Carl -
There will always be contradictions when comparing reports of the same events written by the two opposing sides. "Felix" was only interested in determining whether or not JNAF patrol aircraft operating from Tarawa had spotted the incoming landing force while still some distance from the atoll. The Japanese account taken from the official 102 volume postwar history,
Senshi Sosho, probably Vol. 62 published in 1973, has been proven consistently reliable by historians since the sources are all primary (yes, nearly all of the higher level Japanese WWII records survived the war).
As for 755 Ko, it did withdraw its detachment from Betio two months prior to the landings and there after used it as an "Absprunghafen" (advanced landing ground) for staging missions, refueling and light servicing work. Nevertheless, the Japanese account covers this and shows that only a tiny handful of 755 personnel were at Betio at the time of the landings.
755 Kōkūtai
(FPO Designation: U-133)
Formed 1 November 1942 at Kisarazu NAS/23.5 mi SE of Tōkyō on Tōkyō Bay in Chiba Prefecture/E Honshū by renaming the Genzan Kōkūtai. Initially equipped with both Mitsubishi G3M Type 96 land attack bombers (NELL) and Mitsubishi G4M Type 1 land attack bombers (BETTY). The group’s authorized personnel allowance dated 1 September 1943 specified 237 officers and warrant officers, and 2,068 petty officers and men. Assigned to 22d Air Flotilla/11th Air Fleet.[1]
30 Dec 42: transferred from Kisarazu to Roi on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.[2]
7/8 Sep 43: operating from Tarawa, bombed the just-completed 5,000-foot airstrip on Nonomea Atoll in the Ellice Islands with 10 G4Ms causing 12 casualties and damaging some facilities.[3]
18-19 Sep 43: had a detachment with 18 land attack bombers and 330 personnel based on Betio Is./Tarawa Atoll in the Gilberts - hit by U.S. 7th AAF B-24s from Canton Is./Phoenix Islands and Funafuti Atoll/Ellice Islands and U.S. carrier strikes for two days and 9 bombers destroyed. All remaining planes and personnel withdrew to bases in the Marshalls over the next week or two.[4]
Mid-Sep 43 - Oct 43: completed full conversion to the G4M BETTY.[5]
Oct 43: the group finally completed its slow conversion to the Type 1 BETTY in October, the last air group in the JNAF to do so.[6]
1 Nov 43: at Roi/Kwajalein Atoll (25 planes), Taroa/Maloelap Atoll (9 planes) and Nauru Is. (6 planes) assigned to 22d Air Flotilla.[7]
19 Nov 43: reported a total of 40 G4M land attack bombers serviceable.[8]
21 Nov 43: with the U.S. invasion of Tarawa this date, the group together with 752 Kōkūtai began night torpedo attacks on fleet units operating in the Gilberts and may have shared credit for a single hit on the carrier USS Independence.[9]
2 Dec 43: ordered to transferred to Tinian in the Marianas to rest and refit, but before departing the group lost 6 destroyed and 3 damaged during a U.S. carrier strike on Kwajalein and Wotje Atoll on 4 December. The surviving planes and crews finally left for Tinian on 7 December.[10]
[1] JM#116; JICPOA Bulletin 16-45; Thorpe-JNAF; Sekigawa:136; JICPOA JNAF OB (Microfiche F-2076):175.
[2] JM#116.
[3] Cressman-Official Chronology; Hammel-Air War.
[4] Crowl-Gilberts/Marshalls:67-68.
[5] Osamu TAGAYA-j-aircraft.com Board posting, 9 Feb 2001.
[6] Tagaya-Betty Units:81 and 101.
[7] USSBS Interrogation/Translation #73.
[8] R.Dunn-j-aircraft.com Board posting 20 Jul 01.
[9] Tagaya-op cit:81.
[10] JM#173.
L.