Kato hayabusa sento-tai (1944) - full transcript

LET US WORK TOGETHER
WITHOUT STOPPING

Toho Production

COLONEL KATO'S FALCON SQUADRON

A national movie under the
aegis of the Ministry of Information

With the assistance of the
Department of the Army

Produced by the
Toho Group

CANTON, CHINA

APRIL 1941

He was expected to arrive at 17:00pm.

It will be difficult in this weather.

He may have turned around.



Perhaps.

Exactly 17:00 pm.

Attention!

It's been a long time, Amba.

Indeed.

You came directly from Taiwan?
We thought you might not make it.

The clouds were very low.
I just had to fly above the waves.

You must be very tired.
Do you want to go to your quarters?

No, first I have to make my report
to the Brigadier General.

Allow me to introduce myself.
I'm Tateo Kato.

I am delighted to return
to the crack 64th fighter group

as your new commander.

FIGHTER GROUP HEADQUARTERS

To your health!
Nothing is more important!



Who used to live in this house?

A general in the Chinese air force.

They even have a piano.

Commander, the men have written a song
that they'd like to sing for you.

With pleasure.

Kunimi?

Would you like to play the piano?
Everyone else will sing.

I don't know how.

Don't be shy. Go ahead.

- Go on. Play for us.
- Why don't you want to play?

Everyone... let's sing.

With the loud sound of the engine,

The Falcons go

To the ends of the clouds

The rising sun shining on our wings

And the Red Eagles drawn on our chests

Are the symbols of our fighters

Cold, wind, and intense heat
is nothing to us

We can bear with trials and tribulations

Expert aircraftmen maintain the airplanes

And they pray their airplanes do well

With parental feelings
for their lovely airplanes

Having had many air battles

The roaring sounds of bullets,

With faith in our ultimate victory

And cooperative spirit to die together
if we die

We grab our sticks with our hearts

After years of fighting

We received seven testimonials

But there were tears in the shadows
of our feats,

Ah, the samurais are gone,

With the spirit to die with a smile

We are proud of our tough eagles
throughout the world

Our wings go through thousands of miles

Observing shining traditions,

We will create a new Great Asia

We are the fighter wing
of the Imperial Army

A FEW MONTHS LATER

THE 64th FIGHTER GROUP
RECEIVES NEW FALCON FIGHTER

I was wondering who flew
this morning, just before dawn.

Looking out the window to the right,
I saw our commander. Such courage!

Our commander has already
mastered the Falcon.

He's both hard working
and a natural pilot.

You both seem to admire
it as if it's a new toy,

while our commander creates new
tactics based on it's strengths.

I respect him a lot for that.

Taking off from our base at Canton,

I flew over the island of Hainan
and then to French Indochina

but all of the airfields in
this area were flooded.

So I decided to fly to a place
called Phu Quoc.

You made it all the
way to Phu Quoc?

I found a place that we can use as
our new airfield. It does
require some work though.

It just has a few cows
but generally it's good.

You really went a long way.

Yeah, but I'm stiff all over.
Getting too old for this.

Impressive... flying solo
to Phu Quoc.

He is a very good navigator.
Unlike you!

Before my return, I got a pass
to Saigon where I bought this.

What is it?

What?! You really don't know?
It's a coffee grinder.

Oh, right. You prepare
coffee with it.

It's much better
prepared this way.

I'll make coffee
for every one of you.

It's very difficult to make coffee
properly. I need to teach her.

Come here.

You... go boil up some water.
Understand?

IN EARLY DECEMBER,
THE 64th FIGHTER GROUP

RELOCATED TO THE ISLAND OF PHU QUOC
IN SOUTHERN FRENCH INDOCHINA

MEANWHILE...

Our convoy containing
General Yamashita's division

is currently in the Gulf of Thailand...
heading toward the landings in Malaysia.

The convoy will enter enemy airspace
on the 7th of December.

The Sugai air division must protect this
convoy against the enemy's air attack.

Finally, the Aoto squadron

must provide air cover for the convoy during
the day on the 7th of December.

