Lately noticed all those time limited events with top pilot aces as profile pictures. So why not some Japanese ones too? (does not have to be time limited so that people that join the game laiter still have chance to get the profile picture)
- Yes
- No
Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, famously known as ラバウルの魔王 (The Demon King of Rabaul) or 最強撃墜王 (The Strongest Ace), earned his reputation for his astonishing, masterful, unpredictable aerobatic maneuvers and exceptional control of his aircraft during combat. He was Imperial Japanese navy top ace with whopping 87 to 143 air victories with even the lowest numbers begin more than any allied ace of the second world war. Second only to Tetsuzo Iwamoto if we look at his claimed air victories of 202 written in his diary and then top german aces and maybe one Finnish ace again depends on source.
Life in detail:
Spoiler
- Hiroyoshi Nishizawa was born on January 27, 1920 (Taisho 9) in Minamiogawa Village, near Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture.
- Educated at Minamiogawa Elementary School’s senior high school.
- In 1936, he joined the Yokaren flying reserve corps and, in 1939, qualified as a combat pilot under Sergeant Muto Kaneyoshi (renowned ace from the Second Sino-Japanese War)
- On October 1, 1941, Nishizawa was assigned to the Chitose Naval Air Group, where he underwent intensive training in anticipation of war breaking out between Japan and the Allies.
- On the night of February 3, under poor visibility caused by a new moon, he intercepted a twin-engine flying boat using his A5M / Type 96 Carrier-Based Fighter and claimed his first kill. However, Royal Australian Air Force records indicate that the PBY Catalina flying boat, though heavily damaged, managed to return to base.
- On February 10, Nishizawa’s squadron was reassigned to the newly formed 4th Air Group. Where new Zeros were available, he was given an A6M2 with the tail code F-108.
- In the subsequent battles, he achieved seven solo and five shared air-victories, earning the status of a fighter ace. On April 1, 1942, Nishizawa was transferred to the Tainan Naval Air Force (Tainan Air Group), which had been newly formed by incorporating personnel and equipment from four fighter squadrons into the 25th Air Squadron.
-On May 1, 1942, during an attack on Port Moresby, he reported shooting down one fighter. On May 7, he claimed two additional fighter kills, and on May 27, another single fighter during another attack on Moresby. Nishizawa, alongside Saburo Sakai and Toshio Ota, became known as the “Three Musketeers of the Tainan Air Group” or the “Clean-up Trio.”
Hiroyoshi described by Sakai
- Sakai described his friend Nishizawa as “a tall man, over 180 cm, with a pale and gaunt appearance, often plagued by malaria and tropical skin diseases.” Nishizawa was skilled in judo. His squadron mates nicknamed him the “Devil” for his air skills, but regarded him as a reserved and taciturn loner. Reflecting on Nishizawa’s aerial abilities, Sakai, himself one of Japan’s top fighter aces, wrote: “Never have I seen a man with a fighter plane do what Nishizawa would do with his Zero. His aerobatics were all at once breathtaking, brilliant, totally unpredictable, impossible, and heart-stirring to witness.”
Famous story of the trio
-Suposedly in the night of 16 May 1942, Nishizawa, Sakai and Ōta were listening to an Australian radio broadcast. When Nishizawa noticed a french song “La danse macabre” (The dance of death) and got a crazy idea to preform air demonstration above enemy airfield. That is making their own dance of death.
– The next day, Lieutenant Commander Tadashi “Shosa” Nakajima led the Tainan Ku on a mission to Port Moresby, with Sakai and Nishizawa as his wingmen. As the Japanese formation regrouped for the return flight, Sakai signaled Nakajima that he was breaking off to pursue an enemy aircraft. Shortly after, Sakai was back over Port Moresby to rendezvous with Nishizawa and Ōta. Together, the trio performed three tight loops in close formation. Excited, Nishizawa signaled to repeat the maneuver. Diving to 1,800 meters, the three Zeros executed another set of loops without any anti-aircraft fire from the ground. They then returned to Lae, arriving 20 minutes later than the rest of the Kōkūtai.
— Laiter that day Lieutenant Junichi Sasai called them to his office. Saying he got a message from the Port Moresby - To the Lae Commander: “We were much impressed with those three pilots who visited us today, and we all liked the loops they flew over our field. It was quite an exhibition. We would appreciate it if the same pilots returned here once again, each wearing a green muffler around his neck. We’re sorry we could not give them better attention on their last trip, but we will see to it that the next time they will receive an all-out welcome from us.” – They were then prohibited from doing such things, but trio agreed it was worth it.
(though the story might not be 100% true)
- On August 7, 1942, Nishizawa took part in the attack on Guadalcanal, where he reported shooting down six enemy planes. During this battle, Sakai Saburo was famously wounded in the head but managed to return to base. Following this, Nishizawa assumed the role of senior non-commissioned officer. By October 21, 1942, his total confirmed kills had reached 30 aircraft.
