First Japanese air kill(s)

[CJE]

Hi!
When was scored (and who scored) the very first aerial victory for both the Japanese Army and Navy?

Thanks.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

IJNAF (then IJNAS IIRC) on 22 February 1932:

"On 22 February, three Type 3 carrier fighters (Nakajima A1N - a variant of the Gloster Gambet) under the command of shotai (section) leader Tai-i (Lieutenant) Nokiji Ikuta (second aircraft flown by Santo Koku Heiso (Aviation Petty Officer, 3rd Class) Kuro-iwa and third flown by Itto Kokuhei (Aviation Seaman, 1st Class) Kazuo Takeo) joined three Mitsubishi Type 13-3 ((B1M) carrier attack aircraft under the command of shotai leader Tai-i Susumu Kotani.
They engaged a Chinese Boeing 218 (the prototype for the P-12) piloted by the American volunteer Robert Short. Tai-i Kotani was killed and his radio operator/gunner A1c Sasaki was badly injured during this attack before Ikuta attacked Short’s aircraft from the rear. At the same time, the aircraft flown by Toshio Kuro-iwa came in close under the rear of the enemy aircraft. Both Japanese aircraft opened fire and the Boeing was shot down.
The Mitsubishi commanded by Kotani was flown back to its base at Shanghai by the pilot ACPO Yoshiro Sakinaga.
Taisho (Admiral) Nomura of the Third Fleet issued commendations on the occasion.
This battle result is officially recognized as the first aerial victory by the Japanese air forces. "

Source:
http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/japan_kuro-iwa.htm

IJAAF on 19 September 1937:

"On 19 September 1937, nine of the chutai’s aircraft patrolled over Tai Yuan led by Captain Tsutomu Mizutani when Hirose’s flight engaged four biplane bombers identified as O-38s. Hirose and his wingmen claiming all shot down (one each) for the first victories ever claimed by Japanese Army fighters.
Congratulatory telegrams arrived from many sources after this combat. "

Source:
http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/japan_hirose.htm

I can only recommand Håkan Gustavsson's website on biplanes fighters in WWII (and related conflicts like Spanish Civil War, Nomohan and Sino-Japanese War).

[CJE]

Merci Laurent.

A+

CJE

[NUPPOL]

Robert Short memorial http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...GRid=41882178&