Saburo Sakai

[Luftwaffle8]

Originally Posted by Juha

Japanese suffered great losses during the long transfer flights. According to the interrogations of Admiral Kusaka, Admiral Irifune, Commander Hori and Lt Commander Watabe, appr. 40 % of the planes meant to Rabaul were lost during transfer, mostly because bad weather and poor pilot training. If long over-sea flights were so difficult to JNAF pilots sure they were a great challenge to JAAF pilots flying to e.g. New Guinea.

Juha

You are absolutely correct! Also, pilots were lost on ill-planned missions. There were also losses due to tropical illnesses, mostly malaria. You have to be in tip top shape to fly and fight.