Japanese Pilot Who Dropped Torpedo on Pearl Harbor Dies at 106

japan - Masamitsu Yoshioka, the last living veteran who took part in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, has passed away at the age of 106 in Japan.

Masamitsu Yoshioka, the Japanese pilot who dropped a torpedo on Pearl Harbor in 1941, has passed away at the age of 106 in Japan. He was part of the surprise attack on the American naval base that resulted in significant casualties on the American side. Yoshioka, who was trained as a navigator but became a pilot and bomber in the Japanese military, recalled the training and preparations that went into the mission. Despite the impact of his actions, he expressed regret for the lives lost in the attack, emphasizing that he was following orders to target combat ships, not to kill people.

The attack on Pearl Harbor, carried out by the Japanese with 353 aircraft, led to the deaths of over 2,400 Americans and the damaging of 19 US ships. This event marked the entry of the United States into World War II. Yoshioka's recollection of the events surrounding the attack shed light on the realities of war and the unintended consequences of military actions.