Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft

- Land-Based Units - Early War Organisation -

Version 2006_11_05 -  87 pics in total

 

 

1. Kokutai
(Z- )
 1941   -   Philippines

By the time the Japanese invaded the islands the, Philippine pilots had mastered flying their antiques
and on 12 December Captain James A Villamor shot down a Mitsubishi G3M2 Nell of the 1st Kokutai over Batangas (in a P-26)
 1942, early   -   Mitsubishi G6M1-L BETTY   -   South-East Asia

later 752. Kokutai

 

 

2. Kokutai
(Q- )
Fighter Dive-Bomber Level-Bomber
1942   -    Rabaul
A6M3 M.32 Rei-Sen HAMP D3A1 VAL G4M3 BETTY

 (Q-102)		 - -

(Q-122) - Lt Yasushi Nikaido,
Lead-AC 2.Chutai Fighters
(Q-216)
 (Q-901)
later 582. Kokutai

 

 

3. Kokutai
(X- )
1942, February   -   A6M2 M.21 Rei-Sen ZEKE   -   Kendari airfield, Celebes, East Indies

 (X-108)
different stripes ??


(X-182)
flown by a Buntai-Cho (Flight Leader)
(X-183)
Yoshiro Hashiguchi, 23. Hikotai
renamed 202. Kokutai

 

 

4. Kokutai
(F- )

---
renamed 702. Kokutai

 

 

6.Kokutai
(U- )

A6M2 M.21 Rei-Sen ZEKE
Rabaul, 1943


A6M3 M.32 Rei-Sen HAMP (U-128)
Ballale, Solomons, 1943
1942, end   -  renamed 204. Kokutai

 

 

12. Kokutai
(S- ) / (3- )
Fighter Divebomber Levelbomber
August 1937   -   China
formed 2nd Rengo Kokutai (combined Airgroup) with 13. Kokutai
Shortly after the 12th Ku went from using an 'S' to a '3'
12 A4N1 12 D1A1 12 B3Y1
- - -
 1938-1939
? ? C3N1
- -
(S-91)
- -
(3-92)
 
1938-1939   -   China
A5M4a Claude ( ? ) B5N1 KATE

(3-104)		 -
 (3-317)

(3-105)		 -
(3-352)

(3-107) -Saburo Sakai-? 		- (3-356)
This machine wears a Hokoku inscription or
dedication,
#268
These generally were applied to
donated aircraft

(3-109)		 - -

(3-118)
Saburo Sakai		 - -

(3-122), (Pilot unknown)
Anking, China, Spring 1938  		- -

(3-123) 		- -

(3-124)
Iwamoto 		- -

(3-138)		 - -

(3-162) 		- -

(3-163)
Side description indicates donated A/C 		- -

(3-168)		 - -

(3-174)		 - -
1940, September   -   Hankou, China
A6M2 M.11 Rei-Sen ZEKE ( ? ) ( ? )

(3-112)
Lt. Minoru Suzuki		 - -

(3-112)
Lt. Minoru Suzuki		 - -

 
(3-133)

 - -

(3-136)		 - -

(3-141)
Lt. Minoru Suzuki		 - -

(3-143)		 - -

(3-171)		 - -

(3-173)		 -  

(3-177)
Saburo Sakai ? 		- -
1941, Summer   -   Hankou, China
( ? ) A6M2 M.11 Rei-Sen ZEKE ( ? )

(3-183)
Saburo Sakai		 - -

 

 

13. Kokutai
(4-  )
Fighter Divebomber Levelbomber
1937, September - October   -   China
formed 2nd Rengo Kokutai (combined Airgroup) with 12. Kokutai
12 A5M2 CLAUDE 6 D1A1 12 B4Y1 torpedo bomber

(4-115) Kashimura Kanichi (12 victories)
On 9th December 1937 flown this
aircraft he ramed chinese fighter		 - -

(4-122), later in green color :
 - -

 

 

14. Kokutai
(9- )
China   -   1938-1940
Fighter Divebomber Levelbomber
A5M4 CLAUDE D3A1 M.11 VAL B5N1 KATE


(9-122)
Wichow Island, China, 1940


(9-222)
-
(9-309)
-

(9-139)
Wichow Island, China, 1940 		-
(9-348)
-

(9-151)
Lt. Motonari Suho
Wichow Island, China, 1940 		- -No Pic yet-

(9-349)
1942
Mitsubishi A6M2 M.12 Rei-Sen ZEKE D3A1 VAL B5N1 KATE

(9-182)		 - -
1944
Mitsubishi A6M5 M.52 Rei-Sen ZEKE ? ?

