Ryunosuke Kusaka

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Ryunosuke Kusaka (1893-1971) was a Japanese rear admiral who served as Chief of Staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet.

Born to a successful business executive in 1893, Kusaka entered the Japanese Naval Academy graduating the 1917. A specialist in naval aviation following his graduation from Naval Staff College in 1926, Kusaka would command the aircraft carriers IJN Hōshō, IJN Akagi and the 24th Air Flotilla before being appointed Chief of Staff of the 1st Air Fleet under Admiral Chuichi Nagumo in April 1941 and, largely involved in the strategic and tactical planning, would later take part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and Midway. It was during the aftermath of the Battle of Midway that Kusaka was able to convince the fleet commander and officers from committing suicide after the Japanese defeat.

Promoted a rear admiral, Kusaka remained with the fleet until November 1942 and was eventually transferred to the Combined Fleet as Chief of Staff under commander-in-chief Admiral Soemu Toyoda in November 1944. Kusaka would retire a Vice Admiral before the war's end.

Kusaka was later portrayed by Pat Morita in the 1976 film Midway.

[edit] References

  • Parrish, Thomas and S. L. A. Marshall, ed. The Simon and Schuster Encyclopedia of World War II, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978.