Nishizawa’s final shared victories 25 October 1944

[CHen10]

On 25 October 1944, Nishizawa led the fighter escort consisting of four A6M5s, flown by Nishizawa, Sugawa Misao, Honda Shingo, and Baba Ryoji for the first major kamikaze attack of the war, targeting Vice Admiral Clifton Sprague's "Taffy 3" task force, which was protecting the landings in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

While flying fighter escort to this mission, Nishizawa's four A6M5s cooperatively claimed 2 F6Fs shot down (Nishizawa was not individually credited with both kills as is sometimes said)

Seki Yukio's kamikaze Zeros sank the St. Lo, and so if this is the case is it possible that Nishizawa's Zeros actually shot down 2 FM-2s and they were misidentified as F6Fs? There are two FM-2 losses from VC-65 which were from the St. Lo but here are all the losses from the day over the Leyte Gulf:

Crash Date YYMMDD	Aircraft Type	Bureau#	Squadron	From	Down	Area	Pilot	Pilot's Fate

441025	FM-2	47135	VC-80	USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	F6F-3	42642	VF-44	USS LANGLEY (CVL-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS J.M. RING	D
441025	FM-2	16681	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	FM-2	46919	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	FM-2	46950	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT JOSEPH T. RILEY	M
441025	FM-2	46982	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	FM-2	55136	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	FM-2	46944	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT GORDON A. GABBERT	S
441025	FM-2	47304	VC-3	USS KITKUN BAY (CVE-71)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS MURPHY	S
441025	FM-2	55489	VC-21	USS MARCUS ISLAND (CVE-77)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT W.W. GARNER	M
441025	FM-2	55472	VC-20	USS KADASHAN BAY (CVE-76)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS ROY H. DUNCAN	M
441025	FM-2	55378	VC-27	USS SAVO ISLAND (CVE-78)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS F.M. DEIGHTY	S
441025	FM-2	47121	VC-27	USS SAVO ISLAND (CVE-78)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS STUBBS	S
441025	FM-2	16570	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	FM-2	55379	VC-27	USS SAVO ISLAND (CVE-78)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS STERLING P. ROSS	M
441025	FM-2	47187	VC-80	USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT W.L. FISHER	S
441025	FM-2	47298	VC-80	USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS ROBERT A. COLE	S
441025	FM-2	56801	VC-80	USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT W.C. DEITCHMAN	S
441025	FM-2	55480	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	FM-2	16027	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS J.T. TURNER	S
441025	F6F-3	41211	VF-60	USS SUWANNEE (CVE-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(DECK LOSS - KAMIKAZE)	_
441025	F6F-3	41745	VF-60	USS SUWANNEE (CVE-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(DECK LOSS - KAMIKAZE)	_
441025	F6F-3	41043	VF-60	USS SUWANNEE (CVE-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(DECK LOSS - KAMIKAZE)	_
441025	F6F-3	40180	VF-60	USS SUWANNEE (CVE-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS J.P. RICHARDSON	M
441025	F6F-5	58018	VF-29	USS CABOT (CVL-28)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS EMERAL B. COOK	S
441025	FM-2	55508	VC-68	USS FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	FM-2	16347	VC-3	USS KALININ BAY (CVE-68)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT L.H. PORTERFIELD	S
441025	FM-2	55434	VC-21	USS MARCUS ISLAND (CVE-77)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT Z.D. HAUCK	S
441025	FM-2	55366	VC-68	USS FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	SB2C-3	19455	VB-19	USS LEXINGTON (CV-16)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT NEIMEYER	S
441025	FM-2	55452	VC-5	USS KITKUN BAY (CVE-71)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	FM-2	55441	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LTJG C.F. HUNTING	S
441025	FM-2	16297	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS J.J. TURNER	S
441025	FM-2	47393	VC-3	USS KITKUN BAY (CVE-71)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LTJG ROBERT T. SELL	S
441025	FM-2	16386	VC-3	USS KITKUN BAY (CVE-71)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS PAUL HOPFNER	S
441025	FM-2	55578	VC-68	USS FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	FM-2	47247	VC-3	USS KITKUN BAY (CVE-71)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS GEOFREY B. KING	S
441025	FM-2	55496	VC-68	USS FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	25272	VC-60	USS SUWANNEE (CVE-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(DECK LOSS - KAMIKAZE)	_
441025	TBM-1C	25547	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LCDR R.M. JONES	M
441025	TBM-1C	25381	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	TBM-1C	25400	VC-60	USS SUWANNEE (CVE-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(DECK LOSS - KAMIKAZE)	_
441025	TBM-1C	46240	VC-21	USS MARCUS ISLAND (CVE-77)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LCDR THOMAS O. MURRAY	S
441025	TBM-1C	73175	VC-21	USS MARCUS ISLAND (CVE-77)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS WALTER R. WALKER	S
441025	TBM-1C	46315	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS BROOKS	M
441025	TBM-1C	46192	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	FM-2	55417	VC-27	USS SAVO ISLAND (CVE-78)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT R.J. MULCAMY, JR.	S
441025	TBM-1C	45553	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LTJG R.W. WRINCH	M
441025	TBM-1C	16919	VT-44	USS LANGLEY (CVL-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS R.P. SMITH	D
441025	TBM-1C	73182	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	TBM-1C	73271	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	TBM-1C	46333	VC-80	USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT D.T. DOOLITTLE	S
441025	TBM-1C	45554	VC-27	USS SAVO ISLAND (CVE-78)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS HARMS	S
441025	TBM-1C	73270	VC-80	USS MANILA BAY (CVE-61)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	73352	VC-4	USS WHITE PLAINS (CVE-66)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	46416	VC-4	USS WHITE PLAINS (CVE-66)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	45935	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	TBM-1C	46356	VC-81	USS NATOMA BAY (CVE-62)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS C.H. BOLDT	M
441025	TBM-1C	46359	VC-4	USS WHITE PLAINS (CVE-66)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	SOC-1	9869	CA-28	USS LOUISVILLE (CA-28)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	73220	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	TBM-1C	73407	VT-19	USS LEXINGTON (CV-16)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LTJG J. MIDDLETON	M
441025	TBM-1C	73201	VT-19	USS LEXINGTON (CV-16)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	45769	VT-19	USS LEXINGTON (CV-16)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	46331	VC-20	USS KADASHAN BAY (CVE-76)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LCDR J.R. DALE	M
441025	TBM-1C	16963	VC-65	USS ST. LO (CVE-63)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	TBM-1C	46205	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS GALLAGHER	M
441025	TBM-1C	16901	VT-44	USS LANGLEY (CVL-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT W. FREITAG	S
441025	TBM-1C	73228	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_
441025	TBM-1C	46343	VC-5	USS KITKUN BAY (CVE-71)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	73449	VC-68	USS FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	46323	VC-81	USS NATOMA BAY (CVE-62)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LTJG L.S. CONNER	M
441025	TBM-1C	46443	VC-81	USS NATOMA BAY (CVE-62)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT W.B. MORTON	S
441025	TBM-1C	73460	VC-81	USS NATOMA BAY (CVE-62)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	_	_
441025	TBM-1C	46053	VT-44	USS LANGLEY (CVL-27)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	LT W.F. DOHERTY	M
441025	FM-2	55469	VC-27	USS SAVO ISLAND (CVE-78)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	ENS ROBERT C. ASHCRAFT	S
441025	TBM-1C	46348	VC-10	USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)	LEYTE GULF	PHIL	(SHIP SANK)	_

