Were there any aces that served on Akagi?

Steak said:

Were there any aces that served on Akagi?

Almost certainly, although I don't know any off the top of my head.

Kaga and Akagi, being the earliest carriers produced that stayed as fleet carriers, were the carriers that had the most trained and experienced pilots in the Imperial Japanese Navy. (This because the policy of the IJN was to keep pilots and ship crews together as a single unit, never transferring planes or units, meaning the best pilots were stuck with the most obsolete equipment.)

To push them into ace territory, the Japanese had several years of absolutely slaughtering obsolete Chinese planes before any battles with proper Allied forces. (See post #1745728) Much like the greatest German aces, the only way to rack up some of the ludicrous kill counts some aces got was to fight completely inferior opponents. (It doesn't matter how good you are, you don't rack up kill counts in the hundreds fighting worthy opponents.)

Saburo Sakai, who Mio is based on, never served on an aircraft carrier.

HOWEVER

The Akagi was a pretty important ship in Strike Witches' first season. They spent a lot of time on and around her during the plot.

And in season 2's finale, the 501st deployed off of Kaga to supply air escort for Yamato.

OtomeSound said:

The Akagi was a pretty important ship in Strike Witches' first season. They spent a lot of time on and around her during the plot.

Ah, poor Akagi. She didn't deserve what she got over there...

OtomeSound said:

Saburo Sakai, who Mio is based on, never served on an aircraft carrier.

HOWEVER

The Akagi was a pretty important ship in Strike Witches' first season. They spent a lot of time on and around her during the plot.

And in season 2's finale, the 501st deployed off of Kaga to supply air escort for Yamato.

Wait, I thought it was not Kaga but the Amagi?

Steak said:

Were there any aces that served on Akagi?

Saburo Shindo