Mitsuo Fuchida
Japanese Naval officer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mitsuo Fuchida (淵田 美津雄, Fuchida Mitsuo, 3 December 1902 – 30 May 1976) was a Japanese captain[1] in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and a bomber observer in the Imperial Japanese Navy before and during World War II. He is perhaps best known for leading the first wave of air attacks on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Working under the overall fleet commander, Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo, Fuchida was responsible for the coordination of the entire aerial attack.
Mitsuo Fuchida 淵田 美津雄 | |
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Born | 3 December 1902 (1902-12-03) Katsuragi, Nara, Japan |
Died | 30 May 1976 (1976-05-31) (aged 73) Kashiwara, Osaka, Japan |
Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
Service/ | Imperial Japanese Navy |
Years of service | 1924–45 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 1st Air Fleet |
Commands held | Akagi: 1st (flag), 2nd and 3rd air squadrons |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Other work |
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After the war ended, Fuchida became a Christian convert and evangelist, traveling across the United States and Europe to tell his story. He later settled in the U.S. (although never taking American citizenship for himself).[2] Some of Fuchida's wartime claims have been challenged as self-serving by historians, including his claimed advocacy for a third wave attack on Pearl Harbor.