WWII Imperial Japanese Army Air Corps Graduation Medal 55th Class Emperor Award
Own a Piece of History. This extraordinary medal represents an extremely rare piece of Japanese military aviation history. It's a genuine 1942 graduation medal from the 55th Class of the Imperial Japanese Army Aviation School , presented in the presence of Emperor Hirohito himself. The front of this distinguished medal features an eagle with outstretched wings standing atop a globe, symbolizing Japan's air power projection across Asia and the Pacific. Chinese characters for "valor" and "discipline" appear prominently on either side, representing the core values expected of Japanese military aviators.
What makes this piece particularly significant is revealed on the reverse side, which contains five columns of inscribed Japanese text describing the Imperial virtues and five principles that graduates were expected to embody. Pure loyalty and devotion to the Emperor.
Technical mastery of aviation skills. Unwavering discipline regardless of circumstances. Perfect physical and mental conditioning. At the bottom, it bears the inscription (55th Aviation Class).
The historical context of this medal is extraordinary. According to information received, on March 27, 1942, Emperor Hirohito personally attended the graduation ceremony at Kumagaya Airfield. He observed the flying demonstrations, presented awards to six exceptional graduates, and bestowed special gold medals through his military aide.
The ceremony took place at the height of Japan's early Pacific War successes, just four months after Pearl Harbor. This medal was obtained directly from the family of one of the graduates, providing authentic provenance rarely found with such military items.It weighs 33 grams and shows appropriate age patina consistent with its WWII-era origin. Aviation school graduates from this period were quickly deployed to combat zones across the Pacific theater. A truly museum-quality artifact that represents both the technical advancement of Japan's air forces and the spiritual indoctrination that defined its military culture during the war. Note: This is a historical artifact from WWII showing signs of age with appropriate patina. Approximate 14-21days(To USA and Europe).