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Masatake Okumiya
Born (1909-07-27)July 27, 1909
Died February 22, 2007(2007-02-22) (aged 97)
Allegiance Japan Japan
Service/branch  Imperial Japanese Navy
JapanJapan Air Self-Defense Force
Rank Lieutenant General
Battles/wars World War II
Other work Historian

Masatake Okumiya (奥宮 正武 Okumiya Masatake?, July 27, 1909 – February 22, 2007[1][2]) was an historian and lieutenant general in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Okumiya graduated from the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and served as a naval aviator in the Imperial Japanese Navy. In 1937, he participated in the attack on the USS Panay.[3] Okumiya served throughout World War II, including on the aircraft carrier Ryūjō and with the 2nd Air Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, finishing the war as a Commander. At the end of the war, Okumiya was interrogated by Allied intelligence officers.[4]

Following the occupation of Japan, he continued serving in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Okumiya wrote extensively on Japan's role in World War II. He co-wrote with Mitsuo Fuchida Midway: The Battle that Doomed Japan; the Japanese Navy's Story, published 1955. He also co-wrote, with Jiro Horikoshi and Martin Caidin, an historical account of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, titled Zero! The book was published in 1956.

References[]

  1. Obituary #1 (Japanese)
  2. Obituary #2 (Japanese)
  3. Peter B. Mersky. From the Flight Deck: An Anthology of the Best Writing on Carrier Warfare. Brassey's, 2003. ISBN 1-57488-433-6. Page 94
  4. Transcripts of Okumiya interrogation documents. World War II Database
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