Japanese Squads in the CAW 1944 theatre

[Moggy]

To enable the campaign builders to work, we need information particularly on the Japanese squads of the Armyand Navy Air force in the CAW 1944 theatre. I have this list so far:



Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force

See the notes on IJN units of organisation here

(1) Carrier Squads

601st kokutai Carrier Division 1 June 1944/Oct 1944 A6M5, D4Y, B6N Taiho, Shokaku, Zuikaku
652nd kokutai Carrier Division 2 June 1944 A6M5 D3A B6N Hijo, Dzunjo, Rjuho
653rd kokutai Carrier Division 3 June 1944 A6M5 A6M2 B6N B5N Zuiho, Citose, Cijoda
931 kokutai CVE Taijo August 1944 B5N

(2) Land based

Truk ~ Air Flotilla 22 - Rear Adm Sumikawa ~ HQ Harushima
132nd kokutai - Truk June 1944 C6N
151st kokutai - Harushima1 (Truk) June 1944 20xJudy
202nd kokutai - Mereyon (Truk) June 1944 40xZero
251st kokutai - Takeshima (Truk) June 1944 20xIrving
253rd kokutai - Takeshima (Truk) June 1944 80xZero
503rd kokutai - Kadeshima (Truk) June 1944 40xJudy
551st kokutai - Harushima2 (Truk) June 1944 40xJill CV-VBT

Carolines and Marianas ~ Air Flotilla 61 - Rear Adm Ueno ~ HQ Peleiu

Carolines
61st kokutai - Peleliu June 1944 40xBetty
265th kokutai - Peleliu June 1944 40xZero, Yap 40xZero
523rd kokutai - Yap June 1944 40xJudy VB-VC

Marianas
256th kokutai - Saipan June 1944 Zero
261st kokutai - Saipan1 June 1944 80xZero
121st kokutai - Tinian1 June 1944 10xJudy, Peleliu 10xJudy
321st kokutai - Tinian1 June 1944 15xIrving N:VF
1021st kokutai - Tinian1 June 1944 20xType1 Land Transport (?Ki-56)
263rd kokutai - Guam1 (June 1944) and Yap (integrated into 201st kokutai) 80xZero
343rd kokutai - Tateyama June 1944 40xGeorge, then Agana Guam
521st kokutai - Guam2 June 1944 80xFrances VB
755th kokutai - Guam1 June 1944 40xBetty

Phillippines ~ Air Flotilla 26 - Rear Adm Arima ~ HQ Davao
201st kokutai - Saipan, Palau, Guam, Davao1 Phillipines June 1944, Mabalacat Oct-Nov 1944 (hikotai 305 and 306) Zero
341st kokutai - Mabalacat October 1944 Shiden
501st kokutai - Lasang (Phillipines Mindanao) June 1944 40xZero
751st kokutai - Davao2 (Phillipines Mindanao) June 1944 40xBetty
753rd kokutai - Menado (Phillipines Celebes) June 1944 40xBetty

(3) Kamikaze squads (est 25/10/44)

"Skishima" Squad Special Attack Corps attached to 201st Air Group Mabalacat Field (A6M5)
"Yamato" Squad Special Attack Corps attached to 201st Air Group at Cebu (A6M5)


Imperial Japanese Army Air Force

See the notes on IJA units of organisation here

Phillipines Command - 4th Air Army

1 sentai Phillippines Oct 1944 - Jan 1945 Ki-84
11 sentai Clark Field Phillippines Dec 1944 Ki-84
22 sentai Phillipines all 1944 Ki-84
29 sentai Phillipines Oct 1944- Jan 1945 Ki-84
51 sentai Phillippines ditto Ki-84
52 sentai Phillippines ditto Ki-84
71 sentai Phillippines ditto Ki-84
72 sentai Phillippines ditto Ki-84
73 sentai Phillippines ditto Ki-84
200 sentai Phillipines ditto Ki-84

Kamikaze units (est November 1944):

"Chuyu", "Seichu", "Junchu" and "Giretsu" attached to 701st Air Group

If anyone has any further information please share.[/img]

[Captain Kurt]

I'm working on it too. When I have enough info compiled to be worth sending, I will fire it off to you.

BTW, NAG201 (aka 201st Kokutai) also included a fighter-bomber Hikotai of A6M5 dedicated fighter bomber types and a "carrier attack" Hikotai which would have had Judy and Jill types. I'll see if I can get more information on the Hikotai numbers.

Cheers,

Capt Kurt

[Moggy]

Thanks Jurt - this is going to be the difficult one. Seem to very scarce resources, though if we could read Japanese, there seem to be plenty of Japanese-language websites dealing with this.

[Moggy]

I have now added the information from appendix 77 of the US Stratiegic Bombing Survey (Pacific) which gives the assigned units for the Caroline and Mariana Islands for June 1944.