God's Samurai: Lead Pilot at Pearl Harbor (The Warriors) by Katherine V. Dillon & Donald M. Goldstein & Gordon W. Prange

Author:Katherine V. Dillon & Donald M. Goldstein & Gordon W. Prange [Dillon, Katherine V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. - A
Published: 2003-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

21

“More Trouble Is Coming!”

THE DAY FOLLOWING the emperor’s broadcast, Ozawa and Fuchida closed Combined Fleet headquarters at Hiyoshi and removed it to the Meguro War College in Tokyo. Those who still had a work program mapped out were fortunate—it tided them over the first shock of defeat. Fuchida’s main concern was that he and his fellow officers get through the distasteful business of surrender with their dignity unimpaired. In his opinion, they could only do this by preparing for occupation with the same thoroughness they had given the war effort.

Many of his associates couldn’t be so detached, particularly those of lesser rank who had nothing left to do. Deprived overnight of their way of life and reason for living, many panicked when they realized that Japan had indeed lost the war, and that occupation forces would take over in a matter of days. Some stole aircraft and flew to remote locations; others commandeered trucks and raced away in aimless flight from unbearable reality. Rumors floated about that the Allies would behead all Japanese officers. In a number of places, demoralized men set fire to navy buildings. Hungry townspeople surged into some of the almost deserted navy bases to loot. “The situation was just like revolution,” Fuchida recalled—a nasty preview of what conditions might become when the armed forces were turned loose without employment.

While Ozawa and Fuchida settled into the Naval War College, the institution’s press turned out a thousand copies of Fuchida’s pamphlet, “We Believe This.” The college rushed distribution to all naval bases inside and outside Japan to clarify the situation for young officers and to enlist their cooperation. Fortunately, the tract enjoyed immediate success, helping many to accept the inevitable. But stubborn pockets of opposition remained.1

After the abortive coup, troops from outside the Tokyo area were rushed in to replace the palace guard, which could no longer be considered reliable. A replacement platoon from Ibaraki Prefecture revolted and seized Ueno Hill, but shortly was persuaded to disperse. The young officers who had led the revolt committed suicide. Another group occupied Atagi Hill; soon thereafter the entire group blew themselves up with hand grenades.2

Fuchida realized the extent and nature of the resistance when he made arrangements for the flight of Japan’s peace delegates to Manila. MacArthur had stipulated that the delegates fly from Haneda to Kisarazu, thence to Okinawa in two planes painted white and marked with a green cross on the wings and body. At Okinawa the delegates would transfer to U.S. aircraft. Ozawa authorized Fuchida to secure a Douglas DC from Yokosuka for the first leg. But when Fuchida phoned the order to Captain Kogure, he refused to comply. “The Yokosuka antisurrender group has agreed to work with Kozono at Atsugi in establishing a picket line in the air across Japan between the two bases to shoot down any surrender plane that tries to fly to Okinawa,” he said.3

Fuchida sizzled with wrath at Kogure and Kozono, both old enough to know better. But he felt sorry for the rebel pilots.

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