Shiga Naval Air Group Monument
Ōtsu City, Shiga Prefecture
A small monument to honor Shiga Naval Air Group stands just outside the
entrance to Karasaki Station in Ōtsu City.
The black plate on the top of the monument gives the following brief
explanation of the historical significance of this location:
During World War II, there was a Naval Air Group at this location. About
10,000 young men received rigorous special training. They were assigned to
operational bases across the country as Special Attack Corps members. On
behalf of their beloved country, many men never returned.
This monument was erected by surviving Air Group members in this
memorable place in order to pass on to future generations our mourning for
those who went so young, the futility of war, and the preciousness of peace.
August 15, 1995
The back of the monument has a bronze plaque with a detailed history of Shiga
Naval Air Group:
June 12, 1944 - about 1,000 trainees of 13th Kō Class in Preparatory
Flight Training Program (Yokaren) transfer to Shiga from Mie Naval Air Group
Nara Detachment
July 1 - formation of Mie Naval Air Group Shiga Detachment
August 1 - about 2,000 trainees of 14th Kō Class of Yokaren transfer from
Nara Detachment
August 15 - formation of Shiga Naval Air Group
September 3 - first group of 13th Kō Class transfer to underwater special
attack corps
September 30 - about 400 trainees of Flight Reserve Students (Yobi Gakusei) 15th Class join
October 1 - about 3,000 trainees of 15th Kō Class of Yokaren join
October 3 - about 200 trainees of Flight Reserve Students (Yobi Seito [1]) 2nd Class join
March 26, 1945 - second group of 13th Class transfer to underwater special
attack corps; about 200 trainees of 14th class transfer to underwater
special attack corps
April 1 - about 1,000 trainees of 16th Kō Class of Yokaren join
April 24 - about 300 trainees of 14th class transfer to underwater special
attack corps
June 1 - Reserve Students (Yobi Gakusei) 15th Class transfer to Artillery School, Tateyama Branch
June 15 - group of 13th Class trainees transfer to Air Special Attack Ibuki
Unit
June 20 - group of Flight Reserve Students (Yobi Seito) 2nd Class transfer to Artillery
School, Tateyama Branch
June - group of 14th Class trainees transfer by way of Mie Air Group to
Nobeyama Shusui Special Attack Unit
August 15 - end of war
November 30 - dissolution of Shiga Naval Air Group
Shiga Naval Air Group Monument
in front of JR Karasaki Station
Note
1. There were two classes of Navy
Yobi Seito (translated as Reserve Students), one that entered in 1943 and one
in 1944. The only difference between Yobi Seito and Yobi Gakusei (also
translated as Reserve Students) is that the students in Yobi Seito cut their
studies short and never graduated even under the early university graduation
process instituted by the government in 1943. In contrast, those in Yobi Gakusei
did graduate.
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