Masao Sasakibara

Masao Sasakibara
Masao Sasakibara
Masao Sasakibara B.jpg
Born 1921
Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Died 2005
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Service/branch Naval Ensign of Japan.svg Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJN)
Rank Ensign
Unit Shōkaku
Junyō
343rd Air Group
Battles/wars World War II:
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Indian Ocean raid
Battle of the Coral Sea
Battle of Dutch Harbor
Guadalcanal Campaign
Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Operation Ke

Masao Sasakibara (佐々木原 正夫 Sasakibara Masao?, 1921 - 2005) was an ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Participating in many of the Pacific War battles and campaigns as a member of several units, Sasakibara was officially credited with destroying 12 enemy aircraft. He was seriously injured while supporting the Ke operation during the Guadalcanal Campaign, but survived after a lengthy stay in the hospital. He returned to Japan in June 1945 and survived the war.

References

  • Hata, Ikuhiko; Yasuho Izawa, Don Cyril Gorham (translator) (1975 (original) 1989 (translation)). Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-315-6. 
  • Sakaida, Henry (2002). Aces of the Rising Sun, 1937–1945. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-618-6.