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Masamitsu Yoshioka, then a bombardier, was one of 770 aviators of the Imperial Japanese Navy that attacked Pearl Harbor on 12/7/41. In the fog of battle, his plane inadvertently sank the U.S.S. Utah killing 58 sailors. This, despite orders from commanders not to bother with the Utah since it was then a disarmed training vessel.
Yoshioka managed to survive the war. He was on leave when his carrier, the Soryu, was sunk at the Battle of Midway. Later, his kamikaze mission was grounded with an inoperable aircraft.
In August, Masamitsu Yoshioka died at age 106. He was the last known IJN survivor of the raid on Pearl Harbor.
Yoshioka managed to survive the war. He was on leave when his carrier, the Soryu, was sunk at the Battle of Midway. Later, his kamikaze mission was grounded with an inoperable aircraft.
In August, Masamitsu Yoshioka died at age 106. He was the last known IJN survivor of the raid on Pearl Harbor.