Isoroku Yamamoto (山本 五十六, Yamamoto Isoroku?, 4 April 1884 – 18 April 1943) was a Japanese Naval Marshal Admiral and the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II, a graduate of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy.
Yamamoto held several important posts in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and undertook many of its changes and reorganizations, especially its development of naval aviation. He was the commander-in-chief during the decisive early years of the Pacific War and so was responsible for major battles such as Pearl Harbor and Midway. He died during an inspection tour of forward positions in the Solomon Islands when his aircraft (a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" bomber) was shot down during an ambush by American P-38 Lightning fighter planes. His death was a major blow to Japanese military morale during World War II.
Read more about Isoroku Yamamoto: Family Background, Early Career, 1920s and 1930s, 1940–1941, December 1941 To May 1942, Battle of Midway, June 1942, Actions After Midway, Death, Personal Life, Yamamoto As A Commander, Decorations, Media Portrayals