Kakuji Kakuta
Kakuji Kakuta | |
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Vice Admiral | |
Commands held | |
Battles/wars |
Kakuji Kakuta (角田 覚治, Kakuta Kakuji, 23 September 1890 – 2 August 1944), was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He is noted for his role in commanding Japanese naval aviation units in the Pacific War.
Biography
Kakuta was a native of rural
Kakuta was appointed as equipment officer on the cruiser Yubari in 1923. He then attended the 23rd class of the Naval Staff College, and was promoted to lieutenant commander upon graduation. In 1926, he served as chief gunner on the cruiser Furutaka and subsequently in a number of staff positions. His first command was the cruiser Kiso, beginning on 10 March 1934. He subsequently commanded cruisers Furutaka and Iwate, and battleships Yamashiro and Nagato. He was promoted to rear admiral on 15 November 1939.
At the start of the
During the
Later, as commander of the
Kakuta was promoted to
Kakuta was the senior military officer on the island during the Battle of Tinian although he was not directly responsible for the defenses. As the Americans closed in on Tinian, Kakuta and his staff made repeated efforts to escape in rubber boats at prearranged rendezvous with a Japanese submarine. After several failed attempts, Kakuta and his staff withdrew to a cave on the east coast of Tinian and were never seen again. It is presumed that Kakuta committed suicide soon after the Americans landed and that his body was buried in a secret location by members of his staff.[3]
Notes
References
- Fuller, Richard (1992). Shokan: Hirohito's Samurai. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-151-4.
- L, Klemen (2000). "Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942".
- Nishida, Hiroshi. "Imperial Japanese Navy". Retrieved 17 August 2022.
Further reading
- D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X.
- Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-097-1. - Online views of selections of the book:[1]
- ISBN 0-14-016561-4. - Online views of selections of the book:[2]
- Hammel, Eric (1999). Carrier Strike: The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942. Pacifica Press. ISBN 0-7603-2128-0. - Book review:[3]
- ISBN 0-345-27894-1.
- Lundstrom, John B. (2005). First Team And the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 (New ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-472-8.
- ISBN 0-316-58305-7. - Online views of selections of the book:[4]
- Poor, Henry Varnum; Henry A. Mustin; Colin G. Jameson (1994). The Battles of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942 and Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942 (Combat Narratives. Solomon Islands Campaign, 4–5). Naval Historical Center. ISBN 0-945274-21-1.
External links
- Chen, C. Peter (2004–2006). "Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands". World War II Database. Archived from the original on 23 March 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2006.
- Horan, Mark. "Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands — 26 October 1942". Order of Battle. Retrieved 17 May 2006.
- Hoffmann, Carl (1951). "The Seizure of Tinian". USMC Historical Monograph. Retrieved 17 May 2006.
- Office of Naval Intelligence (1943). "The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942". Combat Narrative. Publications Branch, Office of Naval Intelligence, United States Navy (somewhat inaccurate on details, since it was written during the war). Retrieved 17 May 2006.
- Parshall, Jon; Bob Hackett; Sander Kingsepp; Allyn Nevitt. "IJN Junyo: Tabular Record of Movement". Imperial Japanese Navy Page. Retrieved 14 June 2006.