Mineichi Koga (Date of photograph unknown)

Mineichi Koga Mineichi Koga Mineichi Koga 1885-1944 Birthplace: Saga Prefecture Navy Admiral, became Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet following the death of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in battle. When he arrived at the battleship Yamato, which was anchored in the Truk Islands, Koga is said to have told his staff that "the war was already 60% unwinnable. Koga felt that as Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, he had already passed the stage of launching operations that could contribute to the war effort. In fact, Koga was not able to conduct anything that resembled an operation. To avoid air raids, he moved his headquarters from trucks to Palau. When Palau was also bombed, he followed the advice of Chief of Staff Shigeru Fukudome and moved to Davao, Mindanao in the Philippines. However, the large flying boat carrying the Director General was engulfed in a low-pressure system and lost. He is recognized as a martyr. At the time of his death, he was given the title of Marshal. (Photo by Kingendai Photo Library/AFLO)