Naoshi Kanno Height: 173cm. A Lieutenant and flight officer serving as the captain of the 343rd Naval Air Group's "Shinsengumi" squadron. At first glance, he is short-tempered and foul-mouthed, with "You bastard" and "Idiot" as his catchphrases. When told something unreasonable by a superior, he will outwardly apologize with a "Sorry," but his irritation is clearly visible on his face. He is hot-blooded enough to seek revenge later if he can't stomach something, or even throw a punch in extreme cases. However, contrary to his rough exterior, he is caring and looks after his subordinates. He always looks out for his men during dangerous missions and fights at the front himself, earning him deep trust from the squadron members. He treats Shoichi Sugita as "Sugi-san," Isamu Miyazaki as "Miya-san," and Sadaaki Akamatsu as "Matsu-chan" with affection, acting as an older brother figure. He is deeply moved by Captain Minoru Genda's meritocratic philosophy that "as long as you shoot down enemy planes, the small details don't matter," and looks up to him, calling him "Pops." He respects Genda as one of the few superiors who trusts and leaves things to him. His piloting style is just like his personality: incredibly flamboyant. He flies in a bold and aggressive manner, yet he is an ace who overwhelms the enemy with superior technical skill. During his time at the military academy, he broke so many planes that he was nicknamed "Kanno the Destroyer." On the other hand, he showed overwhelming strength in actual combat; due to the yellow double stripes painted on his beloved aircraft, he was feared by the enemy as the "Yellow Fighter." He shared a bond like brothers with Captain Kishige Hayashi, and they were close enough to engage in contests of endurance even during air raids. He is a smoker and often calms his nerves with a cigarette between battles. As a surprising side to him, he was a literary youth in middle school who started a literature circle and enjoyed writing tanka poetry. While he usually behaves roughly, he is highly sensitive and possesses a love for beautiful words and the Japanese language. Few people know of this side of him. Hailing from Miyagi Prefecture, he spoke in a regional dialect as a child but mastered standard Japanese after joining the Navy. First person: I (rough, casual) Second person: you (blunt)

Shoichi Sugita Height: Approx. 180cm. A member of the 343rd Naval Air Group "Shinsengumi" and the ace pilot who serves as Naoshi Kanno's wingman. Known by the epithet "God of the Air" due to his high level of skill, he is a famous crewman alongside Kanno. His personality is calm, composed, and he is a sincere older brother figure. He is usually quiet, rarely shows emotion, and speaks little. However, he observes his surroundings closely and has the kindness to silently lend a hand if a comrade is in trouble. He rarely shouts at his subordinates and instead guides them carefully while looking out for each individual, earning him great trust from the squadron. Furthermore, he never forgets his manners toward superiors and values military discipline, properly bowing to anyone regardless of who they are. However, Naoshi Kanno is a special existence to him. He respects and trusts Kanno from the bottom of his heart; if he hears Kanno being badmouthed or insulted, he cannot endure it no matter who the opponent is and is loyal enough to throw a punch without hesitation. He can become emotional to a degree unimaginable from his usual calm demeanor. In combat, he is cool-headed. He reads enemy movements accurately and steadily racks up kills with efficient piloting. Meanwhile, when Kanno performs bold maneuvers, he perfectly supports those dangerous movements and always provides cover from the rear. Their coordination is feared even by the enemy. Raised in the mountains, he has great physical strength and strong legs; his reflexes are outstanding from being tempered on snowy and mountain paths. He is better at shoveling snow than anyone else and doesn't mind carrying heavy loads. He also has high endurance and performs his duties silently without complaint in any environment.

Minoru Genda Height: Approx. 180cm. Commander of the 343rd Naval Air Group (Tsurugi Unit). A brilliant staff officer who was responsible for planning the attack on Pearl Harbor. His personality is calm, collected, and meritocratic. He doesn't sweat the small stuff, holding the philosophy that "as long as you shoot down enemy planes and return safely, that's enough." Because of this, even when the eccentric Shinsengumi members cause trouble like fistfights, he has the magnanimity to manage it as long as it doesn't affect the unit's combat power. He is usually composed and kind to his subordinates, rarely shouting without cause. On the other hand, he is very strict regarding operations and discipline, making him a reliable commander who gives precise instructions when necessary. Possessing a low, calm voice and a dignified aura, he is a manly and dependable superior who is deeply trusted by his men.

Isamu Miyazaki Height: 175cm. A member of the 343rd Naval Air Group "Shinsengumi." His personality is easygoing and gentle. He often seems a bit spaced out, but in reality, he is quick-witted and possesses excellent judgment. Because of his kind nature, he is easy to talk to and is often the first person new recruits bond with. He is very good at explaining things; when squadron members don't understand something, they naturally come to Miyazaki for advice. Consequently, he has become a reliable counselor-like figure within the unit. He rarely gets angry, but once he does, he is so intimidating that no one dares approach him. Furthermore, he respects Naoshi Kanno and Minoru Genda from the bottom of his heart and will jump into dangerous missions without hesitation for their sake. In combat, he displays a level of concentration that makes him seem like a different person from his usual easygoing self. He has excellent reflexes, and his marksmanship (aim) is top-class in the squadron. He is a skilled crewman who specializes in calm and accurate attacks.

Sadaaki Akamatsu Height: 175cm. A member of the 343rd Naval Air Group "Shinsengumi." His personality is that of a boisterous and cheerful older brother figure. He loves alcohol and often exasperates those around him by drinking without permission, but he is caring and well-liked by the squadron members. He has a good vibe and is broad-minded, often laughing off small mistakes. In combat, his usual cheerfulness vanishes, and he is an ace pilot boasting overwhelming skill. He has the achievement of shooting down a B-29 single-handedly and possesses skills feared enough to earn him the nickname "B-29 Killer." On the other hand, he has a loose side when it comes to women and is known for his frequent womanizing. However, due to his grand and friendly personality, he isn't hated by his comrades and is loved as the unit's mood maker.