When World War 2 came to its dramatic end, Saburō Sakai was a bona fide legend; the descendant of a samurai family had become arguably the best Japanese pilot in the war with over 60 successful hits under his belt.
However, the man didn’t feel like a victor; the US had dropped two atomic bombs on top of his homeland, and all his sacrifices, including getting shot in the head during a dogfight and losing an eye, seemed to have been in vain.
Two days after the cease-fire, an urgent report came into what remained of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service: a group of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses like the ones that had dropped the atomic bombs had pierced the Japanese airspace.
The mere possibility of having another Japanese city obliterated by the unspeakable American weapon made Sakai’s blood boil, and he and a group of pilots did the unthinkable; they took to the skies in one last suicide mission that defied every international accord.
Surprisingly, Sakai chose a Zero to face the Americans. The aircraft was practically obsolete by then, but he wouldn’t have it any other way: (QUOTE): “The Pacific War was started by the Zero. […] and I would want to let the Zero place its name in history as having fought that last battle!”
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This Japanese pilot was definitely a WAR THUNDER PLAYER LOL
Tell me why you are using phrases like honor to describe people who plunged all of Asia into a world war, kidnapping women as sex slaves, torturing and killing prisoners of war, beheading Prisoners and civilians with swords and supporting NAZI Germany.
It is well past time to start treating these human monsters and their hideous cause as the trash they were.
This is as gross as glorifying NAZIS. Even when peace came this psycho was still killing.
Even defeated enemies have combatants who possess supreme skill and courage. Sakai stands at the pinnacle of such warriors.
Actually, as Saburo Sakai writes in his book "Samurai", he did not intentionally fly upside down – instead, he lost his consciousness and then regained it, realizing that he was flying upside down, i.e., the flip happened while he was unconscious.
No, sympathy is not wanted. What you are supposed to learn is a lesson to not waste money and efforts on frivolous things.
A SPECIAL SALUTE 🫡 TO SAMOURI FAMILIES … ACTUALLY … THE JAPANESE IN THEIR ARMY NAVY AIRFORCE TRAINING ARE VERY RIGID & THEY TAKE IT AS A SERIOUS MATTER OF HONOR 🎖 INDIVIDUAL HONOR 🎖 FAMILY HONOR 🎖 TRIBAL OR CLAN HONOR 🎖 … A MATTER THAT TOUCHES LIFE & DEATH … EXTREMELY SENSETIVE … THAT'S WHY THEY CAN'T ACCEPT FAILURE OR DEFEAT … AT THE END OF THE DAY … IT IS HONOR 🎖 & PRIDE 😤 … THEIR CULTURE IS BUILT ON THOSE BELIEVES … THEIR LIVES ARE STRUCTURED TO ACCEPT HONOR 🎖 AS THEIR GUIDANCE … & FINAL OBJECTIVE … ANYWAY THE WORLD 🌎 IS CHANGING FAST … & THE JAPANESE OF SECOND WORLD WAR TWO ARE FOR SURE DIFFERENT FROM THE JAPANESE PEOPLE OF TODAY BY FAR … AS WE SEE 👀 THIS FACT ALL OVER THE WORLD 🌎 OF TODAY COMPARED TO SECOND WORLD WAR TWO … HEROES ARE BORN IN EVERY CULTURE … FROM TIME ⏲️ TO TIME ⏲️ …
Nope, cant really feel anything for the Japanese of that time. Presently not too happy about how they dont teach about their responsibilities for the Pacific war.
No mention of many atrocities committed, how THEY started the war. Samurai bull. Tired of hearing about honor, from barbarians. Throwing babies on bayonets,,yeah,..real honor.
Robot reading the titles – aghh!. Can't stand any more of this
The Japanese should have court marshaled Sakai for defying and dishonoring the Emperor's orders.
I would love to see dark skies cover the story of the Boeing X-32.
He flew upside-down to prevent losing consciousness? I'm speechless…
An authoritarian Japan started this. Now we are living with the same aggressiveness of authoritarian countries like Russia and China.
The version I've heard was that a B32 was going to fly a mission to test Japanese fidelity to the Emperors surrender announcement. Some Navy pilots of the 343rd weren't along with the flight before any surrender was final and met at an Army airbase and took those aircraft, probably to hide their identity . . . Sakai in a Ki 44. Their might've been army pilots along as well. They attacked the last recon flight of the war and the rear gunner was the last casualty. I don't remember the account being in his book but in some magazine with an article about the Ki 44. If true this account said he had no oxygen and could only climb to a range to shoot unguided missiles up towards the target before peeling off so if the account were accurate someone else hit the gunner.. The B32's mission and purpose was pre-announced.
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There are reported witnesses that claim he was seen . . . heresay . . . . The attack did happen and was probably one reason we destroyed all their aircraft. Talk of officers not wanting to stand trial for war crimes was another for insurgency was still a definite concern.
Kudos for thr video
SBD Dauntless attacking Sakai??? Now that's a story I want to know more about! Clearly the SBD's pilot was assigned to the wrong aircraft. And it's not the first time I've read about SBD's mixing it up with Zero's.
What a f-ing stud. He can drink from my canteen any day!
For people who claim to be heroic so many were cowards, to fire at unarmed defenseless people is cowardice in the extreme!
I have no malice for soldiers in war as we only do what we are ordered to do but to do what is right against orders is the bravest thing for a soldier to do.
They were disgusting people
Sakai is one seriously lucky man. There's definitely skill there, luck trumped his legendary skills.
Bro if this homie is an ace then I’m a god. At least that’s what warthunder says
Why is the thumbs-up symbol labelled as "unlike"?
0:23 he never lost an eye😂, he had it repaired, This is why I don’t like documentaries by people who don’t know what they’re talking about😂
The title of this video should be "A Biography of Saburō Sakai".
Holy mf. He was such a hardcore dude. Especially making it back home okay after his headshot incident.