January 27, 1920 - Nagano, Japan - Hiroyoshi Nishizawa is born
June 1(?), 1936 - ? - Volunteers to the Yokaren (flight reserve enlistee training program)
March 1(?), 1939 - ? - Nishizawa graduates from flight training course
October 1(?), 1941 - Chitose - Transfered to the Chitose Kokutai, with the rank of Petty Officer 1st class =(START)
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| Nishizawa's Zero |
January 24, 1942 - Vunakanau, New Britain - Transfer to Rabaul after being taken by the japanese
February 3, 1942 - Over Rabaul- 1 Australian Catalina shot down
February 10, 1942 - Transfer to the newly formed 4th air group - Assigned to a zero A6M2
March 8, 1942 - While in Rabaul - The japanese forces capture Lae and Salamaua in northeastern New Guinea
March 14, 1942 - Over Horn Island - Twelve zeros were escorting eight bombers in a raid on Horn Island when they encounter seven american P-40E Warhawks. In the ensuing dogfight, the japanese loose 2 zeros to 1 american P-40E
March 24, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - 1 american spitfire shot down
March 28, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - Five japanese pilots including Nishizawa claim 3 american spitfires shot down over Port Moresby
March 8, 1942 - While in Rabaul - The japanese forces capture Lae and Salamaua in northeastern New Guinea
March 14, 1942 - Over Horn Island - Twelve zeros were escorting eight bombers in a raid on Horn Island when they encounter seven american P-40E Warhawks. In the ensuing dogfight, the japanese loose 2 zeros to 1 american P-40E
March 24, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - 1 american spitfire shot down
March 28, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - Five japanese pilots including Nishizawa claim 3 american spitfires shot down over Port Moresby
April 1, 1942 - Lae, New Guinea - Nishizawa's squadron is transfered to Lae and assigned to Tainan Air Group
April 11, 1942 - 1 P-39 shot down
April 23, 1942 - Over Kairuku Airfield - Nishizawa, Sakai and Ota shoot up Kairuku airfield, north of Port Moresby
April 29, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - Celebrates Emperor Hirohito's birthday by strafing Port Moresby Field itself
May 1, 1942 - Near Port Moresby - Eight zeros were heading for Port Moresby when they encounter 13 P-39s and P-40s. Eight american fighters are shot down, three of them by Nishizawa, two by Sakai
May 2, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - 2 P-40s shot down
April 23, 1942 - Over Kairuku Airfield - Nishizawa, Sakai and Ota shoot up Kairuku airfield, north of Port Moresby
April 29, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - Celebrates Emperor Hirohito's birthday by strafing Port Moresby Field itself
May 1, 1942 - Near Port Moresby - Eight zeros were heading for Port Moresby when they encounter 13 P-39s and P-40s. Eight american fighters are shot down, three of them by Nishizawa, two by Sakai
May 2, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - 2 P-40s shot down
May 3, 1942 - 1 P-40 shot down
May 7, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - Nishizawa, Ota and Toraichi Takatsuka jump 10 P-40s over Port Moresby. The three of them shoot down a P-40 each on the first pass. After another 4 P-40 join the dogfight, the japanese outmaneuver them and shoot 4 more P-40s
May 12, 1942 - Nishizawa shares the destruction of 2 P-39 Airacobras
May 13, 1942 - 2 P-39 Airacobras shot down
May 15, 1942 - Lae, New Guinea - American B-25 Mitchell bombers bomb Lae and crater the runway. The day is spent repairing the damage
May 16, 1942 - Lae, New Guinea - Nishizawa, Sakai and Ota come up with the idea of doing demonstration loops over the enemy airfield at Port Moresby, after listening to an australian radio program with Camille Saint-Saëns' "Dance Macabre"
May 7, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - Nishizawa, Ota and Toraichi Takatsuka jump 10 P-40s over Port Moresby. The three of them shoot down a P-40 each on the first pass. After another 4 P-40 join the dogfight, the japanese outmaneuver them and shoot 4 more P-40s
May 12, 1942 - Nishizawa shares the destruction of 2 P-39 Airacobras
May 13, 1942 - 2 P-39 Airacobras shot down
May 15, 1942 - Lae, New Guinea - American B-25 Mitchell bombers bomb Lae and crater the runway. The day is spent repairing the damage
May 16, 1942 - Lae, New Guinea - Nishizawa, Sakai and Ota come up with the idea of doing demonstration loops over the enemy airfield at Port Moresby, after listening to an australian radio program with Camille Saint-Saëns' "Dance Macabre"
