Shigetaka Ōmori
Encyclopedia
Shigetaka Ōmori was an officer and ace
fighter
pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy
(IJN) during the Second Sino-Japanese War
and the Pacific theater
of World War II
. In aerial combat over China and the Pacific, he was officially credited with destroying, or assisting in destroying, nine to 16 enemy aircraft.
In February 1938 Ōmori was posted to the 13th Kokutai in China. He scored his first victory
on 25 February 1938 over Nanchang. In March he was transferred to the 12th Kokutai with which
he flew until December. At the beginning of WWII he was aboard aircraft carrier Hosho.
Ōmori flew from the aircraft carrier
Akagi
at the Battle of Midway
and was credited with destroying two US aircraft over Midway Island and helped in shooting down six US torpedo bombers which attacked the Japanese fleet.
After the battle he was transferred to the carrier Shōkaku
. Flying from Shōkaku as part of the carrier's combat air patrol
, Ōmori was killed in aerial combat during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
on 26 October 1942.
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...
fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
(IJN) during 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...
and the Pacific theater
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...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In aerial combat over China and the Pacific, he was officially credited with destroying, or assisting in destroying, nine to 16 enemy aircraft.
In February 1938 Ōmori was posted to the 13th Kokutai in China. He scored his first victory
on 25 February 1938 over Nanchang. In March he was transferred to the 12th Kokutai with which
he flew until December. At the beginning of WWII he was aboard aircraft carrier Hosho.
Ōmori flew from the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Akagi
Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi
Akagi was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy , originally begun as an . She was converted while still under construction to an aircraft carrier under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty...
at the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
and was credited with destroying two US aircraft over Midway Island and helped in shooting down six US torpedo bombers which attacked the Japanese fleet.
After the battle he was transferred to the carrier Shōkaku
Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku
Shōkaku was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. Along with her sister ship , she took part in several key naval battles during the Pacific War, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands...
. Flying from Shōkaku as part of the carrier's combat air patrol
Combat air patrol
Combat air patrol is a type of flying mission for fighter aircraft.A combat air patrol is an aircraft patrol provided over an objective area, over the force protected, over the critical area of a combat zone, or over an air defense area, for the purpose of intercepting and destroying hostile...
, Ōmori was killed in aerial combat during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or in Japanese sources as the , was the fourth carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the fourth major naval engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial...
on 26 October 1942.