Japanese Eye Witness Account

Captain Mitsuo Fuschida

Capt. Mitsuo Fuschida, Imperial Japanese Navy, pilot

Fuchida was the first pilot to fly over Pearl Harbor when the attack of 7 December occurred – here he describes his view of the Battle of Midway from the deck of the IJN Akagi;

“The first enemy [U.S.] carrier planes to attack were 15 torpedo bombers.  When first spotted by our screening ships and combat air patrol, they were still not visible from the carriers, but they soon appeared as tiny dark specks in the blue sky, a little above the horizon, on Akagi’s starboard bow.  The distant wings flashed in the sun.  Occasionally one of the specks burst into a spark of flame and trailed black smoke as it fell into the water.  Our fighters were on the job and the enemy again seemed to be without fighter protection.

IJN Akagi

“Presently a report came in from a Zero group leader: ‘All 15 enemy torpedo bombers shot down.’  Nearly 50 Zeros had gone to intercept the unprotected enemy formation!  Small wonder that it did not get through.  Again at 0930 a lookout atop the bridge yelled: ‘Enemy torpedo bombers, 30 degrees to starboard, coming low!’ This was followed by another cry: ‘Enemy torpedo planes approaching 40 degrees to port!’

“The raiders closed in from both sides, barely skimming over the water.  Flying in single columns, they were within 5 miles and seemed to be aiming straight for Akagi.  I watched in breathless suspense, thinking how impossible it would be to dodge all their torpedoes.  But these raiders too, without protective escorts, were already being engaged by our fighters.  On Akagi’s flight deck all attention was fixed on the dramatic scene unfolding before us.

Mitsuo Fuchida

“Of the 14 enemy torpedo bombers which came in from starboard, half were shot down and only 5 remained of the original 12 planes to port.  The survivors kept charging in as Akagi opened fire with antiaircraft machine-guns.  We watched for the splash of torpedoes, but most to our surprise, no drops were made.  At the last moment, the planes appeared to forsake Akagi and made for the Hiryu.

“Seven enemy planes finally succeeded in launching their torpedoes at Hiryu.  Our Zeroes tenaciously pursued the retiring attackers as far as they could.  Hiryu turned sharply to evade the torpedoes and we watched anxiously to see if any would find their mark.  A deep-sigh of relief went up when no explosion occurred.

“Preparations for a counter-attack had continued on board our 4 carriers.  One after another, planes were hoisted from the hangar and quickly arranged on the flight deck.  There was no time to lose.  At 1020, Admiral Nagumo gave the order to launch when ready.  Five Minutes!  Who would have dreamed that the tide of battle would shift completely?  Visibility was good. Clouds were gathering at about 3,000 meters.  At 1024 the order to start launching came from the bridge by voice-tube.  The Air Officer flapped a white flag and the first Zero gathered speed and whizzed off the deck.

Mr. Fuchida in 1959

“At that instant a lookout screamed: ‘Hell Divers!’  Some of our machine-guns managed to fire a few frantic bursts at them, but it was too late.  The plump silhouettes of the American Dauntless’ quickly grew larger… Bombs!  Down they came straight toward me!  I fell intuitively to the deck and crawled behind a command post mantelet. [mattresses].

“The terrifying scream of the dive-bombers reached me first, followed by the crashing explosion of a direct hit.  There was a blinding flash and then a second explosion, much louder than the first.  I was shaken by a weird blast of warm air.  Then followed a startling quiet as the barking of guns suddenly ceased.  I got up and looked at the sky.  The enemy planes were already gone from sight.

 “It may be said that the American dive-bombers ‘ success was made possible by the earlier martyrdom of their torpedo planes.  We had been caught flatfooted in the most vulnerable condition possible – decks loaded with planes armed and fueled for attack.

“Looking about, I was horrified at the destruction that had been wrought in a matter of seconds.  There was a huge hole in the flight deck just behind the amidship elevator.  The elevator itself, twisted like molten glass, was drooping into the hangar.  Deck plates reeled upward in grotesque configurations.  Planes stood tail up, belching livid flame and jet-black smoke.  Reluctant tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched the fires spread, and I was terrified at the prospect of induced explosions which would surely doom the ship.”

Captain Mitsuo Fuchida survived WWII and returned home where he became an author.  At the age of 73, he passed away on 30 May 1976.

Click on images to enlarge.

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Japanese propaganda posters of WWII…

FDR using his own troops to flex his muscle and boost his reputation.

FDR using Australian forces as human shields

Leaping Patriotic Autumn poster

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Farewell Salutes – 

Eugene Barley – Veneta, OR; US Navy, WWII, PTO

Arnaud deBorchgrave – brn: Belgium; Washington DC; British Merchant Marine, WWII, war correspondent

Arthur Evans – Australia; RA Air Force, WWII, Signals

Thomas Howard – Peoria, AZ; US Navy, WWII, USS Massachusetts

Raymond Ireland – Hawera, NZ; WWII, # 249252, SGLMN, 3rd Div.

Herbert Leonberger – Haverton, PA; US Coast Guard, WWII

Lee Miner – Burlington, VT; Merchant Marine, WWII

Jack Piner, Westbury, NY; US Army, Lt., WWII

Evelyn Stein – Fairbanks, AK; USMC, Woman’s Marines, WWII, Cpl.

Clark Terry – St. Louis, MI; US Navy, WWII, (famed jazz musician)

James Young – Tequesta, FL; US Navy, WWII, minesweeper YMS160

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Our fellow blogger at Cool San Diego Sights has offered the readers here to take photos of any plaques you wish when he visits the Mt. Soledad Memorial.  Please visit his comment below for details.

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