I think it's impossible to fly at night
on these instruments in this bad weather.

I've never been in a situation like this
before. We could lose everything.

Everything depends on
Yamashita's successful landing.

This campaign can influence the
outcome of this war.

I request that I be in charge
of tonight's mission.

I understand why you want to replace me
but you're my senior pilot ...

... so you must remain here tonight.

If something happens to you
at the beginning of the war,

the men's morale will be destroyed.

You don't trust me?!
I'll come back no matter what!

I would like to come with you.

But you just got here.

That doesn't matter.

If I stay behind,
I won't be able to do my duty.

This war will be a long one.
For now, rest.

I'm very rested.
Please.

No need to hurry.

As you order, I will remain here.

But can you at least take
Takada with you? Please.

Okay, I'll take him.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

The weather is getting worse and
worse. We must be careful.

17:30
TAKE OFF

THE CONVOY

19:10
ON PATROL ABOVE CONVOY

ESCORT FOR ONE HOUR

AS NIGHT FALLS, RETURN TO BASE

They should have been
back by now.

"We climb, we will pass over the clouds.

"We climb, we will pass over the clouds.

"We climb, we will pass over the clouds."

They must have encountered
some sort of trouble.

FATIGUE

DISORIENTATION

SLEEPINESS

Nakamitsu!

LT. TSUKUJI'S PLANE

6,000 METERS ALTITUDE

LACK OF OXYGEN

Are the signal lights working?

Yes, sir!

Turn on the searchlights.

Turn on the searchlights!

THE AIRCRAFT SHOULD BE FLYING
OVER THE LAND ABOUT NOW

BUT THICK LAYERS OF CLOUDS PREVENTS
THE SEARCHLIGHTS FROM BEING SEEN

LT. TAKADA'S PLANE

IS THAT A SEARCHLIGHT?

KATO DESCENDS 1,200 FEET

LT. ODA FOLLOWS HIM

Do you think that could be
the commander?

Lt.s Nakamitsu and Tsukiji are dead.

And the commander?

I lost sight of him.

Takada?

I don't know.

Takada! Takada!
Kato is here!

They'll be out of gas soon.

23:00 PM

Commander, the pilots who've returned
should get some rest now.

Yes...

Returned!

Lt. Takada

He insisted on going with us.

I was too sentimental
and now I almost feel...

...guilty.

I can't do this.

THE 8TH OF DECEMBER

ATTACKING THE ENEMY BASE TO
PROTECT THE YAMASHITA DIVISION

PENANG

THREE ENEMY AIRCRAFT SET ON FIRE
AND THREE DESTROYED

ALOR SETAR

THREE AIRCRAFT SET ON FIRE
AND THREE DESTROYED

This morning the Yamashita division

managed to land on Kota Bahru,
Singora and Patani.

That's great!

Excellent!

According to the radio,

the Imperial Navy has attacked
the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii.

They did?

Unbelievable!

TWO DAYS LATER, ON THE 12TH OF DECEMBER,
THE 64TH FIGHTER GROUP
MOVED TO KOTA BAHRU

The Yamashita division

is trying to occupy the bridge
before the enemy can.

Our timetable for capturing Singapore
depends on the capture of this bridge.

Our bombers will attack the enemy
to prevent them

from destroying the bridge.

Enemy fighters will surely attempt
to intercept our bombers

therefore we've been ordered
to escort them.

But before that, I've decided that we
destroy the enemy's base completely.

We will now destroy all enemy
aircraft in Kuala Lumpur.

ENEMY AIRCRAFT!

THE SECOND SQUADRON
ACTS AS BAIT

THE ENEMY CAUGHT IN THE TRAP
ARE SENT TO THEIR GRAVES...

...BECAUSE THE AMBA SQUADRON
PROVIDES HIGH COVERAGE

THIS WAS THE FIRST AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT,

IN WHICH KATO'S GROUP TOOK PART
IN THE GREATER EAST ASIA WAR

ON THE 24TH OF DECEMBER,
THE GROUP RETURNED TO THAILAND

Is she Japanese?

Yoshi?

