At 1530 on October 27, 1944, Flight Warrant Officer Toshio Mogi took off from Nichols
No. 1 Air Base in the Philippines as pilot of a Suisei Dive Bomber (Allied code
name of Judy) loaded with a 500-kg bomb. He was a member of the 2nd Kamikaze
Special Attack Unit Chūyū Squadron from the 701st Naval Air Group. His
squadron searched
for enemy ships east of Lamon Bay, but after not finding any he died in a
special (suicide) attack in Leyte Gulf at the age of 25. He was from Gunma
Prefecture and was a member of the 6th Otsu Class of the Navy's Yokaren
(Preparatory Flight Training Program).
Dear Parents,
Now as a member of the Special Attack Corps, by my life I will obtain
honor as I soon will destroy the American enemy fleet in a counterattack.
For some time I have looked forward to this during this critical
situation. I am determined to charge forward in high spirits.
During that ten-year period since I committed myself to the Navy, I
fulfilled my duties without committing any serious mistake due to the guidance
from you Father and Mother and everyone else from my hometown, but I very
deeply apologize that I went without showing anything to you that
could be called filial piety.
The news of this daring undertaking graciously has reached the ears of
the Emperor, and I have heard that in a documentary film it was reported
before Him. As for this honor for me, first I deeply appreciate the gift of
my training by you for 25 years, and I think that you also will be glad for
me.
Since our planes have two crewmen each, I as the pilot and Lieutenant
Kyōji Yamada as the commander will fly together.
With Lieutenant Yamada, since Katori Air Base we have participated for a
long time in the war as a pair.
He is an excellent officer from the Naval Academy.
As kindred spirits, we are determined to crash dive smiling into the
enemy fleet. Well, this is it.
Once more I very deeply thank you for my upbringing of 25 years to obtain
this honor.
Finally, I pray that you will take good care of yourselves all the more
and will stay in good health until complete victory in the Greater East Asia
War.
Also, since I will not send separately a letter to Michiko, please notify
her when this letter arrives.
Please excuse my leaving.
October 27, 1944
At Manila
Toshio
The letter comes from Unabarakai Henshū Iinkai
(2006, 8-9). The biographical information in the first paragraph comes from
Osuo (2005, 159) and Unabarakai Henshū Iinkai
(2006, 8).
Osuo, Kazuhiko. 2005. Tokubetsu kōgekitai no kiroku (kaigun
hen) (Record of special attack corps (Navy)). Tōkyō: Kōjinsha.
Unabarakai Henshū Iinkai (Unabarakai Editing
Committee). 2006. Kaigun hikō yoka renshūsei
isho • iei • ikōshū (2) (Last letters, poems,
and writings of Navy Preparatory Flight Trainees (2)). Tōkyō:
Unabarakai.
