253 Kōkūtai (253 Air Group)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

Background
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 253 Kōkūtai (253 Air Group) operated the A6M Zero fighter in the South Pacific (SoPAC).

During 1943 operated from Tobera Airfield south of Rabaul. Also, operated from Kavieng Airfield on New Ireland.

On May 7, 1943 six A6M2 Zeros from 253 Kōkūtai scrambled from Kavieng Airfield to intercept B-17F "The Reckless Mountain Boys" 41-24518 on a solo photographic reconnaissance mission over Kavieng. The Zeros made firing passes that hit the no. 2 engine setting it on fire, knocked off the ball turret door and badly wounded the gunner. The B-17 dove down to sea level to avoid being attacked from below and headed southward until the the no. 2 engine failed. Repeated attacks by the Zeros also disabled the no. 1 engine. During the attacks, three crew were hit by gunfire and killed. Three others were severely wounded. Damaged, this B-17 ditched onto a coral reef roughly 50 yards offshore from Komalu on the south coast of New Ireland. Afterwards, the six Zeros strafed the B-17 before departing for Kavieng Airfield.

On December 17, 1943 Zeros from 253 Kōkūtai scrambled to intercept Allied fighters over Rabaul. During the air combat, A6M Zero pilot Seaman Masajiro Kawato collided with P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3175 pilot Ft/Lt John McFarlane, his first and only confirmed aerial victory. Both pilots bailed out and were rescued by a Japanese patrol boat.

253 Kokutai Tail Codes
The group used different tail codes at various dates.

Tail code	Dates
253-1xx	? - middle September 1943
53-1xx	middle September 1943

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