My new character is named Hiroyoshi "Devil of Rabaul" Nishizawa. He was a Japanese Ace pilot of World War 2. he fought for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Many people think that Hiroyoshi Nishizawa was the most successful Japanese pilot around in World War 2. He had 87 victories recorded by the time of his death, but many of his fellow pilots and friends said that he over 100 victories! Although, many pilots at the time dramatically exaggerated over their kills and victories, but many other sources think that Hiroyoshi Nishizawa had not been given enough credit and glory than other pilots that were less skilled than him. Hiroyoshi Nishizawa was born in a mountain village in the Nagano Prefecture, the fifth son of Mikiji and Miyoshi Nishizawa. His father was the manager of a sake or rice wine brewery. Hiroyoshi graduated from higher elementary school and then began to work in a textile factory. In June 1936, a poster caught his eye, an appeal for volunteers to join the Yokaren (flight reserve enlistee training program). Hiroyoshi applied and qualified as a student pilot in Class Otsu No. 7 of the Japanese Navy Air Force (JNAF). He completed his flight training course in March 1939, graduating 16th out of a class of 71. Before the war, he served with the Oita, Omura and Sakura Kokutai (air group). In October 1941, he was transferred to the Chitose Kokutai, with the rank of petty officer 1st class.
After the outbreak of war with the Allies, Nishizawa's squadron (chutai) from the Chitose group, then flying the obsolete Mitsubishi A5M, moved to Vunakanu airfield on the newly taken island of New Britain. The squadron received its first Mitsubishi Zeros (A6M2, Model 21) the same week.
On February 3, Nishizawa, still flying an obsolete A5M, claimed his first aerial kill of the war, a PBY Catalina, historians have confirmed, however, that the plane was only damaged and managed to return to base. On February 10, Nishizawa's squadron was transferred to the newly formed 4th Air Group. As new Zeros became available, Nishizawa was assigned an A6M2 bearing the tail code F-108.
On April 1 Nishizawa's squadron was transferred to Lae, New Guinea and assigned to the Tainan Kokutai (Air Group). There he flew with aces Saburo Sakai and Toshio Ohta in a chutai (squadron) led by Junichi Sasai. Sakai described his friend Nishizawa as about 5-foot-8, 140 lb (64 kg). in weight, pale and gaunt, suffering constantly from malaria and tropical skin diseases. Accomplished at judo, his squadron mates, who nicknamed him the "Devil," considered him a reserved, taciturn loner. Of his performance in the air, Sakai, himself one of Japan's leading aerial aces, wrote, "Never have I seen a man with a fighter plane do what Nishizawa would do with his Zero. His aerobatics were all at once breathtaking, brilliant, totally unpredictable, impossible, and heart-stirring to witness."
In mid-November the 21st was recalled to Toyohashi air base in Japan to replace its losses, with the ten surviving pilots all being made instructors, including Nishizawa. Nishizawa is believed to have had around forty full or partial aerial victories by this time (some sources claim 54).
Nishizawa, while staying in Japan, visited Saburo Sakai, who was still recuperating in the Yokosuka hospital. Nishizawa complained to Sakai of his new duty as an instructor: "Saburo, can you picture me running around in a rickety old biplane, teaching some fool youngster how to bank and turn, and how to keep his pants dry?" Nishizawa also described the loss of most of their comrade pilots to the ever increasing material advantage of the allied forces, the improved U.S. aircraft and tactics. "It's not as you remember, Saburo," he said. "There was nothing I could do. There were just too many enemy planes, just too many." Even so, Nishizawa could not wait to return to combat. "I want a fighter under my hands again," he said. "I simply have to get back into action. Staying home in Japan is killing me."
Nishizawa publicly chafed at the months of inaction in Japan. He and the 251st returned to Rabaul in May 1943. In June 1943 Nishizawa's achievements were honored by a gift from the commander of the 11th Air Fleet, Vice Admiral Jin'ichi Kusaka. Nishizawa received a military sword inscribed Buko Batsugun ("For Conspicuous Military Valor"). He was then transferred to the 253rd Air Group on New Britain in September. In November he was promoted to warrant officer and re-assigned to training duties in Japan with the Oita Air Group. In February 1944 he joined the 203rd Air Group operating from the Kurile Islands, away from heavy action.
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After the outbreak of war with the Allies, Nishizawa's squadron (chutai) from the Chitose group, then flying the obsolete Mitsubishi A5M, moved to Vunakanu airfield on the newly taken island of New Britain. The squadron received its first Mitsubishi Zeros (A6M2, Model 21) the same week.
On February 3, Nishizawa, still flying an obsolete A5M, claimed his first aerial kill of the war, a PBY Catalina, historians have confirmed, however, that the plane was only damaged and managed to return to base. On February 10, Nishizawa's squadron was transferred to the newly formed 4th Air Group. As new Zeros became available, Nishizawa was assigned an A6M2 bearing the tail code F-108.
On April 1 Nishizawa's squadron was transferred to Lae, New Guinea and assigned to the Tainan Kokutai (Air Group). There he flew with aces Saburo Sakai and Toshio Ohta in a chutai (squadron) led by Junichi Sasai. Sakai described his friend Nishizawa as about 5-foot-8, 140 lb (64 kg). in weight, pale and gaunt, suffering constantly from malaria and tropical skin diseases. Accomplished at judo, his squadron mates, who nicknamed him the "Devil," considered him a reserved, taciturn loner. Of his performance in the air, Sakai, himself one of Japan's leading aerial aces, wrote, "Never have I seen a man with a fighter plane do what Nishizawa would do with his Zero. His aerobatics were all at once breathtaking, brilliant, totally unpredictable, impossible, and heart-stirring to witness."
In mid-November the 21st was recalled to Toyohashi air base in Japan to replace its losses, with the ten surviving pilots all being made instructors, including Nishizawa. Nishizawa is believed to have had around forty full or partial aerial victories by this time (some sources claim 54).
Nishizawa, while staying in Japan, visited Saburo Sakai, who was still recuperating in the Yokosuka hospital. Nishizawa complained to Sakai of his new duty as an instructor: "Saburo, can you picture me running around in a rickety old biplane, teaching some fool youngster how to bank and turn, and how to keep his pants dry?" Nishizawa also described the loss of most of their comrade pilots to the ever increasing material advantage of the allied forces, the improved U.S. aircraft and tactics. "It's not as you remember, Saburo," he said. "There was nothing I could do. There were just too many enemy planes, just too many." Even so, Nishizawa could not wait to return to combat. "I want a fighter under my hands again," he said. "I simply have to get back into action. Staying home in Japan is killing me."
Nishizawa publicly chafed at the months of inaction in Japan. He and the 251st returned to Rabaul in May 1943. In June 1943 Nishizawa's achievements were honored by a gift from the commander of the 11th Air Fleet, Vice Admiral Jin'ichi Kusaka. Nishizawa received a military sword inscribed Buko Batsugun ("For Conspicuous Military Valor"). He was then transferred to the 253rd Air Group on New Britain in September. In November he was promoted to warrant officer and re-assigned to training duties in Japan with the Oita Air Group. In February 1944 he joined the 203rd Air Group operating from the Kurile Islands, away from heavy action.
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