Saburo sakai and his coauthor martin caidin paint a vivid and enthralling picture of the japanese side of world war ii. Sakai had 28 aerial victories including shared by official japanese records, while his autobiography samurai. Winged samurai is one of my favorite books in my small but growing library of all things jnaf. Jun 15, 2010 saburo sakai is japans greatest fighter pilot to survive world war ii, and his powerful memoir has proven to be one of the most popular and enduring books ever written on the pacific war. I read this story long time ago and it still brings tears to my eyes reading it again. He may have been a great pilot and a masterful shooter, but his cause was vile.
In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your. Saburo sakais 500 mile trek back to rabual from guadacanal in his crippled zero is a testimony to the man and to the nature of war. Of these four aircraft, only two are known by serial number. He was the 4th best japanese pilot by number of enemy aircraft he shot down. Saburo sakai was born on 25 august 1916, in saga, japan. When was began he shot down the first b17 to be lost in the pacific theatre. Pacific wrecks dogfight between saburo sakai and james. The book is an oversized paperback, roughly 11 x 8, and has a wonderful painting on the cover of sakai and his zero rocketing upwards after he was horribly wounded attacking a dauntless formation over tulagi in august of 1942. Sakai, born in 1916, hoped to escape the poverty of life in his rural village by enlisting in the imperial japanese navy at age 16. Japans modern military replaced the feudal samurai class. Half blind japanese pilot flies his damaged zero for 5. It was part of the bantam war books series of the 50s and 60s. After having fought government censorship for more than three decades, ienaga triumphed in a highprofile court case in 1997 when the. Military history ibooks new ed by saburo sakai isbn.
Sublieutenant saburo sakai was a japanese naval aviator and flying ace of the imperial japanese navy during world war ii and was the highest surviving ace of the ijn. One feels both the deep dedication of sakai to the samurai spirit and to his sense of duty, as well as his keen awareness of the folly of the war. Half blind this japanese pilot managed to fly his damaged. Saburo sakai simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Saburo sakai archive luftwaffe and allied air forces discussion. According to sakaida, sakai san has flown a6m2 model 21s carrying tainan ku tail codes as follows. Interview with saburo sakai project news read only. Only if all warriors had the heart and honor of mr.
A 1976 movie, ozora no samurai is also an adaptation of sakais story. Saburo sakai was the imperial japanese navys fourth highest ranking ace. Written by martin caidin from saburo sakai s own memoirs and journalist fred saitos extensive interviews with the fighter pilot, samauir. Saburo sakai began by telling us why he decided to serve in the navy. Legendary zero pilot saburo sakai was japans most recognized ace, but few knew the man behind the legend saburo sakai is probably japans on august 7, 1942, badly wounded japanese ace saburo sakai disengages from his american adversaries and embarks on an epic 640mile flight back to his base at rabaul, new britain. Saburo sakai samurai poster by basilbarfly redbubble. Aug 27, 20 i read this story long time ago and it still brings tears to my eyes reading it again. Written by martin caidin from saburo sakais own memoirs and journalist fred saitos extensive interviews with the fighter pilot, samauir. It describes the life and career of saburo sakai, the japanese combat aviator who fought against american fighter pilots in the pacific theater of world war ii, surviving the war with 64 kills as one of japans leading flying aces. First off, let me say that this is one of the grand combat memoirs of world war iibut you knew that, right. Saburo sakai was born in saga, on the island of kyushu, in 1916 to a family that had turned to farming as changing economic and social conditions led to the passing of the warrior class. In this video sakai talks with maeda akira, a famous japanese pro wrestler. Saburo sakai is japans greatest fighter pilot to survive world war ii, and his powerful memoir has proven to be one of the most popular and enduring books ever written on the pacific war.
The circumstances in which he found himself at age sixteen are made perfectly clear in his autobiography, but the true underlying reason for his choice wasnt so simple. He obeyed, but his samurai blood found it humiliating. His total of 64 victories puts him in fourth place after warrant officer hiroyoshi nishizawa, 1 victories, lt. Military history ibooks new ed by sakai, saburo isbn.
One thing that makes this book fun is that if you have a lot of romantic illusions about japan or the samurai class this book will cure them. Also saburo sakai kusen kiroku saburo sakais combat records. Saburo sakai is one of those larger than life figures of wwii. Aug 20, 2012 piloting a mitsubishi a6m zero was hairraising enough, with its notorious lack of armor and selfsealing fuel tanks, but flying one while bleeding to death, down one eye, and fading in and out of consciousness is the kind of experience saburo sakai, legendary japanese fighter ace, places the reader in through his autobiography and memoir, samurai. Four different a6m2 zeros are alleged to have been flown by saburo sakai and documented by henry sakaida in his biography of sakai, winged samurai.
