Three Named WWII Japanese Navy Officer Caps of a Kamikaze Pilot Killed at Okinawa in 1945

Recently acquired during a trip to Japan, the group is comprised of a World War II Japanese Navy officer's visor cap with white cotton cover, as well as a black field cap and a green field cap, all named to the same officer: Ensign Susumu Misoka. On April 29, 1945, Ensign Misoka took off from Kanoya Air Base as the pilot of a Zero fighter carrying a 250-kg bomb and he then was killed in a suicide attack off Okinawa at the age of 23. He was a member of the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps 5th Shichishō Squadron from Genzan Naval Air Group in Korea. Originally from Nagasaki Prefecture, he attended Nagoya Higher Technical School, and he was a member of the 13th Class of the Navy's Flight Reserve Students. The visor cap is blue wool with a white cotton cover. The front displays the bullion insignia of an officer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The white cover shows typical spots and soiling. The black woven cap band exhibits age, with some spots of wear and a bit of fraying. The surface of the black leather visor has typical age crazing. The body of the cap is somewhat misshapen from storage. The interior of the cap retains the leather sweatband and the lining, which bears a name tag having the name 'Misoka'. Both the green field cap and the black wool field cap show use and wear. The black cap shows stains at the rear, with a bit of damage to one of the white rank bands, but otherwise the field caps are without damage or repairs, and both exhibit great character as Imperial Navy field caps worn in the theater of operations. All three caps are contained within a wooden box that is approximately 15-1/8 inches long by 8-1/2 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches deep. Written in kanji on the lid of the box are the words 'Hats from the Estate of Susumu Misoka'. On a website which is devoted to kamikaze images can be found Ensign Misoka's last letter to his family:'In the season of spring warmth, I trust that Father, Mother, Hiroshi, Takeshi, and Eiko are in high spirits. I also am in high spirits thanks to you and am on standby. From the skies above I said farewell to our home and neighborhood. Through the good offices of Yamakawa, I was able to exchange cups ofsakewith Father. In my heart I have no regrets. I am as normal with no changes. I am concerned more about whether I can sink instantly an enemy aircraft carrier than about dying. I have never seen men like my wingmen Ensign Miyazaki, Ensign Tanaka, and Ensign Kimura who all with calmness will tomorrow make certain-death, sure-hit attacks. They are playing cards and absorbed in reading books. With this I think that Shinshū Japan certainly will win. There is no way to express my thanks for the many ways that you showed me kindness for a long time for more than 20 years and for raising me to be a fine person so that for the Emperor I have a way to be able to repay a ten-thousandth of the Emperor's grace. Parents, please watch for my battle results. And if you receive notification of the battle results, please praise me. Absolutely do not shed any tears. I surely will return home. I with my form changed always will be living.Give my warm regards to all of the neighbors. From my heart I pray for the health and success of my parents first and Hiroshi, Takeshi, and Eiko.'