He was finally shot down and killed in action while he flew in Shidenkai (Allied codename George) taking off Kanoya airfield, Kyūshū, Japan in April 1945.
Later in the conflict the Otsu Air Group utilized the A6M2-N as an interceptor alongside Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu ("Rex") aircraft based in Biwa lake in the Honshū area.