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U.S. Army.
Iwabuchi Sanji, an early Navy aviator, commanded seaplane carrier Kamoi, served with the Navy General Staff, and commanded light cruiser Kashii prior to the Pacific War. He was the prospective commanding officer of seaplane tender Akitsushima, under construction, when war broke out.
Iwabuchi was captain
of battleship Kirishima
when she was sunk by Willis
Lee’s task force off Guadalcanal
on the night of 14-15 November 1942. He was subsequently promoted to
rear
admiral and command of
31
Base Force at Manila;
that is,
kicked upstairs to a shore command.
Judging from his subsequent actions, Iwabuchi was deeply shamed and determined to restore his personal honor and that of the Imperial Navy. When the Americans invaded Luzon in early 1945, Iwabuchi ignored the instructions of Army commander Yamashita to break out of Manila, broadcasting an emotional message announcing his determination to fight to the death (Badsey 2000):
We are very glad and grateful for the opportunity of being able to serve our country in this epic battle. Now, with what strength remains, we will daringly engage the enemy. Banzai to the Emperor! We are determined to fight to the last man.
Iwabuchi fought to
the death along with 16,000 sailors of the base force. The
extremely bloody
battle cost 6500 Allied
soldiers their lives, along with 100,000
Filipino
civilians, many of whom were apparently deliberately murdered by the Japanese sailors. Iwabuchi is thought
to have committed ritual suicide
on 25 February 1945, but his body was
never found.
Yamashita was later held responsible for the
Manila massacre in spite of his lack of effective control over Iwabuchi
or the 31 Base Force. This
has been cited in criticisms of trial
by military tribunal.
| 1895-3-2 | Born | |
| 1915-12-16 |
Midshipman |
CL Iwate |
| 1916-12-1 | Ensign |
|
| 1918-3-26 | CVS Nisshin | |
| 1918-12-1 | Lieutenant junior
grade |
|
| 1919-8-5 | DD Umikaze | |
| 1919-12-1 | Gunnery
School Basic Course |
|
| 1920-5-31 | Torpedo
School Basic Course |
|
| 1920-12-1 | Yokosuka
Air Group |
|
| 1921-12-1 | Lieutenant | AP Matsue |
| 1922-11-20 | 1 Naval District |
|
| 1923-12-1 | Gunnery School Advanced Course |
|
| 1924-12-1 | BB Hyuga | |
| 1925-12-1 | CL Tsushima | |
| 1926-12-1 | CL Jingei | |
| 1927-12-1 | Lieutenant
commander |
|
| 1928-12-10 | 3 Naval District |
|
| 1929-4-1 | Staff, 1 Expeditionary Fleet | |
| 1929-11-20 | CL Yahagi | |
| 1930-11-1 | 2 Naval District |
|
| 1930-12-1 | CL, Oi | |
| 1931-10-15 | CL Abukuma | |
| 1932-11-15 | CA Chokai | |
| 1933-11-15 | Commander | BB Hiei |
| 1934-11-15 | Commander, Kure
Guard Squadron |
|
| 1935-7-1 | 2 Naval District | |
| 1937-12-1 | Captain | |
| 1937-12-15 | 1 Naval District | |
| 1938-3-22 | Commander, Kamoi | |
| 1938-8-25 | Naval General Staff |
|
| 1941-4-1 | Commander, Kashii | |
| 1941-11-1 | Chief equipment officer, Akitsushima | |
| 1942-3-25 | Staff, Combined
Fleet |
|
| 1942-4-20 | Commander, Kirishima | |
| 1942-11-22 | Staff, 11 Air Fleet |
|
| 1943-2-10 | 1 Naval District | |
| 1943-5-1 | Rear Admiral |
|
| 1943-5-5 | Chief of Personnel, 4 Naval District |
|
| 1944-11-1 | Staff, 3
Southern Expeditionary
Fleet |
|
| 1944-11-17 | Commander, 31
Base Force |
|
| 1945-2-26 | Vice Admiral |
Killed in action |
References
Materials
of IJN (accessed 2007-11-2)
When Military Trial Was Unfair (International Herald-Tribune; accessed 2007-4-10)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007 by Kent G. Budge. Index
