5th Hiko Sentai (5th Flying Regiment)
Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF)

Background
The 5th Hiko Sentai (5th Flying Regiment) was established August 31, 1938 as a flying unit in the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF). During the Pacific War, operated in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI), western New Guinea and Japan. The 5th Hiko Sentai operated the Kawasaki Ki-10, Nakajima Type 97 Fighter / Ki-27 (Nate), Kawasaki Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter/ Ki-45 Toryu (Nick) and finally the Kawasaki Ki-100.

Wartime History
On September 21, 1943 two Ki-45 Nicks took off from Langgoer Airfield to intercept a formation of B-24 Liberators. Ki-45 Nick pilot Captain Yoshiaki Yamashita, 2nd chutai leader engaged with machine gun fire and fired a cannon shell that shot down B-24D "Little Joe" 42-40532 (crew POW). Afterwards, Captain Yamashita met the downed crew to confirm his victory.

On May 27, 1944 in the afternoon, four Ki-45 Nicks led by Major Katsushige Takada C.O. 5th Hiko Sentai took off from Jefman Airfield (Efman) on a bombing missions against U.S. forces landing at Bosnik (Bosnek) on Biak. Damaged, Ki-45 Nick pilot Major Katsushige Takada attempts to crash into a U.S. vessel and damages USS SC-699.

During August 1944 moves to Bacolod Airfield on Negros until September 1944.

At the end of the Pacific War, disbanded at Kiyosu Airfield to the southeast of Nagoya on Honshu in Japan.

References
Emblems of the Rising Sun (1999) page 16-17 (5th Sentai 1924–1945)
Japanese Army Air Force Fighter Units And Their Aces 1931–1945 (2002) pages 106-108 (5th Sentai)
Thanks to Richard Dunn for additional information

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