Japanese Forces

Hiromichi Shinohara

Hiromichi Shinohara graduated from the Tokorozawa Flying School in 1934 and was assigned to the 11th Sentai, posted in Manchuria. On 27 May 1939, Shinohara downed four Soviet I-16's during his first combat sorty. Within 24 hours, he scored six more victories, downing an L-Z reconniassance aircraft and five I-15's. His victories continued, culminating in an amazing record of 11 victories in a single day, on 27 June, 1939. Shinohara's luck ran out on 27 July, 1939 when he himself was shot down by Russian fighters after claiming three victories during a bombing escort mission. Warrant Officer Hiromichi Shinohara was posthumously promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, having claimed 58 victories in only three months of combat, earning the title of 'Richtofen of the Orient'.