A FORMER IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY OFFICER BECOMES A CHRISTIAN: MITSUO FUCHIDA (DECEMBER 3, 1902 TO MAY 30, 1976)

            On this date, May 30, 1976, a former Imperial Japanese Navy officer, Mitsuo Fuchida, passed away. He became a Christian Evangelist in September 1949. I will post the information about him from Wikipedia and other links. 

Captain Mitsuo Fuchida

 

Born	3 December 1902 Nara Prefecture, Japan
Died	30 May 1976 (aged 73) Kashiwara, near Osaka, Japan
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service	1924–45
Rank	Captain
Unit	1st Air Fleet
Commands held	Akagi: 1st (flag), 2nd and 3rd air squadrons
Battles/wars	World War II: China Attack on Pearl Harbor Bombing of Darwin Indian Ocean raid Battle of Midway
Other work	Christian evangelist Author

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 Japanese navy before and during World War II. He is perhaps best known for leading the first air wave 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 evangelist and traveled through the United States and Europe to tell his story. He settled permanently in the United States but never became a U.S. citizen.