(9-151)		 - -

 

 

15. Kokutai
(10-  )
1938, July   -   A5M2 CLAUDE   -   Kitay, China


(10-118)
Lt. Mochifushi Nango

 

 

33. Kokutai?
(33- )
Fighter Divebomber Levelbomber
China   -   1938-1940
? D3A1 VAL B5M MABEL
-
(33-203)
(33-303)
- -
(33-305)
mid 1942
? D3A1 VAL B5N1 KATE
- - (33-305)

 

 

35. Kokutai ?
(35- )
35th Ku was formed at Takao, Formosa on February 1st 1942 and was assigned to Makassar on the 6th of the month.
It had detachments briefly at Jugjakarta, Balikpapan, Kupang, Kendari and Waingapu.
Their principle assignment was Anti-Submarine Patrol and assist in clearing pockets of resistance such as the Australians on Timor.
They were also partially responsible for the destruction of HMAS Voyager after she was grounded at Betano Bay, Timor.
1938, July   -   A5M2 CLAUDE   -   China


(35-201)
The 35th became 956 Ku on November 1st at which time 10 of her 12 aircraft were loaded aboard Unyo for arrival at Rabaul on November 10th.
This unit was soon deactivated at Rabaul, being absorbed by 582 Ku.

 

 

Genzan Kokutai
(G-  )
1940, November 15   -  Formed in Genzan
1941, November   -   Mitsubishi G3M3 NELL


(G-321)


(G-334)


(G-335)


(G-343)


(G-351)


(G-361)
became 755 Kokutai

 

 

Kanoya Kokutai
(K-  )
1936, April 1   -  Formed in Kisarazu
1938  -   Mitsubishi Type 96 Model 2    -   Davao, the Philippines


(K-125)
Lt. Hideki Shingo
1942, January   -   Mitsubishi G4M1 Model 11 BETTY   -   Davao, the Philippines


(K-384)

 

 

Kisarazu Kokutai
(R- )
1936, April 1   -  Formed in Kisarazu
1942, September   -   Mitsubishi G4M1 Model 11 BETTY   -   Rabaul


(R-360)

 

 

Mihoro Kokutai
(M-  )
1940, October 1   -  Formed in Mihoro
Over NMF, Malaya and Netherlands East Indies
Mitsubishi G3M3 Model 21 NELL


(M-323)
(M-365)

(M-372)		 -
became 701 Kokutai

 

 

Mizawa Kaigun Kokutai
(H-)
1942, July   -   G4M1 M.11 Rikko BETTY   -   Marianas
-
(H-324)		  -
1942, August   -   G4M1 M.11 Rikko BETTY   -   Saipan, Marianas

(H-305)		 -  -
1942, September   -   G4M1 M.11 Rikko BETTY   -   Rabaul, New Britain
  -  
(H-353)
became 705 Kokutai

 

 

 Tainan Kokutai
(V-  )
1939, December 1   -  Formed at Tainan Air Base, Formosa
1941   -   Mitsubishi A6M2 M.21 Rei-Sen ZEKE   -   Formosa
-
(V-135)
PO 1st Class Masaaki Shimakawa		 -
1941   -   Mitsubishi A6M2 M.21 Rei-Sen ZEKE   -   Hainan Dao, Qian Shan (Teitsan)
-
(V-174)
Shimohigashi		 -
1942, February   -   Mitsubishi A6M2 M.21 Rei-Sen ZEKE (No Antennas)   -   Java, Indonesia, (D.E.I.)

