"Story Of Last American To Die In WWII" Topic

"The last American to die in World War II was killed three days after the war was over.

After Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945 — what would be called V-J Day ("Victory over Japan") — the war in the Pacific ended just like it had started in 1941: with "a surprise attack by Japanese war planes," wrote Stephen Harding in Air & Space Magazine.

With just one other bomber alongside and no fighter escort, Army photographer Sgt. Anthony Marchione was flying in an Army Air Force B-32 Dominator bomber aircraft on Aug. 18 with a mission to take reconnaissance photos and ensure Japan was following the cease fire…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

It was years before I had read about this. Lost all respect for Sakai after I read his account. It is stuff like this that reinforces my belief that the Japanese got everything, and a lot less, than they deserved from thier actions in WW II.

Agree!.

Amicalement
Armand

There are many reasons to criticize Japan's record during WW2. This incident does not rise to that level, in my view.

Japan was still at war. They may have agreed to surrender to the U.S., but the USAAF had launched bombing raids on Japan AFTER the Nagasaki bomb during negotiations, the formal surrender documents had not yet been signed, and there was no American presence giving the Japanese information on what was or was not to be expected … and they where experiencing repeated attacks (by the Soviets) at that time and for weeks after.

To fly two big, modern bombers over Japanese military and civil facilities was a provocative act in that environment. The mission profile, to the Japanese, would have looked identical to the missions that dropped the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Two big bombers at high speed, at high altitude, with no escort, fly over a major city. BOOOOM that city disappears. I don't think it I would criticize the Japanese for rising to defend against such an overflight …

Doesn't change the empathy I feel for this young American airman who paid the ultimate price for his country. But it would have been foolish to not expect this kind of reaction.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Agreed with Mark1.

Also agree with Mark1. While its sad that this man had to die I feel MacArthur was as much to blame as the people who shot him down, who may very well have thought they were under attack. According to this link posted in another thread also by Tango01 link it seems MacArthur knew this could happen and essentially used these mens lives as bait.

You are right my friend.

It's clear that he knows… but he want to made a "test"… which took this live…

Amicalement
Armand