FM-2s vs. Tonys over Kavieng, 20/3/44

[Larry deZeng]

There are only 2 or 3 possibilities for Judy-equipped units in that area, and this is the strongest contender. It had a detachment with JUDYs at Kavieng. See highlighted portions.

552 Kōkūtai

(FPO Designation: U-204)


Formed 1 December 1942 at Tateyama NAS on Tōkyō Bay 47 mi SSE of Tōkyō in Chiba Prefecture/E Honshū as an attack air group initially equipped with Aichi D3A Type 99 carrier bombers (VAL). Assigned to 24th Air Flotilla/11th Air Fleet.[1]

25 May 43: transferred from Tateyama NAS to Bihoro NAS/N Hokkaidō; although not yet fully trained, it was ordered north with the rest of 24th Air Flotilla due to U.S./Canadian landings on Attu in the Aleutians and the implied threat to Kiska and the Kuriles. Reassigned to 22d Air Flotilla on 1 July and by mid-July the group had returned to Honshū with station at Kisarazu NAS.[2]
20 Jul 43: began transferring from Kisarazu to Roi on Kwajalein Atoll/Marshalls in the Central Pacific.[3]
Aug 43: moved from Roi to Mili Atoll/Marshalls during the second half of August.[4]
1 Nov 43: now mainly equipped with Yokosuka D4Y1/D4Y5 Suisei Navy carrier bombers (JUDY) and based at Mili Atoll in the Marshalls with 18 planes.[5]
Mid-Nov 43: ordered to Rabaul/New Britain in the Bismarcks/Solomons leaving just 3 D3A2 VALs behind at Mili.[6]
26 Jan 44: ordered to transfer from Rabaul to Truk Atoll in the Eastern Carolines this date.[7]
17 Feb 44: at Truk with 10 serviceable JUDYs - these were probably destroyed in the U.S. carrier strike on Truk this date.[8]
4 Mar 44: ordered disbanded.[9]


Commander:
Capt. Fujirō ŌHASHI (Dec 42 - Mar 43) (appt cancelled?)
Capt. Tomigi MAEHARA (Dec 42 - Mar 44) (per IJN Gazette)


Hikōtai Components [10]

None

Summary of Stations [11]

1 Dec 42 - 1 Jun 43: Tateyama
1-22 Jun 43: Bihoro with elements at:
Tateyama (1-28 Jun)
22 Jun – c 20 Jul 43: Kisarazu
c 20 Jul - 12 Aug 43: Roi/Kwajalein Atoll
12 Aug – c l Sep 43: Mili Atoll/Marshalls with elements at:
Tarawa Atoll/Gilberts (Aug)
Sep - Oct 43: whereabouts unknown
Nov 43 - Jan 44: Rabaul with elements at:
Mili (Nov)
Kavieng/New Ireland (Nov -Dec 43)
Feb 44: Truk Atoll


[1] JM#116; Thorpe-JNAF; Sekigawa:134; JICPOA JNAF OB (Microfiche F-2076):161.

[2] JM#89; JM#116.

[3] JM#116.

[4] JM#116.

[5] USSBS Interrogation/Translation #73.

[6] JM#116.

[7] JM#173.

[8] JM#173.

[9] JM#116.

[10] JM#116.

[11] JM#116.