The dead classmate's recollections. 
　　                                     
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　                      　 FUZITA, Keshao 　　

Mr. Goro Hori and Mr. Isamu Nanri are the fellow students of a junior high school. 
And it volunteered for the flight soldier together. I lost two friends of a school. 
I cannot forget the regret.

As Mr. Goroo Hori returned from the patrol flight, he was killed in war in response 
to the attack of an enemy's Grumman fighter. It was France territory India China 
and was on January 12, 1945.

I am Mr. Hori and had a mysterious experience. The unit of the land attack plane 
with which I belong was in the air base of Aerutar. It was in March 1945.

A certain day and model 99 bomber one came flying. I did not know. Is it the 
purpose which carries out that the airplane came from where, and what?

He has forgotten the name, although the operation member of a bomber was Warrant 
Officer. He is the warrior of long record of active service, and the marks of a 
severe burn remained in the face.

I had an opportunity to hear the cause of his burn.
According to his talk, the model 99 bomber was taken from the Tsudoumo air base, 
and it appeared in the patrol. And the attack on Grumman was received while having 
returned. It was on January 12, 1945.

It cried to the backseat, fending off the 1st attack. "Hori! It is Grumman." 
Then, there was a fine reply. "Roger!"
  
It suffered damage from the 2nd attack. The airplane started the fire. And a seat
is wrapped in a flame and a flying suit began to burn.               
"Hori! Hori!" Although it was called, there is no answer.
If it looks in at a backseat, he is hanging down the head into the seat. 
Furthermore, although called, there was no reply.
                
Since it was the sky of land, while I become the flames from which it escaped 
with the parachute. The reconnaissance member killed in war in on a plane was 
Petty Officer Hori. He was the flight soldier 12th term.

Mr. Goro Hori (17 years old) is my schoolmate. And it is the friend who did navy 
enlistment synchronously. This talk was heard and a serious shock was got.

The position in which itself "this is the fate in a battlefield" is placed has 
been recognized. And it felt that it was not accidental that it met that crew 
and the situation of Mr. Hori's last moment was able to be heard in that large 
battle area.

　             ☆
One set medium attack model 96 was sortied . Wait for the sun to set from the 
Surabaya airfield in Jawa.

I saw off. The figure which flies away and goes while taking out a pale exhaust 
gas to the empty of twilight. This became separation of the last moment with Mr. 
Yasuo Inoue.

I and he were going to sortie together. However, why or I will see him off.
At that time, the figure of medium attack model 96 which disappeared is still 
printed on mind. I do not still forget his smiling face which was a good youth. 

381 Flight Corps (old 13 Flight Corps) had equipped one set medium attack model 1 
and medium attack model 96. We were using the Aerutaru air base. It is the central
part of the Malay Peninsula and was in the coconut wood of the seashore whose 
Pinang island can be seen. Daily lessons here were a patrol and training.

However, war is also becoming severe gradually. Therefore, the land battle force 
was composed also of the flight corps and training was begun by him. Prepare for 
an enemy's landing.               

Landing of the U.S. Forces started in Borneo Barikkupapan in July, 1945.
The command of the attack of night came out to 381 Flight Corps. withstand to this 
enemy. In a flyght corps, it will sortie from the air base in Surabaya. Therefore, 
it moved to Madekn of Jawa by all airplanes that can work.

The bomb was carried in all airplanes. Set on the Johore air base. And a long flight 
on the ocean will be continued towards Jawa.

Breaking down on the way, it had the airplane which returned. Therefore, having 
arrived safely were four set. Two set medium attack model 1 and two set medium 
attack model 96 arrived in safety. Mr. Inoue and I had taken medium attack model 96 
separately.

My airplane was also never favorably flight. Left engine broke down. It was on the 
sea which cannot see an island. It continued flying only with one engine, without 
the ability also returning.

Jawa was able to be found at the time of evening glow. However, it was behind the 
time of a plan. It was troubled without knowing an approach course. That is because 
it was the first airfield. Therefore, when we got down, it was already dark.

Sortie time was decided. medium attack model 96 are at the time of sunset. 
And medium attack model 1 is midnight. Maintenance of an airplane was performed 
according to it. However, as for the sortie, my airplane became impossible. That 
is because trouble of engine was not repaired.

I saw off the sortie of an Inoue plane. And prayed that he returned safely. Two 
sets of medium attack model 1 returned at dawn of the next day. However, Inoue's 
plane did not show a figure. Even if it becomes bright.

The notice came from the ground troops of a spot on that day. It is that one 
airplane of a Japanese was shot down by the battle last night.

2 sets of medium attack model 1 It carried out to the attack. Night of the next day 
and two days later. And it returned safely. However, my airplane did not sortie. 
It is because repair was not completed.

I may think that it died instead of Mr. Inoue's being me.  
His anniversary of a his death is on July 23, 1945. He was 18 years old. I pray
for the bliss of the dead.

The medium attack model 96 (Translation April 1, 2003)