Saburo Sakai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saburō Sakai (坂井 三郎)
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PO2/c Sakai in the cockpit of a Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 fighter (Hankow airfield, China in 1939)
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| Nickname(s) | Sky Samurai |
| Born | 25 August 1916 Saga, Japan |
| Died | 22 September 2000 (aged 84) Atsugi Naval Air Station, Japan |
| Allegiance |  Empire of Japan |
| Service/ |
 Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJN) |
| Years of service | 1933–45 |
| Rank | 海軍中尉 (Kaigun-chūi) |
| Unit | Tainan Air Group Yokosuka Air Wing |
| Battles/wars | Second Sino-Japanese War Pacific War |
Saburo Sakai (Japanese: 坂井三郎, Sakai Saburō, August 25, 1916 – September 22, 2000) was a famous Japanese pilot. He flew for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He was known as a "fighter ace" because he shot down many enemy airplanes. In fact, he was one of the best Japanese pilots, shooting down between 28 and 64 enemy aircraft.
After the war, Saburo Sakai became a well-known person. He spoke out against the war and the government of Japan at that time. He chose to live a peaceful life and became a pacifist and a Buddhist. He promised he would never harm another living thing again. Before he passed away, Sakai said he still prayed for the pilots he had fought against. He also helped Microsoft create the popular computer game Combat Flight Simulator 2.
Saburo Sakai's War Record
Saburo Sakai was a skilled pilot during World War II. He flew many missions and was known for his bravery. He shot down 64 enemy airplanes during the war. This included a B-32 Dominator plane on the very last day of the war. His actions made him a legend among pilots.
Images for kids
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Sakai posing in front of the hinomaru on his Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 fighter (Wuhan, 1939).
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Saburō Sakai as a petty officer wearing a life jacket.
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Saburō Sakai posing in front of a bomber aircraft.
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Sakai in his flight suit.
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Sakai's A6M2 Zero, tail code V-173, preserved at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
See also
In Spanish: Saburō Sakai para niños
