Good-bye ....   
　　                             
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    　        　　FURUKOGI, Hiroshi　
　
I graduated from training by the bomber in Usa Flight Corps on December 5, 1944.
The operational unit was selected as affiliation of 762 Flight Corps. And it 
started for its new assignment to the Izumi air base of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Here, flight training using the "GINGA" was started. "GINGA" is the newest at 
the time, It was a bomber.  

The "Kikusui strategy" was ordered to the Okinawa invasion of the U.S. Forces 
in April, 1945. April 15. "No7 GINGA Kamikaze party" was composed of attack 406 
Flight Group 762 Flight Corps.

My name was in the organization table. It is the 2nd plane of 2nd wing. And the 
sortie was 16 days of the next day.

The night was not able to sleep truly. When its life also thought now whether 
to have been finally, the occurrence of various past came into its mind, and 
the day broke, without a wink of sleep being hardly possible, either.

It sortied by organization of "GINGA" 6 sets on that day. A target is near 155 
degree 50 nautical mile of the Kikai island. To the fleet of the enemy aircraft 
carrier.

Taking off in response to the send-off of all the members, my airplane broke 
down suddenly soon. The engine cover broke. The attack was stopped immediately 
and it returned on the base.

I thought that it would change to a spare airplane and I would follow the 
everybody back. However, since there was no airplane which can be used 
immediately, the sortie was stopped.

Otherwise, one set has returned by failure of engine. Therefore, an attack was 
delivered by four sets on that day. The 2nd plane of the 3rd wing, this attack 
party was the pair of only the classmate. 
Kensuke Etoo(pilot) and Sigeaki Enokida (navigator), and Takeshi Okada (radio 
operator). They fought violently and were killed in war.

April 27 1945, attack 406 flight group moves to the Miho air base from a Izumi 
air base, and is training. This is because flight training became impossible 
because of the air raid according a South Kyushu area. to B29 or the attack 
plane of the aircraft carrier.

Training was going smoothly, without suffering an air raid, after moving to 
the Miho air base.

May 10. I finished training of dive-bombing and had rested at the crew member 
rest space. Then, the flght sqead commander's Lieutenant Commander Iki ordered. 
"the pair shown below it conveys the "Ginga" to the Miyazaki air base by the 
evening" and the organization table were shown.

We only thought that it was to convey an airplane simply. Therefore, after 
arriving at the Miyazaki air base, it had standby room rested.

Then, a command which is surprised was issued.

It will sortie in 4:00 in the next morning, and it "kamikaze attack" to the fleet 
of the enemy near Okinawa.

The command deliver is not "bombing" and "a torpedo attack" but "a kamikaze 
attack". That is, it is the command " killed!"  

"God damn it Iki deceived us!!"
"He thinks of people's life what!!"  
"The heart was ready when calling it "the kamikaze attack" from the start. 
He deceived, without trusting us!! "
"Beast! A life is not spread only tonight! "                         

However, it is unavoidable to think now that it is mortifying. You have to obey 
a command absolutely. We arranged the offensive plan. And I wrote the will. Then, 
2:00 a.m. had already come.

On the wooden bed in an air-raid shelter, the blanket was covered and it slept
for a while. Then, it was started by the watch soldier. It was 3:00 a.m. which 
look at a clock.

The ceremony of a sortie was performed in front of the command place. The sortie 
member whom this finished was put on the light truck, and was sent even to each 
airplane.

However, our airplane had disappeared from the place parked at an apron yesterday. 
The pair of three of us remained in the light truck to the last, and looked for 
the airplane in darkness. And its own airplane was able to be found at last. It 
was a place where the place parked at an apron yesterday is different.

The cover of right side engine was removed and, as for our airplane, many
maintenance men were working. I have understood the situation now. Since it told 
the maintenance man of charge that right side engine was out of condition and 
repair was requested when it landed yesterday, it carried out. However, repair 
was not completed yet.

Therefore, as for us, the sortie became impossible. Three persons of our pair 
waited for repair to finish. Near by airplane. In the meantime, other airplanes 
took off one after another, and were performed.

The pair composed only of the Petty Officer. It was Manabu Matsuki (pilot), 
besides Mituo Yamane(navigator), and Kaoru Itoo(radio operator).

They continued sending a flashing signal from immediately after the takeoff. 
Turn to the air base to which it cannot return again. "Good-bye ...." and 
"good-bye ....", they disappeared to southern empty.

I imagine their heart. If they should have said "good-bye ...." and good-bye 
out of the heart toward the scenery of the homeland left distantly.

As for the "No9 Kinga party", 8 sets sortie by this sortie, 6 sets did not return.

The bomber model GINGA.

                  ＊
Introduce to the record of Mr. Akiyoshi Hamuro(from Fukuoka), he is classmate.

According to it, he is the Yatabe flight corps training with by middle training 
plane. Next, operation of a land attack plane was mastered by the Toyohashi 
flight corps. The arrangement after his graduation is 302 flight corps. The corps 
was stationed on the Atuki air base.

His duty in this corps was the interception of B29. It was performed by the 
fighter for night. The fighter converted the bomber "GINGA."

He was transferred to 1081 Flight Corps after that. The corps was in the same 
Atuki air base. This unit's duty was testing and receiving the "Ginga" built newly. 
And it was sending the airplane to the operational Corps of each air base.

Me The new airplane was conveyed to the Miho air base. It was the beginning of 
the May. 

I landed. And the airplane was parked at an apron. Follow the directions of a crew 
which raise and guide both hands. When the face of the crew who has ridden is seen, 
he who was Mr. Manabu Matuki is a classmate.

With him, the basic training time received training in the same group. Moreover, 
flight training was the same section. It is the Yatabe flight corps. Next, he 
received training of a bomber. By the Usa flight corps. He whom all training 
finished was attached to the new duty. 406 flight group 762 flight corps. And it 
was playing an active part as an operation member of the "Ginga."

"It tired from waiting!" he said and my face was seen.
"OOTSU! Are you a Hamuro? " 
"OU you are -- Matuki ? .... you were fine ?"
It was accidental encounter.

If this airplane does not come according to his talk, it will be from organization 
of tomorrow's Kamikaze party. It was removed. Because, airplanes are shortage.

I explained to him the peculiarity of the new made airplane.
He said. "Wait in .... and Kaike Hot Spring, which will be drunk tonight!"

"Going-to-war congratulation" was performed in a small way. It is Kaike Hot Spring.
I participated in the seat of in response to his invitation. It is sad that this 
becomes the party of separation to have met him and a long time. While drinking or 
talking, night has also advanced.

When I returned to the Miho air base in the next morning, Kamikaze member was, 
after going away towards sortie air base Miyazaki. And I did not meet him again.

(Translation March 28, 2003)