Takahide Aioi

Takahide Aioi
Aioi while with the Ōita Air Group in 1940 or 1941
Born	January 4, 1912 Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Died	March 6, 1993(1993-03-06) (aged 81)
Allegiance	Empire of Japan Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Years of service	IJN: 1933-1945 JMSDF: -July 1, 1967
Rank	IJN: Commander JMSDF: Vice Admiral
Commands	IJN: Vice commander of the 343rd Air Group JMSDF: Commander of the Fleet Submarine Force, Commander in Chief of the Self Defense Fleet
Battles/wars	Second Sino-Japanese War Pacific War
Awards	Order of the Rising Sun (3rd Class) Order of the Sacred Treasure (4th Class) Order of the Golden Kite (5th Class)

Vice Admiral Takahide Aioi (相生高秀, Aioi Takahide, January 4, 1912 – March 6, 1993) was commander of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as well as an ace fighter pilot in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific theater of World War II. In aerial combat over China and the Pacific, he was officially credited with destroying 10 enemy aircraft.

During the Pacific campaign of World War II, Aioi participated in the conquest of the Philippines as a pilot aboard the aircraft carrier Ryūjō. Later, he served as a group leader in the 202 Air Group in the Solomon Islands Campaign. Aioi experienced the Battle of Leyte Gulf aboard the carrier Zuikaku in 1944. He ended the war as executive officer of the 343 Air Group in Japan.

In 1954, Aioi joined the JMSDF, eventually rising to the rank of vice admiral.

References

• Hata, Ikuhiko; Yasuho Izawa (1989) [1975]. Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II. Translated by Don Cyril Gorham. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-315-6.

Aioi at Hankou, China in 1938 while with the 12th Air Group