DARLINGTON - The Darlington Sons of the American Legion Squadron 214 will be hosting a meal and presentation on Jan. 21 at the Legion Post. Author and historian Mike Mair will be presenting his book, "Kaiten: Japan's Secret Manned Suicide Submarine and the First American Ship It Sank in WWII."
Mair is the son of the late John Mair, who was one of the survivors of the Japanese attack on the USS Mississinewa on Nov. 20, 1944 in the Pacific by a Japanese manned torpedo. The attack sank the ship, killing 63 American servicemen.
Long after the USS Mississinewa exploded and sank, Mair's father was still filled with grief over the deaths of his shipmates. Just before he passed in 2005, Mair's father wanted him to tell the Mississinewa tale.
Those who attend the presentation will learn how Sekio Nishina climbed into his torpedo submarine, also known as kaiten or "heaven shaker," and prepared for his top-secret suicide mission. American troops were prepared for the kamikaze pilots that Japan had been turning out in the war, but the kamikaze submarines were unexpected.
Mair traveled the globe and researched the story of the Mississinewa and the suicide submarine that sank it. Mair interviewed survivors, their wives and their children. "Kaiten" tells the story from both sides, from the strategic importance of the USS Mississinewa, to newly revealed secrets of the kaiten development and training schools.
In addition to co-authoring the book "Kaiten," Mair contributed to the Bent Prop Project in their quest to find the sunken wreckage of the Mississinewa in 2001. Mair will share the story of the discovery and the Navy's response to it.
Mair's presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21. SAL will be providing a meal prior to the presentation, beginning at 4:30 p.m. There is no cost for the meal or the presentation, but a free-will offering will be accepted to support the Legion. Mair will have copies of his book on hand for purchase. The event is open to the public.
Mair is the son of the late John Mair, who was one of the survivors of the Japanese attack on the USS Mississinewa on Nov. 20, 1944 in the Pacific by a Japanese manned torpedo. The attack sank the ship, killing 63 American servicemen.
Long after the USS Mississinewa exploded and sank, Mair's father was still filled with grief over the deaths of his shipmates. Just before he passed in 2005, Mair's father wanted him to tell the Mississinewa tale.
Those who attend the presentation will learn how Sekio Nishina climbed into his torpedo submarine, also known as kaiten or "heaven shaker," and prepared for his top-secret suicide mission. American troops were prepared for the kamikaze pilots that Japan had been turning out in the war, but the kamikaze submarines were unexpected.
Mair traveled the globe and researched the story of the Mississinewa and the suicide submarine that sank it. Mair interviewed survivors, their wives and their children. "Kaiten" tells the story from both sides, from the strategic importance of the USS Mississinewa, to newly revealed secrets of the kaiten development and training schools.
In addition to co-authoring the book "Kaiten," Mair contributed to the Bent Prop Project in their quest to find the sunken wreckage of the Mississinewa in 2001. Mair will share the story of the discovery and the Navy's response to it.
Mair's presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21. SAL will be providing a meal prior to the presentation, beginning at 4:30 p.m. There is no cost for the meal or the presentation, but a free-will offering will be accepted to support the Legion. Mair will have copies of his book on hand for purchase. The event is open to the public.
