Pampanga: The Birth of the Kamikaze (神風) (Historic Airfield)

In World History, people remember the fateful day of October 20, 1944 synonymous with the well-rehearsed and publicized landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the beach of Palo, Leyte and the great Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history between the Imperial Japanese Navy against the massive US fleet and some Australian vessels.

Lesser known than the much-publicized landing of the megalomaniacal general, together with the diminutive Carlos P. Romulo ,wading on the beach, was the birth of the flying human bombs, dubbed the Kamikaze, meaning divine wind in Japanese, that was very successful, at first, in hitting their targets, until the Americans found ways to neutralize them later in the war.

On a recent trip to Pampanga, Tutubi, aided by a map from Wikimapia, searched for a former airstrip constructed by the Americans during "peace time" and used by the Japanese during World War II. The old runway is now gone, nearby however is the toll gate of the newly-opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. To commemorate the historic significance of the place, the Kamikaze Peace Shrine and Memorial was constructed on the site of the former airstrip.

the sign at the gate of memorial shrine. there are also two huge markers ont the entrance walls, one in Japanese, the other in English, with the words in full below.

the monument of the Kamikaze airman with fresh flowers probably laid by Japanese tourists
the memorial shrine with the Philippine flag and the old flag rising sun of imperian Japan. (Notice the drop of water on the lens that Tutubi didn't remove by Photoshop :P )

The entrance of the shrine is "guarded" by a torii gate, traditional Japanese gates of Shinto Shrines. After 4 "classic" shots, rain fell and Tutubi had to scamper back to his car to save his camera from getting drenched.

the torii gate of the shrine taken from inside the car.

Lt. Seki, the first confirmed Kamikaze pilot, before his historic suicide mission wrote: "Japan's future is bleak if it is forced to kill one of its best pilots. I am not going on this mission for the Emperor or for the Empire... I am going because I was ordered to!" He was also heard say "It is better to die, rather than to live as a coward."

Such is the spirit of the Kamikaze, death before dishonor, the way of the ancient Samurai and the Bushido Code...

For Tutubi, all he can say of the Kamikaze are these two words: NEVER AGAIN!

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The historical marker reads:

"Kamikaze East Airfield Peace Memorial

This spot is the central frontage of the very first Japanese Kamikaze Airfield during World War II, the Mabalacat East Airfield. On 20 October 1944, Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi founded the Kamikaze at Mabalacat, Pampanga, Luzon Island. The first to volunteer were 23 fliers of the 201st Air Fleet, Imperial Nippon Naval Air Force under Capt. Sakae Yamamoto, then stationed at Mabalacat. This first Kamikaze group was called the Shinpu Special Attack Corp under Lt. Yukio Seki. The corps was divided into four units: the Shikishima Unit, the Yamato Unit; the Asahi Unit, and the Yamazakura Unit. At 0725 hrs. on 25 October 1944, the Shikishima unit took off from Mabalacat led by Lt. Yukio Seki. His men were Sgt. Iwao Nakano, Sgt. Nobuotami, Em 1/C Hajime Nagamine and Em 2/C Shigeo Oguro At 1045 hrs., on the said date, the unit hit enemy targets near the Gulf of Leyte. Lt. Seki's plane hit first, blowing up the U.S. Carrier St. Lo which sank 20 minutes later. Lt. Seki's men also hit and heavily damaged the U.S. Carriers: Kalinin Bay, Kitkun Bay, Sangamon, Santee, Suwanee and White Plains. This first successful Kamikaze Mission was witnessed, then reported by C/WO Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, Japan's greatest pilot, to Lt. Cmdr. Tadashi Nakajima in Cebu Air Base of the 201st Airgroup. War Historians considered Lt. Yukio Seki as the "The World's First Official Human Bomb!"

N.B.

The Mabalacat Tourism Office (MTO) supports the establishment of the Kamikaze Peace Memorial not for the glorification of the Kamikaze but rather for the promotion of goodwill, peace, and friendship among nations. The Memorial serves as a reminder that the Kamikaze phenomenon should never happen again.

Whereas, the once dusty and serene town of Mabalacat is recorded in the annals of war in the Pacific theater during the Second World War as the birthplace of the Kamikaze phenomenon;

Whereas, the people of Mabalacat were innocent victims caught in a senseless war between foreign powers for world supremacy;

Whereas, the cause and demise of of the Kamikaze pilots is an important part of liberative struggle of the Mabalaquenos and the entire Filipino nation to unchain the fetters that bind them;

Whereas, the establishment of the Kamikaze monument which would not only serve as a cruel reminder of the horrors and senselessness of war, but is likely to boost tourism and sense of history in the area; and

Wherefore, the declaration of Clarkfield-Mabalacat, Pampanga on October 1998 as "A City of World Peace" is a continuing effort to secure lasting and enduring peace for all mankind thorughout the world, irrespective of nations and races.

Signed: Guy "Indra" Hilbero
Mabalacat Tourism Office
WWII Researcher"

Note:
There is a so-called Kamikaze Museum maintained by the Kamikaze Memorial Society of the Philippines (KAMESO), in nearby Angeles City but Tutubi has yet to visit the place. Various World War II mementos of the Kamikaze pilots of Japan and different helmets used by the Axis and Allied powers of World War II are said to be on display.

How to get there:

Driving Directions: From NLEX, exit at Dau, but do not cross the bridge going to Tarlac, instead drive towards the Mabalacat arch until you see the end of road leading to a public market then turn right. It's just along MacArthur Highway and a few meters after the exit gates of SCTEx.

Commute: There are buses going to Mabalacat Pampanga or Angeles City. In Mabalacat, transfer to a Capas-bound jeepney where you will pass by the shrine near the boundary of Bamban, Tarlac.

There are two other events on the 20th of October very significant to this blog. Can anyone guess what they are?

神風 第二次世界大戦