153 Kōkūtai (153 Air Group)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

Background
On January 1, 1944 153 Kōkūtai (153 Air Group) was formed in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as part of 23rd Air Flotilla with twelve reconnaissance planes at Kendari Airfield on Celebes.

Wartime History
During April 1944, moves to Wakde Airfield and patrols in western New Guinea against U.S. forces for a month.

On May 5, 1944 half strength 311 Hikotai (S311) with roughly 24 Zeros was transfered from 381 Kōkūtai (381 Air Group) to 153 Ku and the 23rd Air Flotilla became part of the 1st Air Fleet. S311 intercepted U.S. bombers attacking Sorong and Manokwari with roughly ten Zeros operating from the Sorong area that claimed 24 victories including several B-24 Liberators shot down. By May 24, 1944 six Zeros from the detachment at Sorong were lost with five remaining and fifteen at Kendari Airfield. On May 25, 1944 when U.S. forces landed on Biak S311 with 202 Ku attacked U.S. forces at Biak and continued to defend the Sorong area. On May 29, 1944 four Zeros led by WO Shinji Ishida from S311 attacked Biak and none returned. On June 2, 1944 three of four were lost. On June 5, 1944 down to only a single Zero at Sorong withdraws to Kendari Airfield.

In the middle of June 1944 after the U.S. landing on Saipan, 153 Ku sent ten Zeros as reinforcements to Peleliu, Yap and Truk but did not participate in combat. On July 10, 1944 S311 transfered to 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group) and that same day 153 Ku received 24 J1N1-S Gekko night fighters of 901 Hikotai (S901) when 251 Kōkūtai (251 Air Group) disbanded.

In early August 1944, 153 Ku now with two Hikotai: S901 and T103 and moved to Matina Airfield (Dava No. 2) at Davao on Mindanao in the southern Philippines. At the same time, U.S. night bombing missions began against Davao but were difficult to intercept without the aid of ground radar and the low top speed of the Gekko. On September 2, 1944 Gekko pilot CPO Yoshimasa Nakagawa rammed a B-24 and managed to land at Davao. In early September 1944 in anticipation of U.S. carrier plane attacks on Leyte, the 901 Hikotai (S901), 153 Kōkūtai (153 Air Group) including nine J1N1-S Gekkos and two night fighter A6M5 Zeros moved to Tacloban Airfield. On September 9, 1944 flew a search and strike mission with two shot down by F6F Hellcats and the third returning damaged. By the middle of September 1944 the surviving aircraft from S901 were withdrawn to Nichols Field south of Manila on Luzon. On September 21, 1944 and September 22, 1944 Gekkos from S901 spotted the U.S. Navy carrier force and CPO Saburo Sue claimed to hit a carrier.

During the middle of October 1944 ordered to Cebu to interdict PT Boats in Ormoc Bay and claimed six sunk in four weeks. During two months in the Philippines, 153 lost 14 planes and three buntai leaders and S804, S812 and S851 were transfered to 153 Ku for brief periods and operated from Clark Field before the remaining planes withdrew via Formosa (Taiwan) to Japan. Meanwhile, the rest of the 153 Ku including the headquarters and ground personnel remained in the Philippines. Without aircraft, they became infantry fighting in the mountains west of Clark Field until killed including Commanding Officer (C.O.) Captain Tetsujiro Wada. In late January 1945, U.S. Army captured largely intact J1N1 Gekko Tail 53-85 at Clark Field.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Cdr Moriyoshi Yamaguchi (January 1944–February 1944)
Cdr Rikihei Inoguchi (February 1944–July 1944)
Capt Nobukichi Takahashi (July 1944–November 1944
Captain Tetsujiro Wada (November 1944–1945) †

Tail Codes
153-XX (two digits for S901 in white)
53-XX (two digits in yellow or white)

References
Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Unis and Their Aces 1932-1945 (2011) pages 188-189 (153 Ku)
Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information

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