Yasuna Kozono

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Yasuna Kozono
Captain (海軍大佐剥奪)
Battles/warsWorld War II

Yasuna Kozono (小園 安名, Kozono Yasuna, November 1, 1902 – November 5, 1960) was an

Second World War
.

Early life and education

He was born in

Kagoshima Prefecture in Mansei City
. He graduated from Tachikawa Junior Jigh School and entered the Japanese Naval Academy on August 26, 1920, graduating on July 14, 1923.

In Rabaul

When he was the commander of a unit in Rabaul on New Britain he suggested modifying the ordnance fitment of the Nakajima J1N as a night fighter, which by 21 May 1943 was successful against B-24s and B-17s, although less so against B-29s.[1]

1945

Kozono was in command of

Atsugi Aerodrome during the latter part of the Second World War, and initially refused to surrender. They printed leaflets and dropped them over the Kanto area calling for the war to be continued "to the end". Finally, 33 pilots left the base, and Douglas MacArthur arrived there on August 30.[2][3] Weakened by malaria
, Kozono was one of 70 soldiers to be arrested by the Imperial Japanese Navy for continuing to fight. They were all court-martialed for disobeying orders.

Kozono was stripped of his rank and pension, and sentenced to

cerebral hemorrhage
in 1960.

In popular media

Yasuna Kozono was portrayed by Jun Tazaki in the 1967 film Japan's Longest Day.

References

  1. ^ Nakajima J1N Gekko (Moonlight) 'Irving' Retrieved August 11, 2016
  2. ^ NAF Atsugi - History Retrieved August 11, 2016
  3. ^ JMSDF Base Histories - Atsugi Retrieved August 11, 2016