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Hiroyoshi Nishizawa
aka "Devil of Rabaul"
RANK:
Naval Air Pilot 1st Class
-Posthumous Rank of Lieutenant (jg)

BORN:
January 27, 1920 in the Nagano Prefecture of Japan

EDUCATION:
Higher Elementary School

COMBAT UNITS:
Chitose Kokutai, Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force
4th Kokutai, Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force
Tainan Kokutai, Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force
251st Kokutai, Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force
253rd Kokutai, Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force
203rd Kokutai, Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force

VICTORIES: 87+ Aerial Destroyed

ASSIGNED COMBAT AIRCRAFT:
Mitsubishi A5M4 Navy Type 96 Carrier Fighter
Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 Navy Type 0 (Zero) Carrier Fighter, F-108
Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 Navy Type 0 (Zero) Carrier Fighter, UI-105
Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 32 Navy Type 0 (Zero) "Hap/Hamp" Carrier Fighter
Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Navy Type 0 (Zero) "Zeke" Carrier Fighter

AWARDS:
- Unofficial Award of a Ceremonial Sword "Buko Batsugun"or "For Conspicuous Military Valor"
- Posthumous promotion to Lieutenant (junior grade)
- Posthumous Honorarium "Bukai-in Kohan Giko Kyoshi" or "In the ocean of the military, reflective of all distinguished pilots, an honored Buddhist person."

QUOTE: "Refuel my plane and load my guns..." - Hiroyoshi Nishizawa

REMARKS:
Hiroyoshi Nishizawa remains Japan's "Naval Ace of Aces". Known as the "Devil of Rabaul". Has been credited with well over 100 aerial victories by some sources and would then qualify as Japan's all-time "Ace of Aces". Formed part of the Tainan Ku's world famous "Ace Trio" along with Toshio Ohta and Saburo Sakai. Destroyed six Grumman F4F Wildcats over Guadalcanal on November 2, 1942. With the 203rd Ku, Nishizawa's flight of four Zeros escorted five other bomb-laden Zeros in the IJNAF's first official suicidal "Kamikaze" attack, destroying two of 20 intercepting Grumman F6F Hellcats on the mission of October 25, 1944 - The very next day of October 26th, Nishizawa was killed while a passenger on a Nakajima Ki.49 Donryu "Helen" Army Bomber transport aircraft that was shot down by intercepting Hellcats of VF-14 from the USS WASP. Funeral services for Nishizawa were delayed until December 2, 1947.

Compiled by Rocky Gooch

Hiroyoshi Nishizawa's Aircraft
{Nishizawa A6M3-22 Zero}
Nishizawa, Hiroyoshi
A6M3-22 Zero - 251st Kokutai, IJNAF
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