[rldunn]

The specialist Japanese army night fighter force was primarily engaged over Japan. Prior to the USAAF raids on the Japanese Homeland the 4th Flying Regiment had become a specialist night fighter unit with Type 2 Two-seat Fighters (Ki 45). However, both day and specialized night fighters attempted night interceptions over the Homeland.

Japanese day fighters engaged in night operations over Burma with a fair degree of success. Japanese day fighters (both single-engine and twin-engine) made some attempts at night fighting in the SW Pacific but with limited success.

Japanese navy night fighters proved rather successful in the SW Pacific in mid-1943. USAAF bombers actually ceased night attacks on Rabaul for several months beginning July 43 due to losses suffered May-July 43 from Japanese night fighters. In the Spring of 1944 Japanese navy night fighters often intercepted USAAF 7th AF bombers attacking Truk.

Indeed this was the "other" war and a story that needs to be told.

Rick Dunn