Yukio Araki
Yukio Araki | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Corporal Yukio Araki. c.1943 | |
| Born | March 10, 1928 Miyamae-cho, Kiryū, Gunma, Japan |
| Died | May 27, 1945 (aged 17) USS Braine (DD-630), off Okinawa, Empire of Japan |
| Cause of death | Suicide by plane crash |
| Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Service years | 1944–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 72nd Shinbu Squadron |
| Conflicts | |
Yukio Araki (Japanese: 荒木 幸雄, Araki Yukio, March 10, 1928 – May 27, 1945) was a Japanese aviator of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. As a kamikaze pilot and member of the 72nd Shinbu Squadron, Araki died on May 27, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa when he deliberately crashed his bomb-laden Mitsubishi Ki-51 into the USS Braine. It is speculated that Araki and one other pilot hit and damaged the ship, killing 66 of its crew. At 17, Araki was one of the youngest kamikaze pilots.