Rare , named ,Type 3 Japanese flying helmet

**dramos** · 02-08-2016, 11:49 PM

William, I understood he was killed on an air raid bombing. Did I misunderstand? I had to read it a couple time to understand haha.

**ghp95134** · 02-08-2016, 11:52 PM

by dramos

...Where did this info come from?

See the highlighted links in my post. Alternatively, you can do a google search for "永谷　尚（一飛曹）甲種10期,6/24,大宮島" and come up with a few other hits, mostly repeating the same data. Be certain to search each page with the keyword 永谷 (Nagatani).

Any finds you get, past them into Google Translate and then try to make sense of the rendered English.

**ghp95134** · 02-08-2016, 11:54 PM

by dramos

William, I understood he was killed on an air raid bombing. Did I misunderstand? I had to read it a couple time to understand haha.

That was my understanding as well.

--Guy

**Wagriff** · 02-08-2016, 11:55 PM

Hard to say. "Killed in action"....was he flying at the time-went up to defend? And if so, where did he crash? The details are abit "grey", from the way that I'm reading them.

**Walkwolf** · 02-09-2016, 01:14 AM

Hi Doug. That is indeed a very nice find. Now you
need some period goggles.........!

**dramos** · 02-09-2016, 02:21 AM

I see where you are coming from William. I am going to do some searching and see what I can find!

Thank you Steve! Maybe at the next swap meet!

**MAP** · 02-09-2016, 04:19 AM

Guy...you outdid yourself here. What a great piece of information. From a pick up at a flea market to what amounts to a provenanced item with pretty much the place of capture (assuming it was from an air raid)

Doug: Don't need to say this but sure you are totally stoked about this. I am and it's not even mine.

**dramos** · 02-09-2016, 04:54 AM

MAP, I am very excited about this piece. Japanese militaria seems to be scarce where I am and I rarely, if ever, see any "out in the wild". I am happy to own it and extremely grateful for all the help I have received from the members of this forum! I have been researching for the past few hours, but info is hard to understand because google translate is horrible.

**ghp95134** · 02-09-2016, 05:35 AM

by dramos

.....I have been researching for the past few hours, but info is hard to understand because google translate is horrible.

(^_____^)

hehehehehehe ... I feel your pain.

--Guy

**dramos** · 02-09-2016, 05:58 AM

The 263rd Naval Aviation Group, also known as the Leopard Corps (豹部隊, Hyō Butai). was part of the IJN's 1st Air fleet. They were formed on October 1, 1943 and disbanded July 10, 1944.

On September 30th, 1943, a cabinet meeting planned the Absolute National Defence Zone strategy. The plan was created and considered the Kuril Islands, Bonin Islands, Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, Geelvink Bay (Biak), Sunda Islands and Burma to be "unsinkable aircraft carriers", meaning they were to be defended at all costs. The 263rd "Panthers" were tasked with protecting this National Defense Zone. The Battle of Philippine Sea and the Aerial Battle of Taiwan–Okinawa would leave the IJN air fleet decimated, with their only strategy being kamikaze attacks.