Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF)

Background
The Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) was the aviation force of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Officially, 大日本帝國陸軍航空部隊 Dainippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkūbutai (Greater Japan Empire Army Air Corps). The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) or Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF). The primary mission was to provide tactical close air support for Army ground forces, air interdiction capability and aerial reconnaissance.

In 1909, two Japanese Army officers Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa and Captain Hino Kumazō were sent to France and German for pilot training and to acquire aircraft. The pair purchased a Farman biplane and a Grade monoplane and shipped them to Japan. On December 19, 1909 Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa piloting the Farman III conducted the first successful powered flight in Japan at Yoyogi Parade Ground in Tokyo. In 1911, more aircraft were purchased and Japan decided to split Army and Navy aviation into separate organizations.

In May 1925, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Corps (IJAAC) was established under the command of Lieutenant General Kinichi Yasumitsu, it was regarded as a branch equal to the artillery, cavalry or infantry and was modeled on German Army Aviation. On May 5, 1927 the Hikō Rentai (Air Regiment) was established with two battalions, each with four squadrons. In August 1938, a complete re-organization created the 飛行戦隊, Hikō Sentai (Air Combat Group). The JAAF was divided into four Kōkū Gun (Air Army) responsible for a geographic area. In February 1944 the 5th Air Army was added for southern and eastern China an the d 6th Air Army added for Taiwan and Okinawa.

Kōkū Gun (Air Army)
Hikō Shudan (Air Corps)y
Hikō Shindan (Air Division)
Hikō Dan (Air Brigade)
Hikō Rentai (Air Regiment) / Hikō Sentai (Air Regiment / Air Combat Group)
Hikō Daitai (Air Battalion)
Dokuritsu Hikō Chutai (Independent Company)
Chutai (Company)
Shotai (Flight)

Hiko Sentani (Flying Regiment)

4th Hiko Sentani

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
July, 1938	Ki-10 Ki-27 Ki-45	Formosa, Japan

Unit dispanded at the end of the war at Ozuki Air Base, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan

7th Hiko Sentani

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
	Ki--49	New Guinea

Part of the 9th FB with 61st Sentai as the only Type 100 / Ki-49 units in the South-East Area. Other units with the type were transport units. 7th was withdrawn in early 1944 and replaced by the 60th Sentai flying the Type 97 / Ki-21 Sally.

9th Hiko Sentani

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
July 1, 1938 in China	Ki-10 Ki-27 Ki-44 Ki-84	Manchuri (Nomonhan), China

Unit dispanded at the end of the war at Nanking, China. Flew against B-29's.

11th Hiko Sentai (11th Flying Regiment)

13th Hiko Sentani

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
	Ki-45 Ki-43	Burma Rabaul (Rapopo) Kamiri (April 1944)

Started as a Type 2 two-seat fighter (Ki 45) but lost all its fighters by September 1943. It took over some Ki-43s from departing units (1st Sentai), then converted to Ki 43-II. It apparently remained (technically) a Ki-45 unit until early 1944 and had a few on strength from time to time. They fought at Wewak with Ki-43s until late Nov 1943 then withdrew through Wadke to the NEI. They again received some heavy fighters but by the time they moved to Kamiri in April 44 they had officially become a Type 1 fighter unit.

14th Hiko Sentai (14th Flying Regiment)

24th Hiko Sentai (24th Flying Regiment)

26th Hiko Sentani

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
	Ki-51 Ki-43	New Guinea Philippines, Clark Field

Flew only Type 99 Assault / Ki-51B in New Guinea. The third chutai with fighters was never deployed to the South East area.

27th Hiko Sentani

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
	Ki-45	Philippines

29th Hiko Sentani

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
	Ki-44 Ki-84	Clark Field Murphy Field

Later served based at Murphy Field in the Manila area flying Ki-44 and Ki-84.

45th Hiko Sentai (45th Flying Regiment)

52nd Hiko Sentai

Ki-84 Frank

Osaka April-May '44
Ashiya, Kyushu, May-September '44
Del Carmen, September-October '44
Saravia, October-November '44
Del Carmen November '44
Shimodate December '44 - MArch '45
Itami March '45
Kakogawa March-April '45
Shimodate April-July '45
Chofu July-end of war '45

59th Hiko Sentai (59th Flying Regiment)

60th Hiko Sentai

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
	Ki-21

Flew Ki-21 Sally based at Galela in April 1944., along with 33rd and 77th Sentai

61st Hiko Sentai

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
	Ki-21

Part of the 9th FB (along with 7th Sentai) Previously flew Ki-21, based in Celebes. Was the first unit to take the Type 100 HB into combat (Darwin 6/20/43) and transferred to New Guinea in Jul-Aug 43. It was joined there by the 7th Sentai. Together they formed the 9th FB. The 7th was withdrawn in early 1944 and replaced by the 60th Sentai. 7th and 61st were the only Type 100 HB units in the SE Area. Other units with the type were transport units. Decimated in New Guinea, reformed in Japan with Ki-67 in May 1945.

63rd Hiko Sentai (63rd Flying Regiment)

68th Hiko Sentai (68th Flying Regiment)

72th Hiko Sentai

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
May 30, 1944	Ki-43	Philippines

Established May 30, 1944 and advanced to the Philippines by December 1944. In January 1945 the unit had lost all of its planes in the Philippines. Disbanded January 16, 1945. Reference: Akimoto via Jim Long

74th Hiko Sentai

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
		Philippines

77th Hiko Sentai

Established	Aircraft	Areas of Operation
July 27, 1938 Nanking, China	Ki-10 Ki-27 Ki-43	China, Thailand, Burma, East Indies, New Guinea (Hollandia & Wewak)

Organized in July 1937 from the 4th Hiko Rentai as the 8th Hiko Daitai. During July 1938 reorganized as the 77th Hiko Sentai with teo Chutai. Assigned to northern Burma until February 1944 whne moved to Hollandia and in March 1944 to Wewak. In New Guinea 9 recorded victories,

One of their top aces was Capt.Yoshiro Kuwabara, the 3rd Chutai leader with 12 victories. On March 11, 1944 he claimed a P-47 shot down. On March 14, 1944 went missing. By July 25, 1944 disbanded due to losses. Not a single pilot is known to have survived the Pacific War.

Commanding officers (C.O.)
Maj.Kunio Matsumoto (October 1943 - April 1944 KIA)
Maj. Shigetoshi Inoue (April 1944–August 1944)

78th Hiko Sentai (78th Flying Regiment)

208th Hiko Sentai (208th Flying Regiment)

246th Hiko Sentani (246th Flying Rigiment)

Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (Independent Squadron)

20th Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (20th Independent Squadron)

20th Independent Squadron flew Ki-21 Sallys in the transport and liason role at Hollandia. They probably had no a/c based there but may have still flown liaison missions there. However, there may other possibilities. A key here is the fact that the Chief of Staff of Yo Force (6th Flying Division) flew into Hollandia on the evening of the 20th (this from a captured diary of a Lt. Col. Onada). He may have flown in transport attached to 6th FD HQ or one of the units just mentioned. While other possibilities cannot be ruled out, it seems most likely the a/c destroyed was a transport that had flown in the evening of the 20th and was most probably from one of the resident units or 6th FD HQ. Just surmise, however.

70th Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (70th Independent Squadron)

76th Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (76th Independent Squadron)

83rd Dokuritsu Dai Shijugo Chutai (83rd Independent Squadron)

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