| Birth: | 1916, Japan | | Death: | Sep. 22, 2000, Japan | 
Military Figure. Saburo Sakai was Japan's most famous fighter pilot. Flying the feared Zero fighter plane, he scored about 64 kills, including one example of every US plane in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Despite suffering wounds which left him partially blinded, he returned to combat and racked up more successes. Sakai's ability to handle a warplane became legendary, but he was most proud of the fact that he never lost a wingman throughout his entire fighting career. He was sent on a kamikazi mission but forced to return (with his wingmen) due to impossible weather conditions. After the war he became a businessman and author, made provision for many of the relatives of his fallen comrades and formed friendships with many of western airmen that he'd previously seen only through a gunsight. He was a fearless critic of Japan's conduct of the Pacific War and visited the United States many times. During a dinner at an American airbase in Japan, he suffered a heart attack whilst leaning over a table to shake hands with a former enemy. (bio by: Sergeant Pepper)
Search Amazon for Saburo Sakai | | | Burial:
Sagami Memorial Park
Kanagawa
Kanagawa, Japan
Plot: Section C, row 25
Specifically: section C row 25 |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: Sergeant Pepper
Record added: Nov 09, 2001
Find A Grave Memorial# 5942824 |
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