Its the japanese version of the first and last and the reader follows sakais career from the early days of japanese victory to the wars conclusion. Its the japanese version of the first and last and the reader follows sakai s career from the early days of japanese victory to the wars conclusion. Infantry manual was adopted in 1909, the army education. Over the course of three hours, he and i discussed a number of topics, almost all related to his exploits in the war, but to some broader issues as well. Saburo sakai the merciful realistic battle discussion war. Samurai by saburo sakai martin caidin fred saito abebooks.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Winged samurai where is quoted that the list has been taken from sakais. In this japanese name, the family name is sakai saburo sakai japanese. Sakai, by contrast, was flying and fighting on behalf of the evil unleashed by japanese militarism in the 1930s. Kinoshita naoe, sakai toshihiko, and other socialists pub. Autobiography of japans fighter ace saburo sakai pages 160162. Sakais own autobiography was published in japanese language only. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. Curiosity got to me and by luck i found an original edition in a local bookstore powells city of books. Saburo sakai, the pilot i admire the most, signed my book. Saburo sakai was born august 16th 1916 in the farming village of nishiyoka in the saga prefecture on kyushu island, japan.
Current edition of sakais autobiography, the acclaimed book by saburo sakai and martin caidin. He had, by his accounting 3,700 hours flying time, with at least 1,500 hours of that in zeros. He came from a family descended from a long line of samurai, japans ancient warrior class. Hardcover edition, out of print, available from re. Caidin wrote the prose of the book, basing its contents on. Two zeros were shot down in the battle, and the b32 was seriously damaged. Saburo sakai archive luftwaffe and allied air forces. Interview with saburo sakai project news read only war. Archive saburo sakai japanese and allied air forces in the far east. The unforgettable saga of japans greatest fighter pilot by saburo sakai, martin caidin, fred saito and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Saburo sakai s 500 mile trek back to rabual from guadacanal in his crippled zero is a testimony to the man and to the nature of war.
Samurai saburo sakai pdf saburo sakai with martin caidin fred saito. Oozora no samurai samurai in the sky, which is much longer and more detailed. Wwiis elite airmen and the epic battle to become the master of the sky john r bruning. Remember that existence defines your consciousness. Tetsuzo iwamoto, 80, and petty officer 1st class shoichi sugita, 70. The book is an oversized paperback, roughly 11 x 8, and has a wonderful painting on the cover of sakai and his zero rocketing upwards after he was horribly wounded attacking a. Posted from berlin, december 10, 2010 links to the books and authors. Dogfight between saburo sakai and james southerland august 7, 1942 excert from samurai. With japan clearly losing the air war, he prevailed upon his superiors to let him fly in combat again. Btw, saburo flew with the real 343 kokutai of the ijn in ww2. A pretty interesting read if you enjoy history from that era. Japanese a6mx zerosen ace saburo sakai warlord games ltd. Piloting a mitsubishi a6m zero was hairraising enough, with its notorious lack of armor and selfsealing fuel tanks, but flying one while bleeding to death, down one eye, and fading in and out of consciousness is the kind of experience saburo sakai, legendary japanese fighter ace, places the reader in through his autobiography and memoir, samurai.
Saburo ienagas career spans the periods of japan on the. Aviation art poster samurai saburo sakai saburo sakaithe battle of guadalcanal sublieutenant saburo sakai sakai saburo. First published in english in 1957, it gave a new perspective on the air war and on the japanese pilots who, until then, had been perceived in the united. During a mission over guadalcanal sakai was badly injured but still limped his damage plane home and reported to. Through most of his flying career he flew the famous mitsubishi zero in its various models. Lt saburo sakai served as a combat pilot with the japanese armed forces from 1934 to 1945 becoming the leading aviation ace in the pacific during. On sunday, august 11th 1998, i had the unique pleasure of being invited to the tokyo home of mr. Join facebook to connect with saburo sakai and others you may know.
Warrant officer saburo sakai is the most famous japanese pilot and was one of the few high scorers to survive the war. Robert taylor rising sun saburo sakai sig legend of colin kelly 2 print set. He survived the war, and became a famous figure for his criticism of. Written by martin caidin from saburo sakais own memoirs and journalist fred saitos extensive interviews with the world war ii fighter pilot, samurai. Oct 08, 2000 saburo sakai was born in saga, on the island of kyushu, in 1916 to a family that had turned to farming as changing economic and social conditions led to the passing of the warrior class. The wildcat was clinging grimly to the tail of a zero, its tracers chewing up the wings and tail. According to japanese naval fighter aces by hata, izawa and shores, official records show that sakai had claimed 28 victories by the time he was wounded in action on 7 august. In november 1943, sakai was promoted to the rank of flying warrant officer. Unfollow saburo sakai to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Aug 26, 2016 saburo sakai began by telling us why he decided to serve in the navy.
Saburo sakai the merciful realistic battle discussion. In the case of saburo sakai the most common number given is 64 but nearly all sources agree that this number was basically invented by martin caidin when he wrote samurai. Samurai is another book you wont be able to put down. See more ideas about imperial japanese navy, wwii and world war two. They finally discharged sakai in january 1943 and ordered him to spend the rest of the year training pilots. Taught to live by the code of bushido hagakure the code of the samurai, which meant serving the lords of saga and living your. The greatest air battles of the pacific war from the japanese side. Not related to this interview, but he wrote a book entitled samurai.
The author martin caidin, author of saburo sakais autobiography entitled samurai. Sublieutenant saburo sakai was a japanese naval aviator and flying ace gekitsuio, of the imperial japanese navy during world war ii. Saburo sakai was a japanese naval aviator and fighter ace of the imperial japanese navy during world war ii. Editions for samurai 055324664x mass market paperback published in 1985, kindle edition published in 2018, 1591147557 hardcover published in 2010.
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