13 Facts About Shigekazu Shimazaki

Shigekazu Shimazaki was a Japanese career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II.

Shigekazu Shimazaki served his midshipman duty on the cruisers Iwate and Haguro, after which, as a second lieutenant, transferred to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, enrolling in flight training in 1932.

Shigekazu Shimazaki returned to combat duty on the carrier Akagi from November 1939-November 1940, when he was promoted to lieutenant commander.

In September 1941, Shigekazu Shimazaki was assigned as equipping officer of the new carrier Zuikaku, responsible for forming its new air wing, with himself becoming its commander when the ship was ready for duty.

Shigekazu Shimazaki is best known as the leader of the second wave of the air attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

Shigekazu Shimazaki was piloting a Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" and led the attack group of 54 high-level bombers and 78 dive bombers.

Four months later, Shigekazu Shimazaki was again on board Zuikaku and participated in the raid on Trinkomalee on 9 April 1942, during which he led 18 "Kates" and bombed the ground facilities of the port city of the British-ruled Ceylon.

Shigekazu Shimazaki complied, while Takahashi attacked with his dive bombers, sinking Sims and heavily damaging Neosho.

Shigekazu Shimazaki's group took particularly heavy losses - five planes lost out of nine - but he survived to return to Zuikaku.

In July 1942, Shigekazu Shimazaki was transferred to Kure Naval District.

Shigekazu Shimazaki spent the rest of his career as a ground-based air officer.

Shigekazu Shimazaki was killed in action in January 1945, near Taiwan, as a staff officer of the IJN 3rd Air Fleet.

Shigekazu Shimazaki was posthumously promoted two ranks to rear admiral.