Hi all,

I was just going through some old Tamiya 1/50 kit instructions and came across markings for a Val pilot from the Zuikaku by the above name....his was the only name mentioned among all the decal options available.

I've never heard of him before, so any info on him would be most appreciated. Cheers...

Ramesh

Lt. Cdr. Yakushiji

 

Hello Ramesh,

Tamiya 1/50 is very old kit, isn't it? I remember I assembled Tamiya 1/50 F1M2 and A6M5 about 20 years ago...

By the way, Yakushiji was a Lieutenant when he was a ZUIKAKU pilot, not a Capt.. I guess it is the Japanese translator's mistake. In Japan, both "Army Captain" and "Navy Lieutenant [sg]" are written in the same way. (Although caracters of both words are just the same, Army Capt. is pronounced "Taii" and Navy Lt. is ponounced "Daii".)

 

I am sorry but I have no precise information about him now.
I only know that Lt. Cdr. Yakushiji (final rank) was the flight commander of K5 Attack Squadron (B7A unit) at the end of the war...

Regards,
Katsuhiro

Re: Lt. Cdr. Yakushiji

 

Hi Andrew, Hi Uchida San
YOSHIMOTO Kazuo was born in 1918 (He changed his name to YAKUSHIJI in 1942). He graduated from the Japanese Naval College at Etajima on September 27, 1938(66th Etajima Class). He graduated 101st out of 219 graduates. On June 1, 1939, he was promoted ensign. From Nov 15, 1939 to June 29, 1940, he was a student, aviation course (33rd Class). He Graduated as a diver bomber pilot. On Nov 15, 1940, he was promoted sub-Lt. At the beginning of the war (Dec 1941) he was instructor and Division officer (Buntaicho) at the Kasumigaura Naval Air Group. On January (25?), 1942, he was posted as instructor and division officer, Usa Naval Air Group. On May 1, 1942, he was promoted Lieutenant. On July 25, 1942, he was posted as Buntaicho (division officer) SHOKAKU. As such he participated in the two battles mentioned by Andrew. Between May 1, 1942 and Nov 1, 1942, he changed his name to YAKUSHIJI. On Nov 15, 1942, he was posted instructor and buntaicho, Saeki Naval Air Group. On Sept 15, 1943, he was attached to the Headquarters of the 2nd Koku sentai (= 2nd Air squadron). On Nov 1, 1943, he was posted as hikotaicho and buntaicho, JUNYO. (Hikotaicho = Air Group leader). On May or March (I can't read the original document), 1944, he was back to the Homeland as instructor and buntaicho, Hyakuribara Naval Air Group. On Oct 3, 1944, he was assigned as instructor and buntaicho to the Yokosuka Naval Air Group. On March 10, 1945, he was assigned as hikotaicho, Special attach unit #5? (I have difficulty to read the very bad handwritting of the Japanese administrative officer...). He was promoted Lt-Cdr on May 1, 1945 and was demobilized on Sept 25, 1945. YAKUSHIJI Kazuo died on July 1, 1971.

Best regards,
JFM

Kazuo Yakushiji [Yoshimoto]

 

To add to Katsuhiro-san words

Kazuo YAKUSHIJI graduated from Eta Jima Naval Academy with the 66 Class and specialised in dive-bombing. As a junior kanbaku officer he was attached to SHOKAKU Bomber Squadron following the July 1942 reorganisation of the Combined Fleet and took part in the Battle of Eastern Solomons and Battle of Santa Cruz [and survived those two deadly missions against USN CV].
I don't know when Yakushiji was attached to ZUIKAKU Bomber Squadron. Maybe Jean-Francois Masson could help us in the issue.
After the war Yakushiji altered his name to YOSHIMOTO in typical Japanese manner [probably to allow his wife's name to survive].

Andrew

 

Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942)

Posted By: Emmanuel <mailto:aecastro1@aol.com?subject=Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942)>
Date: Thursday, 17 January 2002, at 8:34 p.m.

 

Hi,

Does anyone know if Lt.Cdr. Takahashi, Kakuichi (SHOKAKU) Type 99, Lieut. Ichihara, Tatsuo (SHOKAKU) Type 97, Lieut. Kaneko, Tadashi (SHOKAKU) Type 00, and
Lt.Cdr. Shimazaki, Shigakazu (ZUIKAKU) Type 97 participated in any strike in the Indian Ocean Operation (April 5&9, 1942)?

Thank You and I appreciated any answers.

 

Re: Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942)

Posted By: Mike Wenger <mailto:wengerm@mindspring.com?subject=Re: Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942)>
Date: Friday, 18 January 2002, at 6:12 p.m.

In Response To: Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942) (Emmanuel)

All these leaders did indeed participat in the strikes during the Indian Ocean campaign.

Re: Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942)

Posted By: Mike Wenger <mailto:wengerm@mindspring.com?subject=Re: Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942)>
Date: Friday, 18 January 2002, at 8:11 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Indian Ocean Operation (April 5 & 9, 1942) (Emmanuel)

Emmanuel,

Takahashi - Colombo/Hermes strikes
Shimazaki - Trincomalee strike
Ichihara - Trincomalee strike
Kaneko - Trincomalee strike
[Source - Kodochoshos- Shokaku, Zuikaku, 5 & 9 April, 1942]

Regards,

Mike Wenger