Poem by Second Lieutenant Miosaburō Yamamoto
A lotus flower
When it falls
Floating on the water
The monument at right has an engraved poem written by Second Lieutenant
Miosaburō Yamamoto, who belonged to the 4th Sentai (Air Group) based at
Ozuki Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The 4th Sentai had a special attack unit, called Kaiten Seikū Squadron, which made
ramming attacks on B-29s during bombing missions over Japan. On April 18, 1945, Yamamoto
rammed a B-29 Superfortress with his Ki-45 Toryū (Dragon
Killer) fighter [1]. Both Yamamoto and the B-29 crew
perished.
The monument with Yamamoto's poem is located on the grounds of Renseiji
Temple, on a hill with a view of the runway of the JMSDF (Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force) Flight School. Renseiji Temple, located in Shimonoseki City, is near the main gate of the
JMSDF Ozuki Air Base. Also on the temple grounds is the Ozuki
Air Base Foundation of Peace Monument.
In August 2004, a museum in Shimonoseki City held a special exhibition that
included the bloodstained cap and white muffler worn by Yamamoto when he rammed
the B-29.
Yuko Shirako provided the photo and information about this monument with the
engraved poem.
Note
1. Takaki and Sakaida 2001, 104-5.
Source Cited
Takaki, Koji, and Henry Sakaida. 2001. B-29 Hunters of the
JAAF. Botley, UK. Osprey Publishing.
|
