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Oral History Interview with Tomakazu Kasai, September 16, 2004 transcript

Oral History Interview with Tomakazu Kasai, September 16, 2004

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Tomakazu Kasai. Kasai entered flight training in April, 1942, learning to fly at a field on Hokkaido. When Kasai finished training in November 1943, he was qualified to fly Japanese Zero fighter plane and was asigned to Navy Air Group 263, stationed at Motsuyama City. When Kasai was assigned to the front, he went to Guam. SHortly before the American invasion, he was transferred to Pelelui. At Pelelui, Kasai's task was to intercept American aircraft in the area. Before the Americans invaded the Palaus, Kasai was transferred to Davao, in the Philippines. Kasai was transferred to Air Grpoup 201 and was assigned to bring aircraft back to the Philippines from Japan. During the American invasion of the Philippines, Kasai served as a fighter escort for kamikazes. Kasia indicates the various levels of training the kamikaze pilots received prior to their missions. Kasai was present in Nagasaki Prefecture when the second atomic bomb was dropped. He was stationed at Omura and recalls seeing the mushroom cloud at a distance. After the surrender, Kasai was told simply to go home, which he eventually did. Kasai also recalls ten victories over …
Date: September 16, 2004
Creator: Kasai, Tomakazu
System: The Portal to Texas History