The Story of the Japanese Ace Who Led the First Wave Attack on Pearl Harbor

Mitsuo Fuchida, a name inseparable from the history of World War II, was a significant figure in Japan’s naval aviation. His most famous role was leading the first wave of attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Born on December 3, 1902, in the Nara Prefecture of Japan, Fuchida’s early life set a course that would eventually place him at the center of one of history’s monumental events.

Fuchida began his military journey when he joined the Japanese Naval Academy at Etajima in 1921. It was during his time at the academy that he developed an interest in aviation. In 1928, he received his first active duty assignment as a pilot in Kasumigaura. Three years later, he became a horizontal bomber pilot on the carrier Kaga. During the 1930s, Fuchida not only gained practical experience as a pilot but also served as a flight instructor, imparting his knowledge to others.

With the outbreak of the conflict in Asia in 1937, marked by Japan’s invasion of China, Fuchida saw combat for the first time. He flew missions against the Chinese Air Force, which had largely outdated aircraft. The practical experience he amassed during these years would prove invaluable in the years to come. In 1938, Fuchida completed additional studies at the Japanese Naval War College, further enhancing his understanding of military strategy and tactics.

Fuchida’s Role in World War II

Fuchida was assigned to the carrier Akagi in 1939, and by August 1941, he had risen to command all air groups of the Japanese Navy Carrier Division 1. By this time, he had logged over 3,000 hours of flight time, making him one of Japan’s most experienced pilots. On December 7, 1941, Fuchida found himself over Pearl Harbor in a Type 97 Model 3 torpedo bomber. As the lead air observer, he played a crucial role in initiating the attack that would draw the United States into World War II. He flew down the eastern coast of Oahu and then turned west into Pearl Harbor. Noting the lack of American response, he opened his canopy at 7:40 AM and fired a green flare to signal the start of the attack. At 7:53 AM, he instructed his pilot, Lieutenant Mitsuo Matsuzaki, to send the famous radio message “Tora! Tora! Tora!” to the flagship Akagi, indicating that complete surprise had been achieved.

The attack led to significant damage to the American fleet, including the sinking of the USS Arizona. Fuchida remained over Pearl Harbor until the end of the second wave, meticulously observing the damage inflicted. Upon his return, he discovered his aircraft had been hit 21 times by anti-aircraft fire. Despite this, the success of the attack earned him a personal audience with Emperor Hirohito.

In January 1942, Fuchida designed the aerial attack plan against Rabaul. His meticulous planning saw three formations, with the smallest containing 20 aircraft and the largest more than 50, attacking from different directions. On January 20, he led this attack, finding little resistance, which he later described as feeling like a hunter sent to stalk a mouse with an elephant gun.

A month later, on February 19, 1942, Fuchida led the first of two waves of attacks on Darwin, Australia. And on April 5, he directed a series of carrier aircraft attacks against British naval forces in the Indian Ocean. However, by June 4, 1942, during the Battle of Midway, he was unable to participate actively due to illness. From the bridge of the carrier Akagi, he observed the battle’s progression. When American aircraft hit Akagi, the resulting fires forced the evacuation of the bridge. During his escape, an explosion threw him to the deck, breaking both his ankles but sparing his life.

Later Assignments and Post-War Activities

In June 1943, Fuchida became the senior staff officer with the 1st Air Fleet, staying with the group from Kanoya, Kagoshima, to Tinian in the Mariana Islands. By April 1944, he was a staff officer of air operations for the Japanese Navy, retaining this role until the war’s end. He narrowly escaped death in Hiroshima, having left the city the day before the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. The following day, he was sent to assess the damage, and remarkably, he was the only member of the assessment team who did not die from radiation poisoning.

After the war, Fuchida was interrogated by U.S. Naval Reserves officers in October 1945. He provided valuable information about the Pearl Harbor attack, the defenses at the Mariana and Philippine Islands, and the deployment of Special Attack squadrons. His cooperation during the interrogation was noted as highly valuable. When called to testify during the Tokyo war crimes trials, he initially believed that the Americans were delivering victors’ justice. However, after meeting his former flight engineer, who had been treated well as a prisoner of war, he began to doubt this belief.

Transformation and Legacy

Fuchida authored the book “Midway: The Battle that Doomed Japan,” which detailed the Japanese perspective on the battle. However, later works like “Shattered Sword” by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully corrected many inaccuracies found in his account.

In 1948, near the Hachiko statue outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Fuchida was handed a pamphlet about Jacob DeShazer, a member of the Doolittle Raid who became a Christian missionary after being captured by the Japanese. This encounter profoundly impacted Fuchida, particularly after he purchased a New Testament the following year. By 1950, he met DeShazer, and this meeting further inspired him to become a Christian missionary. In 1952, he toured the United States as a member of the Worldwide Christian Missionary Army of Sky Pilots, declaring himself an ambassador of peace. He even became an American citizen in 1960.

Fuchida passed away on May 30, 1976, in Kashiwara, Japan, from complications related to diabetes. His life, marked by dramatic shifts, from a wartime leader to a post-war advocate for peace, remains a subject of historical interest.