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Tadashige Daigo

Surname Daigo Given Name Tadashige Born 15 Oct 1891 Died 6 Dec 1947 Country Japan Category Military-Sea Gender Male

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseTadashige Daigo was born in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan into a noble family related to the Fujiwara aristocracy, thus giving him the title of Marquis. After graduating from the Gakushuin Peers' school, he attended the Imperial japanese Naval Academy, graduating in 1912. As a midshipman, he served aboard cruiser Azuma and battleship Shikishima. As an ensign, he served aboard cruiser Tokiwa. On 13 Dec 1915, he was promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant and served aboard battleship Kongo and destroyer Urakaze. In the same year, he took some time off to attend a session of the House of Peers as an obligation for members of his social class. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 Dec 1918. After taking courses in torpedo warfare, he was assigned to submarine SS-26, and later given command of SS-27. In 1924, he served aboard cruiser Aso before being promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander on 1 Dec 1924. Between 1 Dec 1925 and 1 Mar 1926, he was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District as a staff officer. Later in 1926, he first served as commanding officer of Ro-64, and then served as the chief torpedo officer aboard battleship Yamashiro. He was promoted to the rank of commander on 30 Nov 1929. In the 1930s, he commanded a number of warships. He was promoted to the rank of captain on 15 Nov 1934. On 15 Nov 1940, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral.

ww2dbaseAt the start of the Pacific War, Daigo was the commanding officer of Submarine Squadron 5 with flagship light cruiser Yura. His force covered the first wave of the Malaya Invasion Force south of the Cape of Camau in French Indochina; during that campaign, his submarines were dispatched to pursue the British Royal Navy Force Z that included Prince of Wales and Repulse, but they were unable to attack due to weather before the British were sunk by aircraft. Between 13 and 26 Dec 1941, his submarines were assigned to cover the invasion of Sarawak in northern Borneo. In Jun 1942, Submarine Squadron 5 participated in the Battle of Midway as a part of the advance screening force. Between 31 Aug 1942 and 1 Apr 1943, he was the acting commanding officer of the Kure Submarine Squadron. On 1 Nov 1943, he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral and was placed in command of Submarine Squadron 11; in this role, he oversaw midget submarine attacks and merchant shipping raids on the eastern coast of Australia. Between 23 Aug 1944 and Apr 1945, he served as the Commandant of the Naval Submarine School. Between 1 May 1945 and the end of the war, he was the commanding officer of the 6th Fleet; in this role, he worked in the development of the kaiten manned-torpedo program.

ww2dbaseAfter the war, Daigo was arrested by American occupation forces at the request of the Dutch government and was extradited to Batavia, Dutch East Indies. He was found guilty by a closed military tribunal for war crimes in connection of the Pontianak Incident in which civilians were massacred. He was executed by a rifle shot to the stomach in Dec 1947.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Mar 2009

Tadashige Daigo Timeline

15 Oct 1891 Tadashige Daigo was born. 6 Dec 1947 Tadashige Daigo passed away.

Photographs

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