Hyakurihara Naval Air Group Monument (Kushira)
Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture
A monument erected in 2005 at the former Kushira Air Base remembers 45 young
men from Hyakurihara Naval Air Group who died in kamikaze attacks during the
Battle of Okinawa. The three plaques on the monument give the names of the three
units (Kōka, Tokiwa Chūka, and Seiki) from Hyakurihara Air Base that carried out
suicide attacks after taking off from Kushira Air Base.
Hyakurihara Air Group members flew from Kushira in three-man Type 97 Carrier
Attack Bombers (Allied code name of Kate). The following listing shows the
number of men who died in Kamikaze Special Attack Corps squadrons from
Hyakurihara Air Group and the dates they took off from Kushira Air Base:
- 18 men - Tokiwa Chūka Squadron (April 12, 1945)
- 12 men - Kōka Squadron (April 16, 1945)
- 6 men - 1st Seiki Squadron (April 28, 1945)
- 6 men - 2nd Seiki Squadron (May 4, 1945)
- 3 men - 3rd Seiki Squadron (May 11, 1945)
The names of the 45 men who died along with their squadrons and dates or
death are engraved on a plaque to the left of
the main monument.
The nearest plaque to the right of the monument has the following words:
This place was the location where they took off. The 45 departed souls
became a cornerstone of peace for us. We dedicate this monument here praying
they may peacefully return riding the wind from the south.
April 2005
The other plaque to the right of the monument has inscribed the names of
donors.
The Hyakurihara Naval Air Group Monument stands in Kushira Peace Park near the
Kushira Naval Air Base War Dead Memorial Tower.
An annual memorial ceremony is held in front of the Hyakurihara Naval Air Group
Monument on October 15 just before the annual memorial ceremony for all men who
died in WWII after taking off from Kushira Air Base.
Annual memorial ceremony at
Hyakurihara Naval Air Group Monument in Kushira
(October 15, 2007)
The following last letters and diary entries were written by Kamikaze
Special Attack Corps members from the Hyakurihara Naval Air Group who died in
special attacks after making sorties from Kushira Air Base:
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