Mitsuo Fuchida, Japanese captain and pilot (d. 1976)
Mitsuo Fuchida (淵田 美津雄, Fuchida Mitsuo, 3 December 1902 – 30 May 1976) was a Japanese captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and a bomber aviator in the Imperial Japanese Navy before and during World War II. He is perhaps best known for leading the first wave of air attacks on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Working under the overall fleet commander, Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo, Fuchida was responsible for the coordination of the entire aerial attack.
After the war ended, Fuchida became a Christian convert and evangelist, traveling across the United States and Europe to tell his story. He later settled in the U.S. (although never taking American citizenship for himself). Certain of Fuchida's wartime claims have been challenged as self-serving by historians, including his claimed advocacy for a third wave attack on Pearl Harbor.
1902Dec, 3
Mitsuo Fuchida
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Events on 1902
- 28Jan
Andrew Carnegie
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C. with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. - 27Feb
Breaker Morant
Second Boer War: Australian soldiers Harry "Breaker" Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after being convicted of war crimes. - 17May
Antikythera mechanism
Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer. - 14Jul
Piazza San Marco
The Campanile in St Mark's Square, Venice collapses, also demolishing the loggetta. - 9Aug
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark are crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.