FineMolds AD07 Tateo Katoh (Imperial Japanese Army)

Tateo Katoh (or Tateo Katō ) was born in September 1903 and died in May 1942. He was a fighter pilot of the Japanese Imperial Army and its fighter ace with 18 kills. The future fighter ace graduated from the military academy in 1925, and in 1927 - a pilot course. After a short service in Korea, he returned to Japan where he was an instructor in aviation schools. He returned to line service in 1936 and shortly after that he took part in air fights over China, where he won 9 air victories using the Ki-10 and Ki-27 machines, which contributed to his promotions and further training - already at the territory of the motherland. At the time of Japan's accession to World War II, Tateo Katoh was serving in the Canton area flying the Ki-43. Despite the relatively high officer charge, he took part in air combat, which was rather rare at that time. He took a very active part in the Malay campaign. He was shot down in action on May 22, 1942.