Japanese floatplane fighters in Aru Islands

[Mustang51]

Brian,

Thanks anyway. I have a heap more information now than I did before I entered this site. Maybe someone in Future will be able to add more. Thanks again

Pete

[David_Aiken]

Aloha All,
When it comes time to write the Japanese airmen's ranks...please check the Japanese rank title...and the British or US equivalents. Here is some help:
http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard312a/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=11;t=288

NAP or Naval Aviation Pilot is NOT the Japanese rank...and NAP has been applied by misled translators to gunners, radiomen, bombardiers, and more...and they are not "pilots".

Oh, yes, here are some sources which may help your appetite on IJN topics:

To gain some insight into Japanese aviation check into Japan's TOP WWII aviation URL and their BBS is English friendly, too: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cocoro/index2.htm basic index

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cocoro/sub202.htm aircraft illustrations in color (look carefully at the D3A1 tiny markings!)

http://www.plays.jp/bbs/zero22/index.html message board (English friendly)

check out the Zero data at:

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cocoro/index2.htm

Note all the A6M2 varients at: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cocoro/sub47.htm

Note the markings at: http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cocoro/sub202.htm

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cocoro/sub108.htm

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ku3n-kym/heiki6/eisen/eisen.html

http://rwebs.net/avhistory/history/Zeke32.htm#Cockpit

http://www10.ocn.ne.jp/~a6m232/index.html

http://www.zero-fighter.com/bilingual/index.htm

http://www.hubuki.jp/museum/kawaguti2004/a6m2004.html

http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~yamato/zeke.htm

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~la3k-kmt/

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~la3k-kmt/kanoya/kanoya.html


Now for my own interest...on Japanese aviation [in English] check out:
http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard4/ikonboard.cgi?s=42226a89b0b6ffff;act=SF;f=11 BE SURE to click on the underlined items to view supportive photos and illustrations.

Japanese PEARL HARBOR aircraft markings:
http://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/replicajan1990.msnwhttp://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/pearlharboraircraft.msnw

COLOR CHIP INFO:
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cocoro/subw117-2.htm
COLOR CHIPS and FS595 equivilants

http://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/colorsamples.msnw COLOR CHIPS and relics of Japanese aircraft

MITSUO FUCHIDA's B5N AI-301:
http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard4/ikonboard.cgi?s=42310c263c72ffff;act=ST;f=11;t=310

Command stripe data:
http://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/replicajan1990.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=46

under wing numbers:
http://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/replicajan1990.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=60

Zero and Kate cowling stencil:
http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard4/ikonboard.cgi?s=42310c263c72ffff;act=ST;f=11;t=308

red tail patterns:
http://groups.msn.com/japanesemodelaircraft/replicajan1990.msnw?Page=4

lower fuselage color:
http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard4/ikonboard.cgi?s=42310c263c72ffff;act=ST;f=11;t=342

The new 1/32 Tamiya Zero is to be shown at the four day 45th Shizuoka Hobby Show 2006 opening May 18. See Tamiya's released information:


MITSUBISHI A6M2b ZERO FIGHTER MODEL 21 (ZEKE) 1/32 Scale
source URL:
http://tamiya.com/japan/news/news0606/news2.htm#60317

It is about 80 dollars in Japan.
It is a sale on June 24.

Hairyokushoku Gray-Green color (IJN)
Source URL:
http://tamiya.com/japan/news/news0606/news2.htm#86529

It is about 5 dollars in Japan.
It is a sale on June 24.

Hope that these URLs guide you to a deeper study.
Cheers,
David Aiken, a Director: Pearl Harbor History Associates, Inc http://www.pearlharbor-history.org/ [largest WWII URL on the blue marble]

[Mustang51]

OK Guys... back again.......... were the Mitsubushi Pete and Aichji Jake floatplanes based at Taberfane attached to the 934th Kokutai or to other units? Looked up a quick reference to the Pete and the 934th did not show up. Am waiting for snail mail to deliver my reference books on the Naval Units but thought I would ask now so I can do some work on the weekend on my research project.

Cheers

Pete

[Mustang51]

David,

I thank you profusely for your assistance. I have spent so much time researching specific allied aircraft that the "Big Picture" of the Japanese aircraft in the NW area from Australia has eluded me completely. I am now in for a crash course on their operations/bases etc that can dovetail into my current projects.

Favourite Japanese fighter............ KI-61 without doubt

Cheers

Pete

[Mustang51]

OK Guys, something has gone wrong in the order of question and answer on the thread so I shall submit this again.In the absence of my recently ordered reference text from the USA, can anyone advise me if F1M Petes and E13A1 Jakes at Taberfane were attached to the 934 Kokutai or were they separate units (If so which ones?). A look through data on the F1M did not reveal 934th as a unit assigned the Pete.

[fsbofk]

Although not a student of the JNAF, I too have an interest in that topic. Regarding A6M2-Ns operating from Aru, you might want to look at a booklet published by Kagero (if you haven't already) entitled "A6M2-N Rufe" ( ISBN 83-89088-42-8 ). It provides a good summary of the development and use of Rufes in the Pacific, including an account of the 934 Kokutai at Taberfane in the Aru Islands flying against RAAF Hudsons and Beaufighters (there's even a photo of a Rufe off a beach near the shore there).

[Mustang51]

Thanks for the info on the book. I have managed to obtain a copy and it is on its way to me now. Funny how two simple questions result in a change in ideas regarding a topic. Does anyone out there have a photocopy of the article in Air Enthusiast that I may be able to obtain?

Thanks again

Pete

[rldunn]

The islands in the Arafura Sea were definitely the area of responsibility of Air Group 934 with headquarters in Ambon. The other escort units in the Japanese Southwestern Area (932, 936, and 954) had different areas of responsibility and it seems very doubtful they would have operated at the extreme eastern end of 934's area.

As originally formed in 1942 the unit that became Air Group 934 had only one unit of Type Zero Recce seaplanes (Allied name JAKE) in its T/O. By the end of 1942 it had reorganized. It began receiving Type 2 seaplane fighters (RUFE) at least by early 1943. It was assigned 10 from new production in Feb and Mar 1943. Its T/O as of 1 Oct 43 (and probably for much of 1943) was: 12 seaplane fighters, 16 3-seat recce planes, 8 2-seat observation seaplanes (PETE).

Rick

[Mustang51]

Rick,

Thanks for the additional information. I have not as yet received the books that I have ordered on this subject and it is difficult to find out more than a few sporadic references to the operations in this area. I have seen some references in the "Air War Against Japan 1943 - 1945": by Odgers but the level of detail is just not there.

I have seen references to the Maru Class seaplane carriers Sanyo Maru and Sanuki Maru being in the area of Ambon and have also seen an old magazine with a photo of a Pete with the letter/number combination P3 on the fin. The caption said that the photo was taken at a base to the north of Australia..... thats a pretty big area to be operating in....

I really do need to get more reference texts on Japanese Navy and Army Units and their dispositions.

Again, thanks for the help with this

Pete

[rldunn]

Pete

Don't know about P3 (and question it) but as from 1 Dec42 the tail code of 934 was P6 (changed to 34 in Sep 43). The other SW escort units were P4 (936), P5 (932), and P7 (954). CO of 934 in early 43 was Cdr. Kenji Kimura.

Good luck with your search,

Rick