101-year-old WWII pilot returns to Taiwan to visit former base and search for savior's descendants

CNA reporter Hsu Chih-wei, Taipei, May 25. Tadashi Masuda, 101, a pilot stationed in Taiwan during WWII, recently returned to the former Changhua airfield site. He interacted with the National Chengchi University (NCCU) team that facilitated his visit and hopes to find the descendants of the person who saved him after he was forced to ditch his plane at sea. NCCU announced today that the 'Changhua County Fuxing Township Regional Revitalization Project,' led by Professor Hsu Shih-jung, translated the pilot's autobiography and contacted Masuda through Junichi Imade, a Japanese business executive in Taiwan. Masuda was stationed at the Changhua airfield at age 19. He returned to the site on May 23 and visited NCCU today. Masuda is believed to be the last surviving pilot who served at the Changhua airfield. He expressed deep nostalgia and gratitude. He also hopes to find the descendants of the local resident who saved his life after his plane malfunctioned, to express his deepest thanks.