19 Facts About Ayao Shirane

Ayao Shirane was a fighter ace in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

Ayao Shirane participated in various battles and campaigns throughout the Pacific War and was eventually shot down and killed over Leyte, Philippines on 24 November 1944.

Ayao Shirane was officially credited with destroying nine enemy aircraft.

Ayao Shirane enrolled in the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in April 1933, and graduated as part of the 64th class in March 1937.

Ayao Shirane completed the navy pilot training program and became a fighter pilot in March 1939.

Ayao Shirane was assigned to the 12th Air Group in Central China in September of that year, and on 19 August 1940 participated in the Bombing of Chongqing.

Ayao Shirane was promoted to full lieutenant in May 1941.

At the start of the Pacific War, Lieutenant Ayao Shirane was transferred to the carrier Akagi and participated in several early battles, including the Attack on Darwin and the Indian Ocean Raid.

Ayao Shirane was eventually appointed flight division leader of Akagi's fighter squadron.

Ayao Shirane's unit engaged the defending fighters of VMF-221, and then strafed the island, losing one plane in return.

Ayao Shirane returned safely to Akagi, and was sent back into the air at 09.32 to intercept Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers from USS Hornet's VT-8.

Ayao Shirane's division missed the main engagement, but shot down the last plane, flown by Ensign George Gay, just after it cleared Soryu.

Ayao Shirane went on to intercept the successive attacks of USS Enterprise's VT-6 and USS Yorktown's VT-3 and VF-3.

Ayao Shirane was launched as part of her Combat Air Patrol at 15.34, but was unable to prevent her own sinking at the hands of Enterprise and Yorktown dive bombers.

Ayao Shirane ditched his Zero at 19.00 and was rescued by the cruiser Nagara.

In July 1942, Lieutenant Ayao Shirane was transferred to the carrier Zuikaku and became its fighter squadron leader.

Ayao Shirane led nine A6M Zeros that escorted the second strike on the US carriers, consisting of 27 Aichi D3A dive bombers under the command of Lieutenant Sadamu Takahashi.

On 26 October 1942, Lieutenant Ayao Shirane participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

On 1 November 1943, Ayao Shirane was promoted to lieutenant commander and was transferred to the 341st Air Group, which operated the new Kawanishi N1K fighters.