Junichi Sasai
| Jun'ichi Sasa (笹井醇一) | |
|---|---|
Ensign Junichi Sasai
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Prince of Rabaul Gamecock |
| Born |
February 13, 1918 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | August 26, 1942 (aged 24) Henderson Field, Guadalcanal |
| Allegiance |
 Empire of Japan
|
| Service/branch |
 Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJN) |
| Years of service | 1936–1942 |
| Rank | lieutenant commander |
| Unit | Tainan Air Group |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Order of the Golden Kite |
Lieutenant Commander Junichi Sasai (笹井 醇一 Sasai Jun'ichi?, February 13, 1918 – August 26, 1942) was a Japanese naval aviator and fighter ace of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Lieutenant (j.g.) (中尉) Sasai was killed leading his fighter squadron during an attack of Henderson Field during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Junichi Sasai was born on February 13, 1918 in Tokyo. He was the son of a captain of the Japanese Imperial Navy, and even in his youth, Sasai was destined to enter the navy. Sasai’s childhood was marked by poor health, and he was always mobbed by his classmates. Physical exercises like judo, together with a balanced diet, improved his health. Sasai attended Tokyo Municipal High School No. 1.
He went on to the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy at Eta Jima, an island off the coast of Kuri, near Hiroshima. Junichi Sasai held a black belt in judo and competed in wrestling. In his early days at the Eta Jima Academy, he earned the nickname "gamecock" because of his stamina and vehemence for life. After graduating from the 67th Naval Academy Class and being appointed an ensign (少尉) in 1939, Sasai enrolled in the 35th Aviation Student Course. He finished his naval aviation training in November 1941 and became a fighter pilot. Sasai’s brother-in-law, Lieutenant Commander Yoshio Tashiro, was also a naval aviator, serving as a flying boat commander.
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