May 17, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - Cmdr.Nakajima leads the Tainan Ku. in a maximum effort to neutralize Port Moresby, with Sakai and Nishizawa as his wingmen. The strafing run is ineffective, but after the attack, three formations of allied fighters take on the japanese Zeros in dogfight. 5 P-39 Airacobras are shot down (2 for Sakai and a shared for Nishizawa), and 2 Zeros are lost. On the return flight Nishizawa, Sakai and Ōta engage in provocative aerobatics over the airfield
May 20, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down
May 24, 1942 - Lae, New Guinea - 6 american B-25 Mitchell bombers bomb Lae again. Nishizawa leads a reaction by 11 Zeros, shooting down one. Sakai shoots down two, while Ōta and Sasai shoot another each. The last B-25 returns to Port Moresby
May 27, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - The japanese find 4 B-17 bombers escorted by 20 P-400 (export P-39 with 20mm cannon instead of the usual 37mm) and attack them from below. Nishizawa and Ōta force one P-400 each to crash down in the dogfight. Sakai shoots one P-400 and also forces another to crash down
June 1, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down
June 16, 1942 - 2 P-39 Airacobras shot down
June 25, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down + 1 shared
July 4, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down
July 9, 1942 - Over Lae - 23 Zeros intercept a flight of B-26 over Lae. After shooting 4 of the B-26s, they are jumped by 11 P-400. Japanese ace Satoshi Yoshino is killed
July 11, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down. While trying to shoot down a B-17 bomber, Nishizawa is shot down
July 22, 1942 - Nishizawa is unable to shoot down a faster Lockheed A-28 Hudson
July 25, 1942 - over Port Moresby | over Buna - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down + 1 B-17 shared with other 8 zeros
August 2, 1942 - Over Lae - 5 B-17s come to bomb Lae. Nishizawa destroys the first, Ota, Sasai and Sakai shoot one each. When 3 P-39 try to intervene, Nishizawa, Ota and Sakai shoot them down. The last B-17 is also shot down by Nishizawa, however, his wingman, Yoshio Motoyoshi, is killed
May 20, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down
May 24, 1942 - Lae, New Guinea - 6 american B-25 Mitchell bombers bomb Lae again. Nishizawa leads a reaction by 11 Zeros, shooting down one. Sakai shoots down two, while Ōta and Sasai shoot another each. The last B-25 returns to Port Moresby
May 27, 1942 - Over Port Moresby - The japanese find 4 B-17 bombers escorted by 20 P-400 (export P-39 with 20mm cannon instead of the usual 37mm) and attack them from below. Nishizawa and Ōta force one P-400 each to crash down in the dogfight. Sakai shoots one P-400 and also forces another to crash down
June 1, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down
June 16, 1942 - 2 P-39 Airacobras shot down
June 25, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down + 1 shared
July 4, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down
July 9, 1942 - Over Lae - 23 Zeros intercept a flight of B-26 over Lae. After shooting 4 of the B-26s, they are jumped by 11 P-400. Japanese ace Satoshi Yoshino is killed
July 11, 1942 - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down. While trying to shoot down a B-17 bomber, Nishizawa is shot down
July 22, 1942 - Nishizawa is unable to shoot down a faster Lockheed A-28 Hudson
July 25, 1942 - over Port Moresby | over Buna - 1 P-39 Airacobra shot down + 1 B-17 shared with other 8 zeros
August 2, 1942 - Over Lae - 5 B-17s come to bomb Lae. Nishizawa destroys the first, Ota, Sasai and Sakai shoot one each. When 3 P-39 try to intervene, Nishizawa, Ota and Sakai shoot them down. The last B-17 is also shot down by Nishizawa, however, his wingman, Yoshio Motoyoshi, is killed
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| Sakai and Nishizawa at Rabaul |
August 3, 1942 - Rabaul, New Britain - The Air group moves to Lakunai airfield, Rabaul
August 7, 1942 - Over Guadalcanal - Cmdr.Nakajima leads 17 zeros to escort 27 Mitsubishi G4M bombers in an attack on the US Navy task force supporting the invasion of Guadalcanal. The japanese are met by 18 F4F Wildcat fighters and 16 SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers from the aircraft carriers "Saratoga", "Enterprise" and "Wasp". During the air battle, Nishizawa is credited with 6 F-4F.
