance planes and coming three Hayates. We are to have five fighters against two target aircrafts. It will never be our honor even if we shot the two down. Having close cooperations with the Hayates, let's force them landing if possible." ....."All right."
I asked to the base
"Please ask the Hayates to change A3 frequencies to ours. Also, please tell the Grummans what we say from now by your simultaneous translation."
The leader of the Hayates cut in
"Let me know what begins from now."
"In the cooperation with your three and our two, we attack them first but are going to force them landing finally. Any opinion?"
"Interesting. In these days, all are frustrating things and I feel unwell. We have been chasing the Grummans to refresh ourselves. Let's do it." He seemed much interested.
"OK. Translate and tell the Grummans what I say from now" I asked again the translation soldier of the base.
"Five Japanese aircrafts 'Hayate' are tracking you 6miles behind. Three fighters are also waiting for you above the Cape Inubouzaki." I put pause and added
"If you have the courage of air combat, you fight. We'll opponent. Check how many bullets you have. Fight or surrender. There are two choices."
They kept silence.
Two Grummans were now visible.
They were heading for us.
Sergeant-major attracted them close enough, suddenly went up and turned a somersault to stall, then gave them a volley of machine cannons when they were surprised and tried to escape.
I asked further translation to the base
"Our skill is different from the other Japanese aircrafts' you have ever encountered. As Top Gun, we are the veterans who shot down a lot of your aircrafts. Are you still going to fight?"
Our translation soldier was speaking smoothly and added some false informations about the numbers of our fighters in order to give them a fear.
Three Hayates were surrounding the Grummans and our two planes(Ki-45kai and Ki-46) were staring at them from high above.
They were desperately trying to escape but unable to do so as the Hayates were always ahead to box them.
"They seem having no sufficient bullets to fight and now discussing surrender" advised our translation soldier.
They would have shot almost all bullets to leave few during the air-raid over Nakajima's factory.
Inexperienced young pilots were not understanding that the withdrawal route was still the battlefield.
I asked our translator
"Tell them 'Fly to the direction that I say from now at altitude 3,000feet with speed 220knots.' Never use the coordinates value the U.S.military use. Leak risk expected. Guide them with the East longitude and the north latitude values I will say."
"I have never experienced this kind of tactics before. This will be the first and last for me. We will guide them to our base. Fearing our bluff, they seem having no intention to fight any more and will never shoot me behind. I will lead the way." said the Hayate leader.
"By the way your unit belonging?" he asked,
"We are an intelligence specialist team under the direct control of the 1st Air Force but unable to tell further details as they belong to a sensitive area. I request you to understand." I replied and continued
"In addition, the tactics to cut in the Grummans' communication is our original one. If this was leaked to the U.S.military, there would be obstacles in our future operations. We request you to keep it confidential."
The leader seemed being pretty surprised at such an unprecedented tactics.
Positioning the two Grummans in the midst of our formation, we headed for the direction of Kinugawa of Tochigi Prefecture.
A streamer of the hidden airfield for the Hayates was visible.
Details of the incident would have been reported. There were a crowd of soldiers on the ground.
After landing the Hayate leader, two Grummans followed. As expected, the landing distance of the carrier-based aircraft was short and it looked as if they were dropped on the ground with a thud.
After all fighter aircrafts landed, our two reconnaissance aircrafts circled above the airfield and swang the main wings a few times to say good-bye.
We went home to the base.
/End of Article No.80
Now thats very interesting, the capture of 2 Hellcats, haven't heard of that before? Thanks mate!
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