(V-117)
Hikotai-Cho Lt. Shindo
February, 1942 at Dempassar Air Strip, Bali
(V-126)
 Shotai-Cho PO 3/C Toshiaki Honda
February, 1942
(V-158)
 Shotai-Cho Susumu Ishihara
Surabaya, Java

(V-103) (S/N 3647)
Saburo Sakai, Bali, Indonesia, February 1942
(Note overpainted  Shotai-Cho Stripe)		 - -
1942   -   Mitsubishi A6M2 M.21 Rei-Sen ZEKE   -   Rabaul

(V-103) (S/N 3647)
(ex Saburo Sakai plane)
flown by a Shotai-Cho when shot down near Henderson in 1942
(V-128)
Saburo Sakai
(Note overpainted Shotai-Cho Stripe)
-		  
(V-172)
Saburo Sakai
(Note overpainted Shotai-Cho Stripe)
-
 
(V-173)
Saburo Sakai		 -
(V-172)
Lae, 1942
1942   -   Mitsubishi A6M3 M.32 Rei-Sen HAMP   -   Buna, E-New Guinea, 1942
 
(V-187)
 Side description indicates donated A/C		  
(V-190)
Side description indicates donated A/C 		-
became 251 Kokutai

 

 

Takao Kokutai
(T-  )
1938, April 1   -  Formed in Takao, Formosa (Taiwan today)
1941, March   -   Mitsubishi G3M3 NELL   -   Hanoi, Indo China
-
 (T-342) - 21. Koku Sentai
1941, April   -   Mitsubishi G3M3 NELL   -   Takao, Formosa (Taiwan today)

(X-3 -19) Takao Kokutai?? 23. Koku Sentai		 -
1942, March   -   Mitsubishi G4M1 M.11 Rikko BETTY   -   Kupang, Timor

 (T-361)		 -
1942, March/April   -   Mitsubishi G4M1 M.11 Rikko BETTY   -   Clark Field, the Philippines

 (T-314)
(T-315)

(T-351)
This Ku made  raids over northwestern Australia April through August 1942.
These raids were at the end of April, the 25th and 27th, the middle of June, the end of July, and August 23rd
March 28 - 1 out of 7 shot down over Darwin (G3M2)
April 4 - 3 out of 6 shot down over Darwin (G3M2)
April 26 - 4 shot down - 2 Forced Landed - 2 Aborted
May 15 - 9 Abort due to weather
June 17 - 9/G4M1 (4th Ku) Aborted due to weather
July 23 - 23/G4M1 (4th Ku) Aborted due to weather
August 23 - 1 shot down out of 27 launched
The April 26th Raid was unescorted, it would not happen again. 
The June 13th Raid was a large one with 27/G4M1 and 45/A6M2. 
The Japanese claimed 12 shot down, but the 3rd Ku had one abort to mechanical.
That makes it 9 shot down, with 2 ditched and 2 Aborts with Takao Ku. The 4th Ku had 2 missions scrubbed from Rabaul.
4/4 - 3 of 6 G3M2
4/26 - 4 of 27 G4M1
4/27 - 1 of 17 G4M1
8/23 - 1 of 27 G4M1
These were losses either over or near Darwin.
Information from National Institute for Defense Studies (Military History Section)
by Retired Captain Kawnano Teruaki titled "The Japanese Navy's Air-Raid Against Australia" August 29th 1997
That is the April "26th" raid actually the 25th.
On April 24th 23d Air Flotilla reported 24 heavy bombers available for the next day's operations.
On April 26th it reported 18 available for the 27th.
The difference of 6 exactly matches 4 shot down and 2 force landed as you indicate.
Furthermore the RAAF reported 24 bombers in the raid of the 25th and 17 in the raid on the 27th.
Contrary to your information the raid on the 25th was not unescorted. 
The 49th claimed two Zeros. They reported 9 Zeros as escorts. One was apparently shot down. 
The victor was most likely William J. Hennon of the 7th Pursuit. He reported his Zero (belly tank still attached) exploded
in a ball of flames and fell into the sea. His wingman confirmed this. 
According to Hata/Izawa PO 1/C Shiro Murakami of 3rd Ku was killed on this date at Darwin.
H8K2 Nishiki Taitei EMILY

 (T-31)

 (753.)

 

 

 

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