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Shigetoshi Kudo
Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) / 251 Kōkūtai (251 Air Group)
J1N1 Gekko Night Fighter Pilot and Ace
by Justin Taylan
Background
Shigetoshi Kudo was born in 1920 in Ōita Prefecture in Japan. During 1937, enlisted in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and became a mechanic, then was trained as a reconnaissance pilot. In October 1941 assigned to Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group).

Wartime History
At the start of the Pacific War, Kudo flew missions over the Philippines and later the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). During April 1942 moved to Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul.

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August 29, 1942 intercepts B-17s and drops aerial bomb
On August 29, 1942 took off piloting a Type 98 Reconnaissance Aircraft / C5M Babs armed with an aerial burst bomb (Sango bomb) to intercept a formation of eight B-17s Flying Fortresses. Climbing above the bombers to an altitude of 7,500m / 24,606' he aiming for the B-17 on the left of the formation and claimed it was hit and went into the clouds. He also claimed the no. 2 bomber caught fire and went down. Afterwards, he was credited with a definite victory and a probable victory. American records do not show any B-17 losses that day.

On November 1, 1942 the Tainan Kōkūtai was redesignated as 251 Kōkūtai (251 Air Group) and returned to Japan. During May 1943 the group received two J1N1 Gekko (Irving). These aircraft were field modified as night fighters armed with upward and downward firing 20mm cannons. Flying from Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul, Kudo was the first to test the aircraft in combat, flying with Lt(jg) Akira Sugawara as observer. He would become the first Pacific night fighter ace. Another night fighter pilot who flew from Rabaul was Satoru Ono.

May 21, 1943 double victory using upward firing 20mm cannons
On May 21, 1943 took off from Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul on a night patrol. Flying below enemy bombers he used the upward firing oblique 20mm cannons to shoot down B-17E "Honi Kuu Okole" 41-9244 (his first verified aerial victory) and later that same night B-17E 41-9011 (his second verified aerial victory). He returned to base at 5:35am, having fired a total of 178 rounds of ammunition.

June 11, 1943 victory using upward firing 20mm cannons
On June 11, 1943 took off from Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul on a night patrol and intercepts B-24D "The Leila Belle" 42-40527 and shoots down the bomber with his upward firing 20mm cannons, expending 92 rounds.

June 26, 1943 Double victory using upward firing 20mm cannons
On June 26, 1943 took off from Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul on a night patrol mission. Flying from below and using his Gekko's upward firing 20mm cannons Kudo fired a total of 164 rounds of 20mm cannon ammunition and shot down two enemy bombers: B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 41-2430 that crashed in the Baining Mountains and B-17F "Taxpayers Pride" 41-24448 that crashed near Mount Varzin.

June 30, 1943 B-17 victory and B-24 probable
On June 30, 1943 took off from Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul on a night patrol mission. During the mission, he shoot down B-17F "Pluto" 41-24543 and observed it to crash into the mountains southeast of Cape Lambert. This was his fifth B-17 victory. He also claimed a probable claim for a B-24.

During early July 1943, Kudo flew from Lakunai Airfield southward to Ballale Airfield to fly patrol missions over the Shortlands and southern Bougainville.

July 7, 1943 Last confirmed aerial victory
On July 7, 1943 took off from Ballale Airfield on an evening patrol with observer Lt(jg) Akira Sugawara. Their Gekko used their two downward pointing 20mm cannons. This required Kudo to approach Hudson NZ2033 unseen from above and behind and then firing when in position 30°  above the Hudson's fore-aft axis (allowing for deflection). The Hudson was set on fire and crash, his last verifiable and confirmed victory.

During July 1943, he was presented with a ceremonial sword by Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka (C.O., 11th Air Fleet) at Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul to recognize his air service. In total, he was credited with nine victories and was known as "King of the Night". He was photographed by Japanese correspondent Hajima Yoshida holding the sword in front of the headquarters building.

In February 1944, transferred to Japan with the Yokosuka Kōkūtai (Yokosuka Air Group). During May 1945, Kudo was severely injured during a landing accident and was hospitalized and was never able to resume flying combat missions before the end of the Pacific War.

Aerial Victory Claims
Kudo was credited with nine aerial victories and two probables between August 29, 1942 until July 7, 1943.

Victory Date Location Aircraft Notes on claim
1 08/29/42 Rabaul B-17E Flying Fortress First victory claim flying C5M with aerial bomb, unverified.
Probable 08/29/42 Rabaul B-17E Flying Fortress Probable claim, no matching damage or loss.
2 05/21/43 Warangoi River B-17E 41-9244 Second victory claim J1N1 with upward 20mm cannons.
3 05/21/43 Put Put B-17E 41-9011 Third victory claim J1N1 with upward 20mm cannons.
4 06/11/43 Gasmata B-24D "The Leila Belle" 42-40527 Fourth victory claim J1N1 with upward 20mm cannons.
5 06/13/43 Ulamona B-17E "Georgia Peach" 41-24454 Fifth victory claim J1N1 with upward 20mm cannons.
6 06/26/43 Bainings B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 41-2430 Sixth victory claim J1N1 with upward 20mm cannons.
7 06/26/43 Mount Varzin B-17F "Taxpayers Pride" 41-24448 Seventh victory claim J1N1 with upward 20mm cannons.
8 06/30/43 Cape Lambert B-17F "Pluto" 41-24543 Eighth victory claim J1N1 with downward 20mm cannons.
Probable 06/30/43 Rabaul B-24D Liberator Probable claim, no matching damage or loss.
9 07/07/43 Shortland Hudson NZ2033 Ninth victory claim J1N1 with downward 20mm cannons.

Postwar

Kudo returned to Japan. He passed away during 1960.

References

Kodochosho, Tainan Kōkūtai, August 29, 1942
Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, May 21, 1943
Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, June 11, 1943
Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, June 13, 1943
Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, June 26, 1943
Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, June 30, 1943
Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, July 7, 1943
70,000 to One (1947) page 8
Moonlight Interceptor (1985) details Kudo's victories
Naval Night Fighters by Yoji Watanabe pages 28-45
Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45 (1998) pages 49-50, 105 (JNAF Aces Listings - Kudo, 9)
The Siege of Rabaul (1996) pages 38-41
Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume 1 (2015) pages 189-192 (May 21, 1943 Kudo double victories), 196 (251 Kokutai returns Rabaul May 10, 1943), 203-204 (June 13, 1943 Kudo victory), 211, 213 (painting caption), 214 (painting), 232-235 (June 26, 1943 Kudo double victories), 238 (J1N1 Lakunai), 316-317 (May 21, 1943 B-17 crews) 318 (June 13, 1943 B-17 crew), 318-319 (June 26, 1943 B-17 crews), 319 (June 30, 1943 B-17 crew), 351-352 (profile 3 description), 359-360 (profile 11 B-17E 41-2430 description), 396 (index Kudo)
Thanks to Henry Sakaida, Osamu Tagaya and Edward Rogers for additional information


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