Sadamu Takahashi
Sadamu Takahashi | |
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Solomon Islands Campaign Operation I-Go |
Sadamu Takahashi (高橋 定, Takahashi Sadamu, December 5, 1912 – December 25, 2015) was a
Early career
Sadamu Takahashi enrolled in the
In November 1938, Takahashi was promoted to full
Pacific War
At the beginning of 1942, he was assigned to the 31st Air Group as a dive bomber squadron leader. In February, his squadron operated from Nichols Field in the Philippines and participated in the attacks on the US troops during the Bataan and the Corregidor. In June, he was transferred to the carrier Zuikaku and became its group commander (Hikōtaichō), as well as its dive bomber squadron leader.[2]
In late August 1942, Lieutenant Takahashi participated in the
In late October 1942, Lieutenant Takahashi participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, where he led 21 Aichi D3A dive bombers in the first strike wave against the US carriers. The strike was under the overall command of Lieutenant Commander Shigeharu Murata, while escort was provided by A6M Zeros led by Lieutenant Moriyasu Hidaka from Zuihō and Lieutenant Ayao Shirane from Zuikaku. During the attack, his D3A was intercepted by the enemy Combat Air Patrol of Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters. He was able to shake them off, but, in the process, his plane's rudder jammed, forcing him to abort the mission and turn over command. Still, he managed to return to the Japanese fleet and ditched near a friendly oiler. Nevertheless, the first wave, as well as follow-up strikes, crippled the carrier Hornet and badly damaged Enterprise; however, many experienced pilots and flight leaders perished in the attack, including Murata and second wave commander Mamoru Seki.[4][1]
Afterwards, Lieutenant Takahashi and his dive bomber squadron were transferred to Rabaul and participated in Operation I-Go. He survived the war and later served in Japan Self-Defense Forces from 1954 to 1970.[1]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d 江間 1991, p. 15-28.
- ^ a b Tagaya 2011.
- ^ Lundstrom 2005b, p. 108-178.
- ^ Lundstrom 2005b, p. 324-460.
- Sources
- Lundstrom, John B. (2005b). First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 (New ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-472-8.
- Tagaya, Osamu (2011). Aichi 99 Kanbaku 'Val' Units. Combat Aircraft #63. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1841769127.
- 江間, 保 (1991). 急降下爆撃隊―日本海軍のヘルダイバー (in Japanese). 今日の話題社. ISBN 4875651384.
- Combat reports
- 海軍大臣官房. 瑞鶴飛行機隊戦闘行動調書 (Report). Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.
- 海軍大臣官房. 31空飛行機隊戦闘行動調書 (Report). Japan Center for Asian Historical Records.