Kamikaze
   Images


Only search Kamikaze Images

 

 
Last Letter of Sergeant Jūji Uchimura

On April 1, 1945, Sergeant Jūji [1] Uchimura took off from Nyūtabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture and died in a special (suicide) attack west of Okinawa at the age of 21. He was a member of the Makoto 39th Hikōtai (Flying Squadron). He piloted an Army Hayabusa Type 1 Fighter (Allied code name of Oscar). After his death in a special attack, he received a promotion to Second Lieutenant. He was from Kagoshima Prefecture and was a member of the 10th Class of the Army's Youth Pilot (Shōhi) Program.

He wrote the following short final letter:

Without any free time, I will go without seeing you.

Everyone, please enjoy good health.

I also am doing a great deal, so I requested those here to deal with my bags.

Jūji

Sure hit, sure sinking

Special Attack Corps Sōryū Squadron

Sergeant Uchimura


Letter translated by Bill Gordon
May 2018

The letter and biographical information on this page come from Chiran Tokkō Irei Kenshō Kai (2005, 98, 217) and Osuo (2005, 212).

Note

1. The pronunciation of the given name of 重二 could not be confirmed. Jūji is a common pronunciation, but Shigeji also is a possible pronunciation.

Sources Cited

Chiran Tokkō Irei Kenshō Kai (Chiran Special Attack Memorial Society), ed. 2005. Konpaku no kiroku: Kyū rikugun tokubetsu kōgekitai chiran kichi (Record of departed spirits: Former Army Special Attack Corps Chiran Base). Revised edition, originally published in 2004. Chiran Town, Kagoshima Prefecture: Chiran Tokkō Irei Kenshō Kai.

Osuo, Kazuhiko. 2005. Tokubetsu kōgekitai no kiroku (rikugun hen) (Record of special attack corps (Army)). Tōkyō: Kōjinsha.