Name Sadamu Komachi Died July 15, 2012 | Rank Warrant officer | |
Born 18 April 1920Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan ( 1920-04-18 ) Unit ShokakuOmura Air Group204th Air Group253rd Air GroupYokosuka Air Group Battles/wars World War II:Attack on Pearl HarborIndian Ocean raidBattle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Eastern SolomonsBattle of the Santa Cruz IslandsSolomon Islands CampaignOperation HailstoneBattle of the Philippine Sea Battles and wars | ||
Sadamu Komachi (小町 定, Komachi Sadamu, 18 April 1920 – 15 July 2012) was an ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Participating in many of the Pacific War battles and campaigns as a member of several units, Komachi was officially credited with destroying 18 enemy aircraft. He was badly burned during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, when his fighter was shot down near Guam by American carrier fighters. Nevertheless, Komachi survived the war.
Komachi participated in the last Air engagement of World War II 18 August 1945, when he attacked two B-32 Dominators on a photo-reconnaissance mission over Tokyo. One bomber received damage and suffered one crew fatality, but both aircraft returned to Yontan Airfield, Okinawa.
In 1992 Komachi attended a symposium at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida about the Battle of the Coral Sea, as a guest panelist.
Komachi died of natural causes on 15 July 2012. He was 92.