Can you bring our
refreshments outside?

Wow!

How is it that you
know her name?

Don't get all excited.
She just works here.

Oh, okay.
What a shame.

It is said that the air force life in
Burma is very hospitable.

Unfortunately for you, our
job tomorrow won't involve fighting

but instead escorting bombers.
Don't forget that.

Oddly enough, it's as if we're
expected to repel at long range

rather than crushing
them one by one.

Like this.

THE 25TH OF DECEMBER -
THE ATTACK ON RANGOON

HEADQUARTERS OF KITAMURA'S GROUP

Whatever happens, have at least
one element above your formation.

I'm counting on you.

Any problems?

Sir, your machine guns
aren't working.

That doesn't matter.

What will you do without them?

If I don't go,
who will command my squadron?

I'm going.

THE KITAMURA AND OYAMA GROUPS
ARE BOMBING TODAY

KITAMURA'S GROUP

OYAMA'S GROUP

RANGOON

ENEMY FIGHTER JET'S BEGAN
ATTACKING KITAMURA'S GROUP

FROM ALL SIDES AS SOON
AS THE BOMBING RUN FINISHED

THE ENEMY IS SO AGGRESSIVE

THAT EVERY JET ESCORTING
KITAMURA'S GROUP RUNS INTO A FIGHT

COMMANDER KATO

HE TURNS AROUND TO SUPPORT THE
OYAMA'S GROUP, WHICH IS FAR BEHIND HIM

OYAMA'S GROUP

COMMANDER KATO
PROTECTS THE OYAMA'S GROUP,

WHICH RETURNS WITHOUT
FURTHER LOSS

AS FOR KITAMURA'S GROUP,
WHICH RETURNED EARLIER...

I'm sorry. We were not well prepared
and therefore failed to protect you.

My apologies.

Apology quite unnecessary.
Our losses were low because of you.

You've done your duty well.
Thank you and thank your men.

No, this wasn't good at all.

Assemble!

All present!

Loosen your helmets!

The bombers your were escorting
suffered major losses!

How many times have I told you
to stay with your charge?!

Lack of training is no excuse.
This is unacceptable!

One of you even broke off to pursue the
enemy and left everyone else behind.

For an escort mission to succeed,
we don't need you to shoot down
the enemy's aircraft.

In this escort mission, it's unfortunate
that we've got ten victories.

We should be
celebrating our victories

but let's do it some other day.
The commander is in a really bad mood.

Plus we lost Lt.s Okuda and Wakamatsu.

I brought you some fruit.

Come get some.

Let's have some now.

Kunimi, Enoki... come over here.

Shindo and Nili, you too.

What are you doing, Enoki?
Come on over.

This is the same kind
we had in China.

They must be
better in Taiwan.

Enoki, I told you to come here!

Dig in, Enoki.

What now?

I'm getting my chopsticks.

Wait, I'll get you some.
Sit down.

Use this.

Thanks, but I
have my chopsticks.

This is much better.

If you insist.

So, is it good?

Lt. Okuda.

I was told that he had problems
with his guns before he took off.

Even though he was a new
addition to the squadron,

he still thought of his duty...
taking off with no weapons.

He was a courageous man.

What a pity.

THE FIGHTER GROUP RETURNS
TO KOTA BAHRU IN MALAYSIA
IN THE BEGINNING OF 1942

Take over for me.

What are you doing, sir?

IN JANUARY, AIR OPERATIONS
IN MALAYSIA RESUMED

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY'S
AIR FORCE IN SINGAPORE BEGAN

IN THE NEXT TEN DAYS,
SIXTY MISSION WERE FLOWN

FORTY ENEMY AIRCRAFT
WERE SHOT DOWN
AND TEN DESTROYED ON THE GROUND

BUT WE SUFFERED LOSSES TOO

K.I.A. OF THE 64TH
FIGHTER GROUP

I have been mistaken...

I had thought the commander was
uncaring when it came to the loss of pilots...

...thinking that he thought of death as
inevitable for a fighter pilot.

But that's not true at all.

I could tell that from the
commander's prayer just now.

