Tateo Kato
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese ace
army aviator, credited with at least 18 aerial victories and who was honored posthumously by an award of the Order of the Golden Kite
.
. His father Sergeant Tetsuzo Katō was killed in the Russo-Japanese War
. He graduated from the 37th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1925, and enrolled in the Tokorozawa Flying School
two years later.
In May 1927 he was posted to the 6th Hiko Rentai (flight regiment) in Pyongyang
, Korea
. His flying skill with the Kawasaki Ko-4 biplane
fighter (a license-built Nieuport-Delage NiD 29) was shown to be so outstanding that he was selected to become a flight instructor
at Tokorozawa n 1928.
In 1932, Katō was promoted to become head instructor at the Akeno Flying School, the premier air academy for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. In 1936, Kato became commander of the 5th Rentai and with the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War
in 1937, he became commander of the 2nd Daitai, equipped with Kawasaki Ki-10
'Perry' biplane fighters, which quickly achieved air superiority over northern China
. Katō claimed nine Chinese fighters during his rotation, making him the top-scoring Army pilot in China during the period 1937-41.
Katō returned to Japan in 1939 to attend the Army Staff College
and was assigned to the headquarters staff of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He also visited Europe
on assignment together with General Hisaichi Terauchi, and inspected the Luftwaffe
in Germany
. During this period he was also promoted to major.
In 1941, with the start of the Pacific War
, Katō was again given a combat command – this time as commander of the 64th Sentai, based at Guangzhou
, China, and equipped with the latest Nakajima Ki-43
Hayabusa fighters.
His unit participated in the early stages of the war, especially distinguishing itself during the Battle of Malaya
. The 64th Sentai was based at Duong Dong airfield on Phu Quoc Island to provide cover for the Japanese invasion fleet bound for Malaya
, and to attack ground targets in Malaya and Burma.
The 64th Sentais had first combat experiences of the Flying Tigers
on 25 December 1941, escorting a bomber raid on Rangoon.
Under Katō's command, the unit recorded over 260 aerial victories over Allied
aircraft. He disallowed individual victory credits for the sake of teamwork. Katō was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
in February 1942. However, only three months later, on May 22, 1942, while over the Bay of Bengal
, Katō was killed in action
while attacking a flight of Royal Air Force
Bristol Blenheim
bombers.
Katō,was posthumously promoted two steps in rank to that of Major General
, and was honored by a special State Shinto
ceremony at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine
as a "god of war" in mid-October 1942.
Katō's heroism had considerable propaganda
value, and the Japanese government sponsored a movie titled (1944) glorifying his life story.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
army aviator, credited with at least 18 aerial victories and who was honored posthumously by an award of the Order of the Golden Kite
Order of the Golden Kite
The ' was an order of the Empire of Japan, established on 12 February 1890 by Emperor Meiji "in commemoration of Jimmu Tennō, the Romulus of Japan."-Background:...
.
Biography
Katō was born and raised in present-day Asahikawa, HokkaidōAsahikawa, Hokkaido
is a city in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of the subprefecture and the second-largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo. It has been a Core city since April 1, 2000...
. His father Sergeant Tetsuzo Katō was killed in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
. He graduated from the 37th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1925, and enrolled in the Tokorozawa Flying School
Tokorozawa, Saitama
is a city in Saitama, Japan. It is located in the central part of the Musashino plain, about 30 km west of downtown Tokyo. Tokorozawa can be considered part of the greater Tokyo area; its proximity to the latter and lower housing costs make it a popular bedroom community.-Location:Tokorozawa...
two years later.
In May 1927 he was posted to the 6th Hiko Rentai (flight regiment) in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, Korea
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
. His flying skill with the Kawasaki Ko-4 biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
fighter (a license-built Nieuport-Delage NiD 29) was shown to be so outstanding that he was selected to become a flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
at Tokorozawa n 1928.
In 1932, Katō was promoted to become head instructor at the Akeno Flying School, the premier air academy for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. In 1936, Kato became commander of the 5th Rentai and with the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
in 1937, he became commander of the 2nd Daitai, equipped with Kawasaki Ki-10
Kawasaki Ki-10
|-See also:-External links:* *...
'Perry' biplane fighters, which quickly achieved air superiority over northern China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
. Katō claimed nine Chinese fighters during his rotation, making him the top-scoring Army pilot in China during the period 1937-41.
Katō returned to Japan in 1939 to attend the Army Staff College
Army War College (Japan)
The ; Short form: of the Empire of Japan was founded in 1882 in Minato, Tokyo to modernize and Westernize the Imperial Japanese Army. Much of the empire's elite including prime ministers during the period of Japanese militarism were graduates of the college....
and was assigned to the headquarters staff of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He also visited Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on assignment together with General Hisaichi Terauchi, and inspected the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. During this period he was also promoted to major.
In 1941, with the start of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, Katō was again given a combat command – this time as commander of the 64th Sentai, based at Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China, and equipped with the latest Nakajima Ki-43
Nakajima Ki-43
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II...
Hayabusa fighters.
His unit participated in the early stages of the war, especially distinguishing itself during the Battle of Malaya
Battle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
. The 64th Sentai was based at Duong Dong airfield on Phu Quoc Island to provide cover for the Japanese invasion fleet bound for Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
, and to attack ground targets in Malaya and Burma.
Flying Tigers
The 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–1942, famously nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was composed of pilots from the United States Army , Navy , and Marine Corps , recruited under presidential sanction and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. The ground crew and headquarters...
on 25 December 1941, escorting a bomber raid on Rangoon.
Under Katō's command, the unit recorded over 260 aerial victories over Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
aircraft. He disallowed individual victory credits for the sake of teamwork. Katō was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in February 1942. However, only three months later, on May 22, 1942, while over the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
, Katō was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
while attacking a flight of Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
bombers.
Katō,was posthumously promoted two steps in rank to that of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, and was honored by a special State Shinto
State Shinto
has been called the state religion of the Empire of Japan, although it did not exist as a single institution and no "Shintō" was ever declared a state religion...
ceremony at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine
Yasukuni Shrine
is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is dedicated to the soldiers and others who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan. Currently, its Symbolic Registry of Divinities lists the names of over 2,466,000 enshrined men and women whose lives were dedicated to the service of...
as a "god of war" in mid-October 1942.
Katō's heroism had considerable propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
value, and the Japanese government sponsored a movie titled (1944) glorifying his life story.
See also
- Japanese Invasion of MalayaJapanese Invasion of MalayaThe Japanese Invasion of Malaya, or Battle of Kota Bharu, began just after midnight on 8 December 1941 before the attack on Pearl Harbor...
- List of World War II aces from Japan
External links
- "Japan's Hero's,", Time Magazine. October 26, 1942.
- Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War: Credibly researched bio notes + digitized photographic image