Akio Matsuba
Akio Matsuba (松場 秋夫, Matsuba Akio) was an officer and ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific theater of World War II. Matsuba was officially credited with destroying a total of 18 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.
Akio Matsuba | |
|---|---|
 Matsuba in 1943 while flying with the Atsugi Air Group | |
| Born | 1914 Mie Prefecture, Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Service/ |  Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJN) |
| Years of service | 1935 – ? |
| Rank | Lieutenant Junior Grade |
| Battles/wars | Second Sino-Japanese War Pacific War |
Akio Matsuba was stationed aboard the fleet aircraft carrier Kaga on the very first day of combat operations in the Second Sino-Japanese War-Second World War at the Battle of Shanghai,[1] and flying an A2N in his very first combat mission in support of Japanese troop-landings in Shanghai on 16 August 1937, Matsuba would share in the shooting down of a Chinese Air Force Douglas O-2M, the first kill of many kills to come for him as the war eventually expanded into the Pacific War. He would claim six F6F Hellcats from Task Force 58 shot-down in two days of battles fought over Iwo Jima on 03 and 04 July 1944, half-a-year before the official Battle of Iwo Jima.[2][3]
References
- Einreinhofer, Bill. "Shanghai 1937 – Where World War II Began". Retrieved 2020-11-20.
When did World War II begin? Americans might say December 7, 1941… The day the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For Europeans, it was September 1, 1939… When Nazi Germany invaded Poland. But in China, people will tell you a different date. August 13, 1937.
- Gustavsson, Hakans. "Japanese biplane fighter aces - Akio Matsuba". Biplane Fighter Aces - Japan. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
Between 10 to 20 August, Kaga acted in support of the transportation of army units to China... aircraft on board the Kaga consisted of 22 carrier attack aircraft (Mitsubishi B2Ms), 14 carrier bombers (Aichi D1A1s) and 16 A2N fighters... on 16 August six A2Ns from Kaga commanded by Lt. Igarashi engaged four Chinese aircraft over Kiangwan, shooting down three... a Corsair and two Douglas O-38s (sic: O-2Ms). One of the Douglases jointly claimed by Matsuba and another pilot.
- "Japanese Aces of WWII". acesofww2.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
松葉 昭夫 - Akio Matsuba (JNAF) 18 Kills (2 in China)
- Hata, Ikuhiko; Yasuho Izawa (1989). Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II. Don Cyril Gorham (trans.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-315-6.