From this list who are the victims of Nishizawa's zeros?

 

[AerialTorpedoDude69]

Great work! It's entirely possible that the CAP of the St. Lo encountered Nishizawa's flight and lost two fighters, which Nishizawa misidentified as Hellcats.

Can I ask where you managed to find these logs? I've been wanting to look into those records for my own research.

 

[CHen10]

Hi!

Can I ask where you managed to find these logs? I've been wanting to look into those records for my own research.

Here you can search USAAF losses:

Select USAF Database

AAIR, Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research, is a source of U. S. military aircraft accident reports, pictures of aircraft crash sites, MACRs (Missing Air Crew Reports) and individual aircraft history cards and historical research. Historic aircraft crash site surveys, search and...

www.aviationarchaeology.com

Here you can search for USN/USMC losses:

Select USN Database

AAIR, Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research, is a source of U. S. military aircraft accident reports, pictures of aircraft crash sites, MACRs (Missing Air Crew Reports) and individual aircraft history cards and historical research. Historic aircraft crash site surveys, search and...

www.aviationarchaeology.com

Here you can find aircraft action reports, the full MACR documents, war diaries, etc.:

https://catalog.archives.gov/

I just filled in the date as 441025 (1944/October/25) and put the area "gone down" as Leyte Gulf, then I got that table and then I copy and pasted the table here.

 

[CHen10]

Great work! It's entirely possible that the CAP of the St. Lo encountered Nishizawa's flight and lost two fighters, which Nishizawa misidentified as Hellcats.

Small update:

Those two St. Lo FM-2s were lost at a completely different time from Nishizawa's mission so those two FM-2s can't be related to Nishizawa's shared claims. This website has the St. Lo aircraft action report and the time is stated there:

https://catalog.archives.gov/

However, there were of course of other carriers with the St. Lo at the time such as the Kitkun Bay. The Kitkun Bay also lost FM-2s so Nishizawa's A6Ms may have encountered those FM-2s but I haven't checked the times of the losses yet to confirm.