August 8, 1942 - Lakunai - Flight to search for the wounded Sakai, his best friend
October 5, 1942 - Over Rabaul - 1 shared B-25 with another 8 zeros
October 8, 1942 - Over Buka - 1 shared torpedo bomber with another 8 zeros
October 11, 1942 - Over Guadalcanal - During an air battle with F-4Fs, Nishizawa forces one of them to ditch in Lunga Channel
October 17, 1942 - 1 F-4F shot down + 1 shared torpedo bomber
October 20, 1942 - Claims one F-4F, but neither side suffered any losses that day
November 1, 1942 - Rabaul, New Britain - The Tainan Ku. is renamed as 251st Kokutai
October 5, 1942 - Over Rabaul - 1 shared B-25 with another 8 zeros
October 8, 1942 - Over Buka - 1 shared torpedo bomber with another 8 zeros
October 11, 1942 - Over Guadalcanal - During an air battle with F-4Fs, Nishizawa forces one of them to ditch in Lunga Channel
October 17, 1942 - 1 F-4F shot down + 1 shared torpedo bomber
October 20, 1942 - Claims one F-4F, but neither side suffered any losses that day
November 1, 1942 - Rabaul, New Britain - The Tainan Ku. is renamed as 251st Kokutai
November 15, 1942 - Toyohashi AB, Japan - The 251st Kokutai arrives in Toyohashi Air Base, Japan, to replace losses. Nishizawa is assigned as instructor. Sources say that Nishizawa had about 55 victories by this time
December(?) 1(?), 1942 - Yokosuka - Nishizawa pays a visit to his friend Saburo Sakai in hospital, complaining about his assignment as instructor
May 7, 1943 - Rabaul, New Britain - The 251st Kokutai returns to Rabaul
May 14, 1943 - Over Oro Bay, New Guinea - 32 zeros of 251st Kokutai escort 18 G4M bombers on a large raid to Oro Bay, New Guinea. 1 P-40 shot down + 1 shared P-38
June 7, 1943 - Over Guadalcanal - Sweep over Guadalcanal. 251th Kokutai is intercepted by several groups of allied fighters (F-4Fs, F4U Corsairs, P-38Fs and New Zealand P-40s). Nishizawa shoots down at least 1 F4U Corsair
June 15(?), 1943 - Rabaul, New Britain - Nishizawa adds 6 more allied aircraft to his total and is honored with a military sword gifted from Vice Admiral Jin'chi Kusaka. After middle June, japanese naval air groups abandon the practice of recording personal victories, making it very difficult to track
May 14, 1943 - Over Oro Bay, New Guinea - 32 zeros of 251st Kokutai escort 18 G4M bombers on a large raid to Oro Bay, New Guinea. 1 P-40 shot down + 1 shared P-38
June 7, 1943 - Over Guadalcanal - Sweep over Guadalcanal. 251th Kokutai is intercepted by several groups of allied fighters (F-4Fs, F4U Corsairs, P-38Fs and New Zealand P-40s). Nishizawa shoots down at least 1 F4U Corsair
June 15(?), 1943 - Rabaul, New Britain - Nishizawa adds 6 more allied aircraft to his total and is honored with a military sword gifted from Vice Admiral Jin'chi Kusaka. After middle June, japanese naval air groups abandon the practice of recording personal victories, making it very difficult to track
September 1(?), 1943 - Tobera, New Britain - Transfered to the 253rd Ku. (Air Group)
October 1(?), 1943 - Oita, Japan - Recalled to Japan. According to Cmdr.Harutoshi Okamoto, the commander of 253rd Ku., Nishizawa's total score stood at 85
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| Nishizawa with his gift sword |
November 1(?), 1943 - Oita, Japan - Promoted to Warrant Officer and reassigned to training duties - Oita Air Group
February 1(?), 1944 - Kurile Islands - Joins 203rd Air Group, far from heavy action
October 22, 1944 - Bamban airfield, Tarlac, Luzón - Philippines - Dispatched with the Hikotai 304 (detachment) of the 201st Ku. To Bamban airfield, Tarlac, Luzón
October 24, 1944 - Cebu Island, Philippines - Nishizawa is sent with a contingent of Hikotai 304 to Cebu Island
October 24, 1944 - Cebu Island, Philippines - Nishizawa is sent with a contingent of Hikotai 304 to Cebu Island
October 25, 1944 - Over Leyte Gulf - Nishizawa leads four A6M5 in escorting another five others, carrying 550-pound bombs for a kamikaze attack against Taffy 3 Task Force. Four of the five kamikazes strike their targets and sink the escort carrier "St-Lô" not far from Cebu, Nishizawa shoots down 2 hellcats
October 26, 1944 - over Calapan, Mindoro Island, Philippines - Nishizawa's request to take part in a kamikaze mission is denied. His A6M5 is used by a kamikaze though. Without A6M5, Nishizawa and several pilots board a "Helen" bomber to pick up some replacement zeros at Clark Field, Luzón. Over Calapan on Mindoro Island, the bomber is attacked by two F-6 Hellcats from the carrier "Wasp" and shot down. All aboard die =(END)
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