- On November 1, 1942, the Tainan Air Group was renamed the 251st Naval Air Group. After suffering heavy losses, the group returned to Toyohashi to be rebuilt, with only about a dozen pilots surviving, including Nishizawa. On May 10, 1943, the group redeployed to Rabaul, where Nishizawa was tasked with training Lieutenant Takashi Oshibuchi in combat operations.
- The group began operations around Russell Island in June, but by the end of the month, Allied forces had landed on Rendova Island. The 251st Air Group became increasingly strained by continuous sorties from its bases in Rabaul and Buin. On August 1, during two air battles over Rendova Island, the group reported a combined shootdown of eight aircraft. Additionally, four aircraft led by Nishizawa engaged in combat with four F4U Corsairs, with Nishizawa claiming three kills and one subordinate reporting another. By the time he departed Rabaul, Harutoshi Okamoto reported that Nishizawa had achieved a total of 86 confirmed kills over all.
( Decal for Tainan Air Group & 251st Navy Air Squadron) - On September 1, 1943, Nishizawa was reassigned to the 253rd Air Group. Later that month, he received a letter of commendation from Commander-in-Chief of the Air Fleet, Ninichi Kusaka, in recognition of his 100th aerial victory. As part of the honor, he was also presented with a military sword (Shin Gunto) wrapped in noshi paper inscribed with the words “Outstanding military achievement.” In October, he returned to Japan.
- On November 1, 1943, Nishizawa was assigned to the Oita Air Base, where he served as a flight instructor. He was known for being strict with his students but refrained from boasting about his own combat achievements. Despite his dedication, Nishizawa disliked the role and was eager to return to active combat.
- On March 1, 1944, he was transferred to the 203rd Air Group. Later, on July 10, he joined the 303rd Fighter Squadron, tasked with defending the Northern Kuril Islands.
- In October 1944, he advanced to the Philippines taking part in Operation Sho-Go. On October 25, he provided direct cover for the Shikishima Unit of 5 A6M2s of the Kamikaze Special Attack Force led by Captain Seki Yukio , and confirmed the results of the attack of 3 hits with escort carrier St. Lo sunk. On October 26, he handed over his aircraft to the special attack force at Cebu Base, and traveled on a transport plane to Mabalacat Base to receive a new plane. On the way, the transport plane he was in was shot down by american Grumman F6F just as it reached the northern tip of Mindoro Island , and Nishizawa was killed in action as well as everyone on board. Lt. Newell claims that it was a Ki-49 heavy bomber , but Kono Mitsuaki of the 1021st Group says it was a G4M land-based attack plane made into a transport plane.
- Nishizawa was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade.
- His total air victories included 143, which was recorded in a letter to his family. In a newspaper report at the time of his death was written 150 air victories. While other sources claim around 100 and some 87.
Possible profile pictures:
More pictures :
Spoiler
Saburo Sakai on the left (which we already have few profile pictures in game) and Hiroyoshi on the right
In plane
In the air over solomon sea
Nishizawa (flying “UI-105”) and wingman on May 7, 1943.
Nishizawa (standing, first on left). in a group photo of the enlisted pilots of the Tainan Kokutai at Lae in June 1942
References and picture sources:
Spoiler
Hiroyoshi Nishizawa - Wikipedia
西沢広義 - Wikipedia
武田信行『最強撃墜王 零戦トップエース西澤廣義の生涯』光人社、2004年 ISBN 4-7698-1199-3。（文庫版）光人社NF文庫、2009年 ISBN 978-4-7698-1444-3
ヘンリー・サカイダ著、小林昇訳『日本海軍航空隊のエース』大日本絵画、1999年、ISBN 978-4499227124
角田和男『修羅の翼』、今日の話題社、1989年 ISBN 978-4875651345。（文庫版）光人社NF文庫、2008年 ISBN 978-4769825852
郡義武『坂井三郎『大空のサムライ』研究読本』、光人社、2009年
pic sources:
『海軍〝戦闘機屋〟奮戦す』に記す苦悩の零戦開発 元空技廠飛行機部・鈴木順二郎の記憶 - 産経ニュース
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/173036810652779182/
ラバウル戦闘機隊Ｔシャツ デザイン機解説 ③ 台南空 ④ ２空 2014/05/19 零戦Tシャツ販売の Osabetty’s
特攻队员の最后一餐，日军提神醒脑的“觉醒剂”，究竟是什么？_腾讯新闻
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/top-scoring-japanese-zero-ace-hiroyoshi-nishizawa-ijn--610448924513967073/
『比島戦跡旅行 神風特攻第１号・関大尉-4』
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnrkLOXMgf7L2ca3TJHoso1k02uPfTPGHTfrVKkJ1REq8eiaua
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuvY0V0JgfYtOZm85k3u--yqlGTk15XuQ3hZBwKVGxNsRCSZcX
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeJ5wK8TS66NXt5mzVuB3xHT4GrqSFSi4SyBWQykS8LJwYU5Zn
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJouD9pBnFwDI0iPC4R4cV0TBc83_kkP9BLdxVf-RgJUC1P-gQ
Decal for Tainan Air Group & 251st Navy Air Squadron (Decal) - HobbySearch Military Model Store