It couldn't have come from someone
who doesn't have feelings...

...or ability to distinguish between
life and death or anything else.

I finally understand the
greatness of our commander.

I heard he changed as a
consequence of his experiences in China.

Yes, it changed him.

It...perfected him.

In China, he could show his sadness
when he lost one of his own.

For example,
when he lost Kawahara in 1937,

he shaved off his moustache
as a sign of mourning.

He has changed a lot

but to get to this point he had to
overcome and endure many things.

We have a long way ahead of us
to get to where he is.

ON THE 6TH OF FEBRUARY,
THEY ARE SENT TO KAHAN

Enoki!

Yoshida!

My respects to
the commander.

It's been a long time...

You've become a paratrooper.

Why didn't you tell us
you were a paratrooper?

We went to school together!

Exactly why I wanted to
come see you tonight.

You didn't bring anything?
Not even a bottle of whiskey?

Sorry.

The food isn't so good here

but there is a variety
to choose from.

Very unfortunate indeed.

Don't worry, we can stuff ourselves
once we take Palembang.

Leave some food for us,
we'll join you there as soon as possible.

How's it going
over at Palembang?

A lot of anti-aircraft fire.
Enough to walk on.

We must be careful.

Don't worry.
We're prepared.

It's not so bad once we're on the ground...

...but we're vulnerable
in the air.

Count on us! We can also rely on our
commander to watch over us.

Perfect.
Until tomorrow then.

Is that why you've come?
You're scared about
what might happen tomorrow?

Nonsense! I have to go and have
a few drinks with my men now.

Good luck!

I'm counting on you.

He seems to be more
nervous than usual.

Perhaps because he doesn't
have wings like ours.

We pray our parachutes open correctly

GOOD LUCK, PARATROOPERS!

ENEMY AIRCRAFT!

Follow me!

The signal man has landed.

Group 1, rally in the
designated area.

Gun ready!

Attack! Advance!

Gunners, keep up your fire!

Everyone, advance
on the enemy position!

I'm delighted that the
paratroopers have landed unharmed

but now we have to escort
a convoy up the Musi river.

Coordination between the convoy
and the paratroopers

is the key to our success.

As soon as all aircraft are refuelled,
we'll take off immediately.

ON THE 15TH OF FEBRUARY,
THE WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER
WAS RAISED OVER SINGAPORE

ON THE 17TH OF FEBRUARY,
KATO'S FIGHTER GROUP
MOVED TO PALEMBANG

ON THE 9TH OF MARCH,
DUTCH FORCES IN INDONESIA
SURRENDERED UNCONDITIONALLY

THAT SAME DAY,
KATO WAS PROMOTED TO COLONEL

What is it that you're carrying?

Lobsters, sir.

They're really big.
Wait, I want to take some pictures.

Enoki.

How do you take such beautiful
photos with just a basic camera?

It must be your
personal technique.

Just the camera.
Nothing else to it.

A good samurai knows how to
choose his sword.

You know Shindo, it's best not to offer advice
about something you haven't mastered.

I used to always keep my camera near me
when I was traveling on the train.

Once, when the train lurched, I dropped it
and then yelled "Dammit"!

Then I realized it was my own stupid fault
and was ashamed of my own clumsiness.

No, no Enoki! Not now.
Show me some respect.

I have avenged myself from that time
you photographed me with that rooster.

Get back here, Enoki.

What a rascal...

AFTER THE END OF THE JAVA OPERATION,
THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE BURMA CAMPAIGN

STATIONED IN THAILAND

THEY ATTACKED THE ENEMY
AIR FORCES IN BURMA...

...DESTROYING THEM IN A FEW DAYS

BUT THE ENEMY GROUND FORCES
REGROUPS NEAR THE CHINESE BORDER

THE AMERICANS, THE BRITISH, AND THE
BURMESE PREPARED TO COUNTERATTACK

THE 8TH OF APRIL

SOME OF KATO'S
GROUPS ATTACK FIRST

We have a very
serious situation.

What happened?

Okubara, Kuroi, and Oda
were all killed!

