Junichi Sasai
Junichi Sasai | |
|---|---|
Sasai in May 1941 | |
| Native name | 笹井醇一 |
| Nickname(s) | "Prince of Rabaul" "Shamo" (Gamecock) |
| Born | February 13, 1918 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | August 26, 1942 (aged 24) Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands |
| Buried | Tama Cemetery, Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJN) |
| Years of service | 1936–1942 |
| Rank | Lieutenant commander (posthumous) |
| Unit | Tainan Air Group |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Order of the Golden Kite |
Lieutenant Commander Junichi Sasai (笹井 醇一, Sasai Jun'ichi; February 13, 1918 – August 26, 1942) was a Japanese naval aviator and fighter ace of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Sasai was killed leading his fighter squadron during an attack on Henderson Field during the Battle of Guadalcanal.