71st Hiko Sentai (71st Flying Regiment)
Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF)

Background
The 71st Hiko Sentai (71st Flying Regiment) in the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) at at Kameyama Airfield on Honshu operating the Type 1 Fighter / Ki-43 Oscar and Type 4 Fighter Hayate / Ki-84 Frank. In August 1944 moves to Yokaichi Airfield. In September 1944 moves to Gan-no-su.

Wartime History
During November 1944 moves to Hofu Airfield then deploys to Del Carmen Airfield on Luzon in the Philippines and also operates from Porac Airfield and Manapla Airfield.

During December 1944 continues to operate from Del Carmen Airfield and also operates from Manapla Airfield.

In early January 1945 operates from Manapla Airfield (Carolina) and Puerto Princesa Airfield.

On January 7, 1945 in the morning, Ki-84 Frank pilot Sgt Fukuda took off from Carolina Airfield (Manapla) armed with a 150 kg bomb on a patrol to the west of Bacolod to report the presence of any American ships. Returning, he encountered P-38 Lightnings from 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FG) moments after P-38L "Eileen-Ann" 44-24845 pilot Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. crashed. Fukuda engaging the three remaining P-38s and made a head on pass and shot down P-38J Lightning 43-28836 pilot Major Jack B. Rittmayer. Afterwards fired on by P-38L "Doots" 44-24876 pilot Captain Edwin R. Weaver and damaged. He fired on P-38 pilot 2nd Lt. Douglas S. Thropp, Jr. but was again hit by Weaver and his engine began loosing power. Disengaging, Fukuda made a force landing at Carolina Airfield (Manapla) and while landing flipped over and was injured in the crash landing.

In May 1945 retuns to Hofu Airfield and Kumanosho Airfield on Kyushu until the end of the Pacific War.

References
Emblems of the Rising Sun page 32 (71st Sentai)
Japanese Army Air Force Fighter Units And Their Aces 1931-1945 (2002) pages 162-163 (71th Hiko Sentai)

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