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Matome Ugaki

Surname Ugaki Given Name Matome Born 1890 Died 14 Aug 1945 Country Japan Category Military-Sea Gender Male

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseMatome Ugaki was born in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from the naval academy in 1912 and the Naval Staff College in 1924. Between 1928 and 1930, he served in Germany. As the Pacific War broke out, he became a key figure in the Japanese Navy as the Chief of Staff to Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. When Yamamoto's aircraft was shot down in Apr 1943, Ugaki was also present, but he survived the ordeal. In Oct 1944, he commanded the First Battleship Division, which included Yamato and Musashi, in the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea.

ww2dbaseNear the end of the war, Ugaki was the commanding officer of the 5th Air Fleet, directing the kamikaze special attacks against Allied ships off Okinawa. Given the dire situation, he was proud of the development of the special attack; he noted in his diary that "I'm glad to see that, as the situation becomes critical, this kind of attack method comes to the fore without compulsion, thus displaying the glorious way of warriors..., the real spirit of a Japanese warrior." Despite his belief in the kamikaze spirit, he was frustrated with its failure to stop the American advance. On 14 Aug 1945, against the protest of his lieutenants, he sent himself on a special attack mission. "I'm going to follow in the footsteps of those many loyal officers and men who devoted themselves to the country, and I want to live in the noble spirit of the special attack." Donning a simple uniform without any rank insignia and carrying only binoculars and a samurai sword given to him by Yamamoto, he climbed into the backseat of an aircraft destined for a kamikaze mission. Warrant Officer Akiyoshi Endo, whose opportunity to die in a special attack was taken by Ugaki, protested insubordinatingly. "I have relieved you", Ugaki ordered. "You will stay." Endo continued to defy him, however, forcefully climbing into the Suisei dive bomber and squeezed himself in the same space that the admiral had already occupied. Moved, Ugaki shifted in the seat to allow the extra passenger. En route, Endo, the radioman, helped Ugaki send out the admiral's final message.

ww2dbase"I alone am to blame for our failure to defend the homeland and destroy the arrogant enemy. The valiant efforts of all officers and men of my command during the past six months have been greatly appreciated." ww2dbase"I am going to make an attack at Okinawa where my men have fallen like cherry blossoms. There I will crash into and destroy the conceited enemy in the true spirit of Bushido, with firm conviction and faith in the eternity of Imperial Japan." ww2dbase"I trust that the members of all units under my command will understand my motives, will overcome all hardships of the future, and will strive for the reconstruction of our great homeland that it may survive forever." ww2dbase"Long live His Imperial Majesty the Emperor!"

ww2dbaseAt 1924, Endo sent a message that they were entering a dive on an American vessel. However, American records did not indicate any successful kamikaze attack that day. Sadly for Ugaki, his aircraft likely had crashed into the sea.

ww2dbaseIn retrospect, Ugaki's decision to participate in a kamikaze mission on 14 Aug 1945 was rather peculiar, for that by that date he had already received advance notice of the Emperor's intention to surrender. Upon learning of this intention, the action could be viewed as an act of defiance to the Emperor's wish. Had he succeeded in sinking an American warship at this late date, it could have complicated the negotiations in the final days of the war.

ww2dbaseSources: the Divine Wind, Fading Victory.

Last Major Revision: Nov 2006

Matome Ugaki Timeline

1 Jan 1890 Matome Ugaki was born. 10 Oct 1939 Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki was named the chief of staff of Admiral Shigetaro Shimada at Kure Naval District, Japan. 11 Aug 1941 Matome Ugaki was named the chief of staff of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet. 20 Aug 1941 Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki stepped down as the chief of staff of Kure Naval District, Japan. 12 Jan 1942 Japanese light cruiser Oi hosted Rear Admiral Matome Ugaki as he visited her unit. During the trip, Ugaki expressed disapproval for the use of cruisers as torpedo vessels. 10 Sep 1942 Matome Ugaki arrived at Rabaul, New Britain to meet with officers of the Japanese Navy 8th Fleet, Japanese Navy 11st Air Fleet, and Japanese Army 17th Army. 12 Sep 1942 Matome Ugaki observed activities of the personnel of the headquarters of the Japanese 11th Air Fleet at Rabaul, New Britain. 31 Dec 1942 Matome Ugaki's diary entry made on this date looked back on 1942. "How brilliant was the first-stage operation up to April! And what miserable setbaks since Midway in June! The invasions of Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, and New Caledonia, [the] liberation of India and destruction of the British Far Eastern Fleet have all scattered like dreams. Meanwhile, not to speak of capturing Port Moresby, but the recovery of Guadalcanal... turned out to be impossible." 12 Apr 1943 Matome Ugaki became sick with dengue fever and was ordered to remain in bed at Rabaul, New Britain. 13 Apr 1943 Matome Ugaki, still recovering from dengue fever at Rabaul, New Britain, was given permission by the doctor to leave his bed. 10 Feb 1945 The Japanese Navy 5th Air Fleet was formed with the strength of eight air groups with Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki in command and Captain Toshiyuki Yokoi as his chief of staff; it was attached to the Combined Fleet. 14 Aug 1945 Seven aircraft of the Oita Detachment, 701st Air Group, Japanese Navy made the last operational suicide sortie of the war, led by Admiral Matome Ugaki, commander of the 5th Air fleet.

Photographs

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