701 Kōkūtai (701 Air Group)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

Background
On November 1, 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) renamed air groups with three digit identifiers. The Mihoro Kōkūtai (Mihoro Air Group) was redesignated 701 Kōkūtai (701 Kokutai, 701 Ku) in the 26 Kōku Sentai (26th Air Flotilla).

On December 2, 1942 began operating from Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul.

On December 28, 1942 at 7:30am three G3M Nells led by G3M Nell pilot by Lt(jg) Keizo Kondo took off from Vunakanau Airfield as the lead aircraft in a group of three bound for Munda Airfield to pickup fighter pilots of the 252 Kōkūtai and transport them back to their base at Kahili Airfield (Buin). Escorted by nine Zeros, the bombers flew over Buin at 9:45. Arriving at Munda Airfield at 10:45, the Nells began their landing course. At the same time two P-39 Airacobras from the 70th Fighter Squadron led by Lt. Rex Barber with wingman 1st Lt. William Daggitt were flying a reconassiance patrol over the Munda at 9,000'. They observed Zeros orbiting at 13,000' and bombers below them at 1,000', prepairing to land.

On January 29, 1943 when U.S. Navy (USN) warships were spotted off Rennell Island, Japanese Navy bombers at Vunakanau Airfield were readied for a strike. First to take off were sixteen G4M1 Bettys from 705 Kokutai (705 Air Group) led by Lt-Commander Nakamura. They were followed by fifteen G3M2 Nells from 701 Kokutai armed with torpedoes led by Commanding Officer (C.O.) Lt-Commander Joji Higai.

At the start of the Battle of Rennel Island, the bombers flew southward at medium altitude flying in fair weather. Being slightly faster and ahead of the Nells, the Bettys were first to arrive on the scene. With sunset to their right, Nakamura led his Bettys around in a wide sweep to approach the U.S. ships from the south, thus silhouetting the warships as targets against the horizon when the Bettys attacked at 7:19pm hidden against a dark and obscure horizon.

When the Nells approached at 7:40pm, a J1N1 Irving dropped a string of parachute flares to illuminate the warships as the Nells made torpedo attack and scored two torpedo hits on the starboard side of USS Chicago (CA-29), while others torpedoes failed to detonate after hitting USS Louisville and USS Wichita. During the attack, Lt-Commander Higai was shot down into the sea. Another Nell was damaged and returned on one engine but was unable to reach Rabaul and ditched.

On March 12, 1943 ceased operating from Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. On March 15, 1943 disbanded due to attrition. The survivors returned to Japan where they converted to the G4M1 Betty and flew anti-submarine patrols.

During October 1944 began operating from Clark Field on Luzon in the Philippines.

Commanding Officer (C.O.)
Lt-Commander Joji Higai KIA January 29, 1943

References
Kodochosho 701 Kōkūtai - December 28, 1942
Osprey Combat Aircraft 22 - Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of WWII (2001) pages 32-33
Thanks to Keizo Kondo and Osamu Tagaya for additional information

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