Mitsubishi A6M2b 'Zero'
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PO2c Akira Yamamoto, Kaga Fighter Squadron
Took part in the first wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor under the command of Lt. Yoshio Shiga. His formation destroyed 21 aircraft at Hickam. Six of them were credited to PO2c Yamamoto, who had previously shot down a yellow-painted civilian Piper J-3 on a sightseeing flight. The two men on board were killed. Lt. Shiga lowered Yamamoto's rank one notch and called him an idiot bastard. During the Battle of Midway, he shot down five bombers. After Kaga was hit, Yamamoto landed aboard Hiryu and while escorting bomber claimed four fighters including F4F flown by "Jimmy" Thatch, commander of VF-3. In the fall of 1942 he served on the carrier Zuiho and was promoted to Warrant Officer. In May1944, he was transferred to the Yokosuka Kokutai and participated in the defense of Iwo Jima. He was killed in the defense of Japan on November 24, 1944. After his aircraft was hit by a B-29 gunner, Yamamoto bailed out, but his parachute did not open. Achieved total of 13 aerial victories.
