Thank you Aaron, Bigxiko.
Your posts have kicked my heavy a-s forward. Thanks
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Article No.35
Misfire
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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