Yoshio Hirose and "Air War For Burma"

[Håkan]

Hello,

According to all my claimlist, Major Yoshio Hirose claimed his last and ninth victory when he was killed, ramming a B-29 on 22 December 1944.

The claims I have are:

19/09/37 O-38 in Tai Yuan area
21/09/37 Enemy aircraft in Tai Yuan area
08/12/41 Hawk III in Aranya Prathet area
23/12/41 Enemy fighter in Rangoon area
23/12/41 Enemy fighter in Rangoon area
08/02/44 Hurricane in Maungdaw area
08/02/44 Hurricane in Maungdaw area
08/02/44 Hurricane in Maungdaw area
22/12/44 B-29 in Nagoya area

All these are rather well documented.

However, according to C. Shores new “Air War For Burma”, he claimed an additional Spitfire over Homalin on 12 April 1944.

Is there anyone, who knows whether this “10th” claim was a probable (or damaged) or any of the one in my list above are a problem or alternatively, he should be credited with 10 victories?

For more info on Hirose see: http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/japan_hirose.htm

Best wishes/Håkan Gustavsson