JN018          “Lieut J.G. Tetsuzo Iwamoto, Imperial Japanese Navy”

Another of the Imperial Navy’s Leading Air Aces. Iwamoto first flew in combat in China in 1938 and was credited there with 14 victories.

      Subsequently, he flew A6M Zeroes from the IJN Carrier “ Zuikaku” beginning in December 1941 until May 1942, taking part in “The Battle of the Coral Sea”.

In mid 1943 Iwamoto was sent to fly from Rabaul, New Britain where he remained until recall to help defend the Japanese home islands in mid 1944.

By the end of the war he was credited with 94 “Kills” ... His own personal diary accounted for just over 200.

Our figure shows him checking his watch while holding a flight map and getting ready to climb aboard his “Zero”.