Quote:
Originally Posted by Buckeye30
Clint. When the 10th Sentai was re-organised in July 1941 it had the 70/74/76 Dokuritsu Chutai all with this marking ( based on the Nen river in NE China)-- in order white/yellow/red; from June 1943 the 70th/74th served as independent Chutai to the EOW. The Hollandia landings were in April 1944 so this Ki.51 is probably 70th Chutai as you say.
A Ki.46 "Dinah" from the 76th was also found in N. Guinea in 1944 with red insignia, also other Ki.51s with white.
Nick
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A little early history of the parent unit, 10 FMS, and how its components ended up in New Guinea:
10 Independent Flying Unit (10 Dokuritsu Hikōtai - 10 FMS)
Formed 28 July 1941 in Manchuria by temporarily renaming 10 Hikōsentai. Served as a small headquarters to exercise control over 52, 74 and 76 Dokuritsu Hikōchūtai (Independent Flying Squadrons - FCS) that were equipped with Mitsubishi Ki-15 Type 97 Command Reconnaissance Planes (BABS), Tachikawa Ki-36 Type 98 Direct Co-operation Planes (IDA) and Mitsubishi Ki-46 Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Planes (DINAH).
2 Aug 41: Manchuria.
18 Sep 41: HQ 10 FMS with 70 FCS, 74 FCS and 76 FCS transferred from Manchuria to Formosa and reassigned to 1st Flying (Air) Group (1 Hikō Shudan).
7 Dec 41 (8 Dec Tōkyō time): HQ 10 FMS at Heitō (P’ingtung) in SW Formosa directly under 5th Flying (Air) Group (5 Hikō Shudan) with 52 FCS (13 Ki-51s - Maj. Shigeru ŌMORI), 74 FCS (10 Ki-36s - Capt. Sadao HORI) and 76 FCS (9 Ki-15s and 2 Ki-46s - Maj. Katsushige TAKADA). All three of the squadrons were also at Heitō. Responsible for providing reconnaissance support for 14th Army during the invasion of the Philippines.
21 Dec 41: now based in northern Luzon - 10 FMS commander Col. HOSHI personally flew over Manila dropping leaflets demanding the surrender of the city. The next day 10 FMS and its subordinate squadrons supported the main Japanese landings in Lingayen Gulf on the west coast of central Luzon.
7 Jan 42: HQ 10 FMS personnel strength - 7 officers and 16 NCOs and men.
8 Jan 42: HQ 10 FMS based on Luzon with 52 FCS, 74 FCS and 76 FCS, plus 11th Transport Flying Squadron (11 Yusō Hikōchūtai) attached.
3 Apr 42: still on Luzon (probably at Clark Field and/or Nichols Field) with 52 FCS, 74 FCS and 76 FCS, but now under 22d Flying (Air) Brigade (22 Hikōdan - FB).
28 Apr – 22 May 42: 10 FMS with elements of 52, 74 and 76 FCS, 6 fighters from 84th Independent Flying Squadron and one chūtai from 16th Flying Regiment (16 FR), transferred from Luzon to Cebu and Davao to support the taking of Mindanao.
1 Jun 42: HQ 10 FMS in Manila with HQ 22 FB.
14 Jul 42: still in the Philippines under 22 FB with 52, 74 and 76 FCS.
2 Apr 43: 10 FMS ordered to transfer from the Philippines under 22 FB to New Britain and eastern New Guinea for reassignment to 6th Flying Division (6 FD).
13 May 43: 10 FMS ordered to reorganize once again as 10 Hikōsentai.
10 Jun 43: reorganization completed and 10 FMS officially renamed 10 Hikōsentai. The constituent squadrons of 10 Hikōsentai are believed to have been 76 FCS and 1st Chūtai of 81 Hikōsentai.
Commander:
Col. Komatarō HOSHI (Jul 41 - Sep 42)
Sources:
Air World-6/1985.
J-Mono #151.
J-Mono #151.
Star Games-
Skies of Red; Shores-
Bloody Shambles:v.1/53; Sekigawa:113.
Shores-op cit:192-93.
J-Mono #11.
Shores-op cit.
J-Mono #11.
J-Mono #11.
J-Mono #11.
Sekigawa:129.
IGHQ Army Order #772.
IGHQ Army Order #787.
Air World-op cit.
R.Dunn: j-aircraft dot com website posting 28 May 2002. Confirmation needed.
L. deZ.