201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

Background
On November 1, 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) renamed air groups with three digit identifiers. The fighter buntai of the Chitose Kōkūtai (Chitose Air Group) at Rabaul became the 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group). Abbreviated as 201 Ku. In English, spelled 201 Kokutai.

On October 10, 1943 Zeros intercept a formation of twenty-four B-24s escorted by more than fifty fighters. After the bomb run, the Zeros engage the bombers and damage two B-24. Two Zeros are lost.

On October 25, 1944 the first organized kamikaze mission in the Philippines commanded by Vice-Admiral Takjuro Ohnishi was launched from Mabalacat East Airfield with twenty-three from 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group) divided into for units designated by the name of the led pilot: Shikishima, Yamato, Asahi and Yama Yukio Seki. The first to take off at 7:25pm was the Shikishima unit led by by Lt. Yokjo Seki and flew to the target area. At 10:45pm they attacked U.S. Navy warships off Leyte and Lt. Yokjo Seki succeeded in hitting the escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63), which sank 20 minutes later as the first damage caused by a planned kamikaze attack in the Philippines.

Tail Codes
W1-??? November 1942–July 1943
6-??? possibly used middle 1943

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