Masajiro "Mike" Kawato
Imperial Japanese Navy Zero pilot at Rabaul, Prisoner Of War (POW)

Background
Masajiro Kawato was born in Tango-cho, north of Kyoto in Japan as the eldest of seven children. During 1941, he volunteered for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJA) at age 16 and attended flight school and became a fighter pilot flying the A6M Zero.

During late 1943, sent to the South Pacific and assigned to 253 Kōkūtai (253 Air Group) as a Zero pilot defending Rabaul.

On December 1, 1943 Kawato flew his first combat mission.

On December 17, 1943 he collided with a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3175 pilot Ft/Lt John McFarlane, his first and only confirmed aerial victory. Both pilots bailed out and were rescued by a Japanese patrol boat.

On March 22, 1944 during the night, Kawato and three other Zeros shot down a U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) PBJ Mitchell from Marine Bombing Squadron 413 (VMB-413). As one of four Zero pilots involved, he earned a quarter aerial victory. Two PBJ Mitchells are lost: PBJ 35124 pilot Major J. K. Smith (MIA) and PBJ 35117 pilot 1st Lt. William D. Graul (MIA).

During February 1944 when the remaining flyable Japanese planes departed Rabaul, he remained. Afterwards, assigned to the 105th Naval Base Unit. In late October 1944, the Japanese repaired several planes to flying condition. In total, Kawato flew a total of 35 combat missions.

Mission History
On March 9, 1945 took off piloting A6M2 Zero (field modified two seater) armed with two 70kg cluster bombs with A6M2 Zero pilot Shimbo on a mission to attack Australian forces off Zungen (Tol). Due to bad weather, Shimbo aborted the mission. Alone, Kawato flew eastward in a spontaneous attempt to attack on Green Island Airfield (Nissan) but found it covered in heavy clouds. Returning to the west he flew over Zungen (Tol) and Wide Bay then spotted an enemy gunboat ten miles southwest of Cape Orford. In fact, the vessel was Fairmile Motor Launch ML825.

During the ditching, Kawato suffered a broken wrist and concussion. Although injured, he swam over a mile and a half before reaching East Owen Point and attempted to follow the coastline in the jungle. On March 14, 1945 at Baien he was spotted by local people and was given food. The people he encountered were loyal to the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) and delivered him to the Australian Army, 6th Infantry Brigade where he was captured.

Prisoner Of War (POW)
As a Prisoner Of War (POW) he was taken to the 5th Division Provost Company. On March 17, 1945 he was transported to Jacquinot Bay. Kawato was assigned PW Number PWJA-161003. On March 24, 1945 he was interrogated by Major R. E. M. Cameron, ATIS. Afterwards, transported to Australia and on April 2, 1945 interned in the Gaythorne POW Camp in Queensland. On August 6, 1945 transferred to the U.S. Army, Provost Marshal Department and was detained until the end of the Pacific War. In November 1945 he was repatriated to Japan.

Aerial Victory Claims
Kawato was officially is credited 1 ¼ aerial victories. Postwar, he claimed 18 aerial victories, including an erroneously claimed to shoot down F4U Corsair 17915 piloted by Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington on January 3, 1944.

Victory	Date	Location	Aircraft	Notes on claim
1	12/17/43	Rabaul	RNZAF P-40N Kittyhawk	First aerial victory claim, aerial collision.
¼	03/22/44	Rabaul	USMC PBJ Mitchell	Second aerial victory claim, ¼ victory shared with three other Zeros.

Postwar
Kawato moved to the United States and was known as "Mike". In 1978, he self-published his memoirs, Bye Bye Black Sheep / Flight Into Conquest and claimed to have shot down Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. He toured the United States airshow circuit selling his book and signing autographs.

Memorials
Kawato died on December 17, 2001 at age 76 in Federal Way, Washington State. He was cremated and has no known grave.

Relatives
Yoichi Kawato, (brother)
Susie Setsuko Stillions (sister)

References
NAA POW Service and Casualty Form - Masajiro Kawato (NAA: MP1103/1, PWJA161003)
Sabretache: The Journal of the Military Historical Society of Australia "The Duel: Petty Officer Kawato flew in what is believed to be one of the last Zero fighter actions in the South West Pacific during World War II" by Robert Piper vol. 27 no. 3 (1986) pages 25-28
Bye Bye Black Sheep / Flight Into Conquest (1978) by Masajiro "Mike" Kawato
Roaring Glory A6M5 Zero (1998) interview with Masajiro "Mike" Kawato
The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida pages 62-63, 73-78
Associated Press "Masajiro Kawato, World War II Japanese ace pilot, dead at 76" December 29, 2001

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