Tadashi Kaneko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tadashi Kaneko
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Kaneko in 1936 or 1937 while serving on the aircraft carrier Ryūjō
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| Native name |
兼子 正
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| Born | 25 February 1912 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | 14 November 1942 (aged 30) Solomon Islands |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Service/ |
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJN) |
| Rank | Commander |
| Unit | Ryūjō 15th Air Group 12th Air Group Shōkaku 6th Air Group Hiyō |
| Battles/wars | World War II: Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Midway Guadalcanal Campaign Naval Battle of Guadalcanal |
Tadashi Kaneko (born February 25, 1912 – died November 14, 1942) was a brave pilot and leader in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). He was known as a flying ace, which means he shot down many enemy aircraft. Kaneko fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War, which was part of World War II. Before he died in battle, he was officially credited with destroying eight enemy planes.
Early Life and Career
Tadashi Kaneko went to Tokyo First Middle School. Later, he joined the Imperial Japanese Navy Academy and finished his training in November 1932.
When the Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937, Kaneko was a junior officer, a Lieutenant. He led a group of fighter planes on the aircraft carrier Ryūjō. On August 22, he led four Nakajima A4N fighters on a patrol near Shanghai. They met 18 Chinese Air Force planes. In a surprise attack, Kaneko's group shot down six enemy planes. Two of these planes were credited to him.
In August 1938, Lieutenant Kaneko became a division leader in the 15th Air Group. His unit helped defend bases and support ground forces in Central China. In April 1939, he moved to the 12th Air Group in Hankou, but he did not see more combat there. After serving in a few other units in Japan, he became a fighter squadron commander. This was for the new aircraft carrier Shōkaku in September 1941.
Fighting in the Pacific War
Lieutenant Kaneko took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He also participated in the Indian Ocean Raid in April 1942. During the Indian Ocean Raid, he shot down three British Hawker Hurricane fighters. This made him a "flying ace."
In May, he moved to the 6th Air Group and became its commander. This unit was supposed to protect the airbase on Midway Atoll after it was captured. Kaneko traveled on the carrier Akagi and fought in the Battle of Midway. He helped defend the carriers from American bombers. He claimed to have shot down two American bombers. His carrier, Akagi, was hit and caught fire, but he was rescued and returned to Japan.
After the Battle of Midway, Lieutenant Kaneko became the group leader for the aircraft carrier Hiyō. In October 1942, his carrier went to the Solomon Islands. On October 17, Kaneko led fighter planes to protect bombers from Hiyō and Jun'yō. They attacked Henderson Field. The attack did little damage, and many bombers were lost. His fighters shot down one American Grumman F4F Wildcat plane.
A few days later, Hiyō had mechanical problems. Its air group moved to a land base at Buin. From Buin, Lieutenant Kaneko led almost daily missions against the American air force. On November 11, he claimed to have shot down three enemy Wildcat fighters. On November 1, he was promoted to lieutenant commander.
On November 14, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, he and his squadron flew a patrol. They were protecting cargo ships bringing supplies and troops to Guadalcanal. While attacking enemy dive bombers that were about to bomb the ships, he was killed. He and his group managed to shoot down three dive bombers and badly damage two more.
Images for kids
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Kaneko in 1936 or 1937 while serving on the aircraft carrier Ryūjō
