Pilot  Warrant Officer Katsuma Shigemi (KIA)
Crashed  February 4, 1943

Pilot History
Born in Shimane Prefecture on January 27, 1914, he graduated with the 20th class of the Pilot Trainee Student Course in July 1933. Shigemi served on board Kaga before transferring to the 14th Kokutai in China.

Shigemi was assigned to Ryujo, after this ship was refurbished in November 1940. The Ryujo saw limited action in the first few months of the Pacific War. After being re-equipped with Zero fighters in late April 1942, the Ryujo sortied northward as part of the diversionary attack in the Aleutian Islands, the participated in the attacks against Guadalcanal.

On August 24, 1942, Shigemi was command six of Zeros escorting Vals. In the ensuing fight over Guadalcanal, the Japanese lost four Aichi D3A Val and three Zeros. The United States Marines of VMF-212 and VMF-223 suffered three aircraft shot down of the 10 that intercepted from Henderson Field. In the meantime, the Ryujo was sunk and the surviving planes were diverted to land at Rabaul.

After Ryujo was sunk, Shigemi was reassigned Zuikaku. During the Battle of Santa Cruz on October 26, 1942, Shigemi commanded the four escorting Zeros of the second wave attack force of 17 Nakajima B5N Kate torpedo bombers that sortied from the Zuikaku against the USS Enterprise.

This attack went badly, eight Kates were shot down by US Navy fighters and anti-aircraft fire. Shigemi's four Zeros survived a scrap with four Wildcats which were also unharmed. In the dogfight, Shigemi was separated and landed at Buin Airfield (Kahilli Airfield).

Credited with three victories flying in combat against the Chinese Air Force. Also, five victories flying against the US Navy in the Pacific.

Aircraft History
Built by Nakajima during the last week of December 1942. After the Battle of Santa Cruz, the Zuikaku returned to Japan and was resupplied with several new aircraft, including this Zero 6544. On January 17, 1943, the Zuikaku departed from Japan and sailed to the island of Truk.

Specular gray color. The cowl was black, red hinomaru outlined in white, red tail code AI-1-129, and yellow leading wing edges. Lacked the identification marking of the Zuikaku: a white fuselage stripe with red edges, as they were not yet painted on this new aircraft.

Wartime History
On January 29, 1943, thirty six Zeros under the command of Lt. Kenjiro Notomi, flew south to Rabaul as part of the operation to evacuate the Japanese forces from Guadalcanal. Flying from Buin Airfield (Kahilli Airfield), Zuikaku fighters took part in three aerial cover operations before returning to Truk on February 17. Warrant Officer Shigemi was one of two Zuikaku pilots lost in this operation.

Mission History
Shot down over the Russell Islands February 4, 1943 and investigated by Technical Air Intelligence Unit (TAIU).

Replica Zero
An A6M2 Zero (replica) restored by Blayd Corporation and Tri-State Aviation is painted in the marings of this Zero and displayed at the Fargo Air Museum.

References
Thanks to Ryan Toews and Jim Lansdale for additional information

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