13 June 1913 – 24 November 1944

Yamamoto was born in Shizuoka Prefecture on 13 June 1913.

He graduated from the 24th Pilot Training Class in July 1934 and became a fighter pilot.

After serving with the Tateyama and Ominato Kokutais, he was ordered to serve on board the light aircraft carrier Hosho.

At the outbreak of the China Incident the Hosho with ancient A2N fighters was posted together with the carrier Ryujo to 1st Carrier Division of the 3rd Fleet, leaving the port of Sasebo on 12 August. Arriving in the Ma-an-shan Islands area, they started supporting land operations beginning on 16 August. During this period, both Kaga and Ryujo groups had opportunity to engage in aerial battles.
On 1 September Hosho left Shanghai to return to Sasebo for refuelling.
Hosho and Ryujo proceeded south on 5 September, and starting 21 September, conducted several attacks on enemy bases in the vicinity of Canton.

On 27 September fighters from Hosho took part in an air raid on Canton. Yamamoto, who flew as number two to Lieutenant Kiyoto Hanamoto, discovered two Curtiss Hawks. He challenged them single-handedly and claimed the enemy number two wingman’s aircraft.

In December 1937 Yamamoto returned to Japan and was transferred to the Kasumigaura Kokutai.

In October 1939 he was ordered attached to the 12th Kokutai and participated in the China battlefront until July 1940.

Next he served as an instructor at the Oita Kokutai.

Immediately before the start of the Pacific War he was ordered on board the Kaga.

During the attack on Pearl Harbour, Yamamoto served as leader of the 4th Shotai in the first wave fighter escort. Immediately before arriving in the target area PO1c Yamamoto discovered a civilian sightseeing aircraft enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning cruise. With one burst of gunfire, Yamamoto shot down the aircraft at about 08:05.
He next moved in to strafe Hickam Field where he claimed six aircraft destroyed on the ground.
When he returned Yamamoto received credit for the first victory of the Pacific War. However modern research shows that another civilian plane actually went down just prior to the attack at about 07:53. This aircraft was credited to the two wingmen of Lieutenant Commander Itaya.

During the battle of Midway on 4 June 1942, Yamamoto was assigned to combat air patrol over the Kaga. Intercepting an attacking force of enemy dive-bombers and torpedo aircraft, Yamamoto and his shotai jointly claimed five aircraft. However, since the Kaga had received bomb hits, Yamamoto landed on the carrier Hiryu.
He next supported the Tomonoga carrier attack squadron, which took off to torpedo the American aircraft carrier Yorktown. After a furious engagement with enemy fighters, Yamamoto was able to shoot down four of them.

In July 1942 he was transferred on board the Zuiho and participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz on 26 October.

Promoted to Warrant Officer, he was next dispatched to the base at Rabaul in March and April 1943.

While providing air cover for ship convoys as well as participating in attacks on Port Moresby, Buna, Oro Bay and Guadalcanal, Yamamoto shot down a total of four additional aircraft.

In May he was transferred to the Yokosuka Kokutai.

Yamamoto during his service with the Yokosuka Kokutai in 1944.

In June 1944 he participated in the air battles over Iwo Jima, during which he was wounded by gunfire from a ship.
He recovered, however, a short while later.

When the first homeland bombing attacks by B-29s was carried out on 24 November, Ensign Yamamoto was among those who intercepted the incoming force over Yachimata. Though his aircraft was hit he managed to extricate himself. However, his parachute failed to open and he plunged to his death.

At the time of his death Yamamoto was credited with 1 biplane victory and a total of 13.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1937
1	27/09/37	1	Curtiss Hawk	Destroyed	Nakajima A2N		Canton	Hosho FS
	1941
2	07/12/41	1	Civil aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		off Hawaii	Kaga FS
	07/12/41	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed on the ground	Mitsubishi A6M		Hickam Field	Kaga FS
	07/12/41	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed on the ground	Mitsubishi A6M		Hickam Field	Kaga FS
	07/12/41	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed on the ground	Mitsubishi A6M		Hickam Field	Kaga FS
	07/12/41	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed on the ground	Mitsubishi A6M		Hickam Field	Kaga FS
	07/12/41	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed on the ground	Mitsubishi A6M		Hickam Field	Kaga FS
	07/12/41	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed on the ground	Mitsubishi A6M		Hickam Field	Kaga FS
	1942
	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Shared destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
?	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
?	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
?	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
?	04/06/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M		Midway	Kaga FS
	1943
?	??/03-04/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M
?	??/03-04/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M
?	??/03-04/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M
?	??/03-04/42	1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Mitsubishi A6M

Biplane victories: 1 destroyed.
TOTAL: 13 and 5 shared destroyed, 6 destroyed on the ground.

Sources:
Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II - Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa, translated by Don Cyril Gorham, 1989 United States Naval Institute, Annapolis, ISBN 0-87021-315-6
Additional information kindly provided by David Aiken.