501 Kōkūtai (501 Air Group)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)

Background
On July 1, 1943 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 501 Kōkūtai (501 Air Group) was established at Kisarazu Airfield in Japan as part of the 25th Koku Sentai, 11th Air Fleet. On August 5, 1943 assigned to the 26th Koku Sentai.

Wartime History
On October 18, 1943 moves to Rabaul and conducts dive bombing missions and as a secondary mission flew reconnaissance flights.

On February 15, 1944 four D4Y1 Judys from 501 Ku flew four individual sorties from Rabaul, one may have been armed with a 250kg bomb. At 5:15am the first Judy took off on a reconnaissance mission over Green Island (Nissan) and observes many enemy fighters and returns safely. The second Judy took off piloted by PO1 Tadao Fukaminato with observer PO1 Shigeru Kotani (or Koya) on a mission (destination not recorded) and failed to return. At 6:40am the third Judy took off on a reconnaissance mission over Cape Cretin south of Finschafen and spots 13 cargo ships, 3 destroyers and ten other vessels. Over "Wain" spots 4 cargo ships in port and 2 underway. At 9:02 off Tuluvu (Cape Gloucester) spots two cruisers underway and while returning went missing. At 12:50pm the fourth Judy took off on a flight over Buka with nil sighting then returns at 4:52pm.

By February 19, 1944 elements from the 201 Kokutai, 501 Kokutai and 204 Kokutai were at Eten Airfield (Takeshima). By late February 1944 all remaining Japanese flyable planes were withdrawn from Rabaul to Truk.

Captured Aircraft
During May 1944, D4Y1 Judy 3193 was captured abandoned at Hoskins Airfield when U.S. Marines from 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) occupied the area.

Tail Codes
01-???  three digits in white

References
Kodochosho, 501 Kōkūtai, February 15, 1944
Thanks to Richard Dunn for additional information

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