Naoshi Kanno

Naoshi Kanno (Japanese: 菅野直, 23 September 1921 – 1 August 1945), born

Naoshi Kanno
in Miyagi Prefecture, was a Japanese fighter ace[1][2] in World War II. He is
credited 25 confirmed kills.[3]

Contents
Biography
In fiction
References
External links

Biography
Kanno enrolled in the Japanese Navy Academy in December 1938, graduating in
February 1943 in the 70th class.[3] Upon completion of flight school, he was Naoshi Kanno c. 1945
assigned to the front lines in April 1943, joining the 343rd Naval Air Group, Born September 23,
quickly becoming a squadron commander (buntai leader) and by July 1944, 1921
leading (as the hikotai leader) the 306th Squadron of the 201st Naval Air Miyagi Prefecture,
Group.[3] He gained the reputation as a rebellious but skillful fighter pilot.[3] Japan
Initially based in Micronesia, his unit fought many engagements over the Died August 1, 1945
Philippines and the Yap island.[3] On 27 October 1944 he claimed to have shot (aged 23)
down 12 Grumman F6F fighter planes.[3] He made requests to transfers to a
Allegiance Empire of Japan
kamikaze unit, but those were denied as he was considered too valuable a pilot to
sacrifice.[3] In December 1944 he became the squadron commander of the 301st Service/ Imperial Japanese
Squadron of the 343rd Air Group.[3] His unit moved back to the Kyushu in the branch Navy
Japanese home islands toward the end of the war. Years of 1943–1945
service
His final mission took place on 1 Aug 1945, two weeks before the end of the
Rank Hikotai leader
war, when he took off to intercept a group of B-24 bombers escorted by P-51
Mustang fighters off the island of Yakushima south of Kyushu. He sustained Unit 343rd Naval Air
damage when a barrel of his gun exploded, and went missing in action shortly Group
afterwards, presumed dead.[3] His remains were never found. He was Battles/wars World War II
posthumously promoted to the captain in the following month.[3]

In fiction
Kanno is one of the protagonists of the Drifters manga and anime, where he was voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki.[5][6]

References
1. Ikuhiko Hata; Yasuho Izawa (1989). Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II (https://books.googl
e.com/books?id=eFsgAAAAMAAJ). Naval Institute Press. p. 404. ISBN 978-0-87021-315-1.
 2. Yasuho Izawa; Tony Holmes (21 April 2016). J2M Raiden and
N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai Aces (https://books.google.com/books?id
=nlO3CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA95). Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 95–.
ISBN 978-1-4728-1262-9.
3. Ikuhiko Hata; Yashuho Izawa; Christopher Shores (1 March 2013).
Japanese Naval Fighter Aces: 1932-45 (https://books.google.com/bo Kanno's Kawanishi N1K. It had extra
oks?id=NOy3DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA247). Stackpole Books. pp. 247– stripes painted on it as Kanno hoped
248. ISBN 978-1-4617-5119-9. they'd lure enemies into attacking
4. Tony Holmes (24 January 2019). Hellcat vs Shiden/Shiden-Kai: him.[4]
Pacific Theater 1944–45 (https://books.google.com/books?id=iq13D
wAAQBAJ&pg=PA62). Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-
4728-2973-3.
5. "Drifters: Battle in a Brand-New World War Season 1 Review" (https://animeuknews.net/2018/10/drifters-battle-in-
a-brand-new-world-war-season-1-review/). Anime UK News. 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
6. "Naoshi Kanno" (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Drifters/Naoshi-Kanno/). Behind The Voice
Actors. Retrieved 2019-10-31.

External links
Media related to Naoshi Kanno at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naoshi_Kanno&oldid=926384051"

This page was last edited on 16 November 2019, at 00:38 (UTC).

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