Japanese oldest living WW2 naval ace passed away today

[Hiromachi]

元零戦パイロットの原田要さん死去 真珠湾攻撃など出撃：朝日新聞デジタル

Mr. Kaname Harada at the age of 99 passed away early in the morning today, May 3, 2016.
Harada-san was the oldest living ace of the Imperial Japanese Navy, he was a participant of the infamous event of sinking of the USS Panay in 1937, the attack on Pearl Harbor and also the battle of Midway. Mr. Harada participated in Guadalcanal Campaign where his aircraft was badly damaged and he was wounded so much that was immediately transferred to Japan. Still, by the end of the war he reached a rank of Lieutenant and had more than 8,000 hours in the air recorded.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/04/w...t-sees-an-old-danger-on-the-horizon.html?_r=1

Here is one of the last interviews he gave, this one is in english for NYT.

 

[rochie]

Rest in peace Harada-san

 

[Wurger]

 

[Shinpachi]

One after another.....

 

[fubar57]

 

[tomo pauk]

 

[FLYBOYJ]

 

[bobbysocks]

it is interesting that the one Japanese hair salon owner stated he wasn't taught about the war in school. it is sad to see the wisdom and experience of these gallant souls leave us forever.

 

[Hiromachi]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmwj-03Txvs


If anyone is interested, here is a video interview with Mr. Harada recorded few years ago. Recently this youtuber decided to provide subtitles for it and reuploaded. I also recommend other interviews on his youtube channel.

 

[airminded88]

Interesting to learn how two souls who met at Midway on opposing sides departed Earth so close from one another when the same could have been true for 1942.
A long life is a blessing.

RIP Warrior

 

[syscom3]

And we lost the last US dive bomber pilot (from Midway) a couple weeks ago.

 

[oldcrowcv63]

RIP Harada san

 

[DerGiLLster]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmwj-03Txvs

If anyone is interested, here is a video interview with Mr. Harada recorded few years ago. Recently this youtuber decided to provide subtitles for it and reuploaded. I also recommend other interviews on his youtube channel.

This video made me cry. RIP Kaname Harada you will be missed...

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Shinpachi]

it is interesting that the one Japanese hair salon owner stated he wasn't taught about the war in school. it is sad to see the wisdom and experience of these gallant souls leave us forever.

There were not so many veterans who talked about their own war experience 'proudly' in public as they lost the war.
Instead, their families were listened persistently and repeatedly same story again and again by them. So was my family.

However, my father in law never wanted to talk about his experience even in front of his family.
He fought and survived the deadly Battle of Philippines
I was curious and asked him to tell me any story he experienced. He glanced at me for a moment and said "My comrades were dying in order of stupidity". That was all.

22 years ago when he was 70, he suffered stomach cancer. I happened to say to my wife "He survived the deadly battle. That would be enough".
To my surprise, she had told it to her father. I asked her "What did he say ?" She answered "He said The last war was one thing but this battle is another". He passed away at 70.

 

[BiffF15]

RIP

 

[Wildcat]

Such a shame these guys are leaving us.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

 

[Wayne Little]

RIP Harada-san

 

[Torch]