GUNFIGHTER OF THE RISING SUN

A Zero pilot’s own story

- RON WERNETH

Kaname Harada, who flew Zeros in WW II, didn’t like speaking about the War because it was a painful experience for him. e was haunted by the horrible memory of seeing his fellow navy Pilots die on Guadalcanal Island in October 1942, and he wanted see their remains recovered to bring closure to their families.

From December 7, 1941, through the Battle of Midway (June 4 to 7, 1942), Kaname Harada was a Zero pilot onboard the carrier Soryu. During that time, he scored several aerial victories in the Indian Ocean operations and Midway. His carrier, however, along with the Akagi, Kaga and Hiryu, was sunk during the disastrous Midway operation. The young naval aviator spent several hours in the ocean before being rescued by a destroyer. After this terrible loss for Japan, he was one of the surviving veteran airmen who vowed to get their revenge the next time they fought in combat with U.S. military forces.

In July 1942, Harada-san was transferred to the carrier Hiyo. During this period, Japan was focusing all of its resources to reclaim Guadalcanal Island. On October 17, Harada flew what would turn out to be his last combat mission.

The target of our mission was a group of American ships off Lunga Point. Our aircraft flew in two groups. First came eight

Junyo Type 97s (Kates), but there should have been nine. One Type 97 (flown by WO Tatsuyasu Otawa) returned to the carrier because of engine trouble. My group of nine Zero fighters from Hiyo was assigned to escort them and flew above the formation of Type 97 Kate; then came the second group of nine Hiyo Type 97s along with nineJunyo Type 0 carrier fighters.