Our commander?

I don't know.
We got separated.

We had just observed two enemy aircraft.
We were then jumped by twenty more!

A few more stragglers returning.

Wait, it's the commander!

Is our commander injured?

Good.

Oda caught fire and
crashed straight into a hanger.

A magnificent sacrifice.

Hey, Enoki,

Captain Amba is...

What?

To this hard day...

What do you say to attacking them
tomorrow at dawn?

If we attack at sunrise,
we'll get our revenge.

Loiwing is just within the range
of our fighters.

Most of our flights are also over
the enemy's territory.

If we fly during daylight,
the enemy will see us.

So we must fly at night.

We get there at sunrise, destroy them,
and return immidiately.

What do you think, Shindo?

It's a good idea. But how do we fly over
the mountains in the area at night?

Furthermore, the enemy base is small and
located in between the mountains.

I was surprised today
how small it was. So at night...

If our navigation is good,
we'll get there.

Don't you think so, Maru?

Yes, absolutely!

Trust me on the navigation.

There will be moon all night.

That will allow us to see
the Mekong and Salween rivers.

That's the way we'll do it.

We will avenge Amba
and all the others!

All pilots, assemble!

At ease.

Here are your orders.

First - the main enemy force was
spotted near Loiwing this morning

Second - our fighters must destroy
these enemies on the ground.

After we landed, Kato told me to only count
two-thirds of the claims we normally would.

As soon as we return from the mission,
we take off again and get into a dogfight.

We didn't get surprised like this before.
We were shooting them down, left and right.

I was hit in three places.

Three times?

I'm much better now.

Hey, Enoki.

So, it's you.
You're still alive!

Don't talk nonsense. I'm not like
you, half-way through after-life.

What are you talking about?

Tell me about the others first.

Not so bad. The commander
is sick and here at the hospital.

Really?
He seems so strong.

He's exhausted.
He's been flying a lot lately.

No matter what, he can't force
himself to keep doing this...

He should be taking it easy in
the hospital for a while.

Yes, but given his character...

even in bed,
he cares about his fighter group.

He always say that he's
going to the doctor

but then demands to leave
so he can return to his unit.

It's troubling.

No, I'm not staying.

Why not? We've found a place
where you can relax.

It's nice and quiet here.
You should at least stay two weeks.

Thank you for your concern.
But I feel rested already.

Don't push so hard.

I feel relaxed when I'm flying.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

THE VERY SAME DAY, ON THE 17TH OF MAY,
THE UNIT MOVED TO AKYAB

THE COMMANDER JOINED THEM
THE FOLLOWING DAY

What time will
the commander arrive?

Sometime around noon I think.

Should be any moment then.

That must be him.

No, it doesn't sound right.

Enemy aircraft.
Altitude 1,500 feet.

Air-raid!
Air-raid!

Bastard!

Thank you, commander!

This is embarrassing.

Let's take care of the plane.

You're too nice to me!

THE NEXT DAY,
ON THE 19TH OF MAY

Commander?

Ah, it's you Enoki.

We've been waiting for you to get back.
Things should start getting better now.

I shall now give
you my report:

Lt. Kohei Enoki - Army Air Force,
released from hospital on the 15th of May

reporting for duty, sir.

You needed have rushed back.
You could have stayed a little longer.

Yes, but I heard
you were short of pilots.

Some pilots have returned to Japan,
others are sick.

In short, we've been weak for
the last six months.

I brought a pack of cigarettes.
Would you like one?

I'm not sure I can accept such
an expensive gift.

Thank you.

You don't smoke, do you?

No.

I see...
Thank you.

I have another gift for you.

Good God, no! Give me the negative.
I'll pay anything.

No, no. I need it
as a souvenir.

No you don't.
Give it to me now.

Please, no.

You are a rascal.

THE AKYAB BASE IS
TOO CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINE

AS THE CONSEQUENCE,
THE GROUP HAS TO MOVE TO TONGU

I'm leaving you tomorrow at noon.
Notify headquarters.

Yes, sir. I'll inform headquarters that
you'll be arriving tomorrow afternoon.

Excellent.

What is that?

Start the engines.

Chance!
Chance!

ON THAT DAY, IMIZU'S PLANE WAS HIT
AND CRASHED IN THE JUNGLE

Lt. Imizu

Remember that you have to take off
quickly when there is an alert.

Why did you say that?

Why did you say
"chance" in English?

I said that?

And you clearly repeated it twice.

Maybe you should be fined for
using the enemy's language?

I did?

Damn!

A fine, a fine!

Liars! I never said that!

You did!
It was exactly like that.

I have contacted
Ohba's group.

What about Imizu?

We must now ask the volunteer army
to continue to search.

Volunteer army?

Yes, sir. We don't know if it's
in the enemy territory or not.

"Volunteer Army" is what headquarters
advised us to call the Burmese.

You know how
to contact them?

Yes, sir. One of our officers
is in their rank.

See to it at once!

Kuroya, wait a minute.

Does anyone of you have
a picture of Imizu?

You can take it with you?

It's amazing that I have a tent
after all the enemy attacks.

They drop bombs on it
every time.

Last time...

...they demolished it
just after I had landed.

If I had been in it, I would be crossing
the river San-zu this very moment.

I've been very lucky.

I have returned, sir.

Let's slip into my
office for a moment.

Any news?

Our officer was in
fact not present.

I returned here after I had
waited for him for an hour.

I understand.

That's annoying!

No idea where he might be?

No, sir.

I'm sorry but you'll
have to go back again.

Do you think you
can bring him here?

Yes, I will return with him.

When I was in Germany, they
showed me Hitler's new airplane.

I got to fly it after
some brief instruction.

They were surprised
how quickly I mastered it.

"This crazy Japanese pilot."

I don't like macaroni.

I'll rather have my spaghetti
without any holes.

Anyway, that's Italian
cuisine for you...

I was told that the best way to eat it
is to wrap it around your fork.

In my part of the country, there are
some small birds called "Cherry"...

...that were nesting on my my roof.

I always watched the nests
when I was little.

I'd take the babies in my hands.
They were very soft and warm.

Still they do not come.

It's 1:00 am.

I have returned, sir.

They ask that you wait until tomorrow.
Night complicates the search.

They cannot give you anything more
until tomorrow afternoon.

Very well.
Sorry to put you out.

No trouble at all, sir.

Let's get some sleep.

I've kept you
all up too long.

Still no news from
the volunteer army.

It's not a good sign, sir.

Discouraging.

Shouldn't you
be leaving now?

I'll wait a little
while longer.

Shindo,
what's the matter?

I caught a
cold this morning.

You're ill?

Yes, a little.

You have dengue fever.
You need to go back to Tongu.

Aren't you about
to leave yourself?

I could go with you.

Not just yet. I'm waiting
for word on Imizu.

You need to look after yourself.
I know what dengue fever is like.

That's an order!

Go take care of yourself.

Lt. Shindo returning
to the base at Tengu.

Take care.

AN HOUR LATER...

You're leaving soon?

In a little bit.

TWO HOURS

You're sure that Imizu
landed in the jungle?

And not in
enemy territory?

I'm sure it was in the jungle
but from what I could tell...

...he must have been
seriously injured.

I'm certain that he
must be dead by now.

Okay.

Either way, the volunteer army
doesn't have any further news.

I'll be back soon...

Start the engines!

THAT DAY,
ON THE 22ND OF MAY, 1942...

...THE WAR GOD DID NOT RETURN

ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS, KATO
ATTACKED THE ENEMY OVER THE SEA...

...50 MILES NORTHWEST OF AKYAB BUT
HIS OWN PLANE WAS HIT AND CAUGHT FIRE

THE COMMANDER, PROBABLY INJURED,
LOOPED HIS PLANE UP...

...BEFORE DIVING
STRAIGHT INTO THE SEA

Our wings go through thousands of miles

Observing shining traditions,

We will create a new Great Asia

We are the fighter wing
of the Imperial Army

THE FRONT REQUIRE AIRCRAFT AND TANKS.
SEND THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE