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3rd Kōkūtai (3rd Air Group)
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)
Background
The 3rd Kōkūtai (3rd Air Group) operated the Type 0 Carrier Fighter / A6M2 Zero and Type 98 Reconnaissance Aircraft / C5M2 (Babs).

Wartime History
On December 26, 1941 six A6M2 Zeros from 3rd Ku strafe flyingboats at Lake Tondano being refueld and rearmed. During the attack, they destroy five flying boats including: Do-24K X-11, Do-24K X-12, Do-24K X-25 of GVT 2 and Do-24K X-26 of GVT 5 plus S-43B Baby Clipper PK-AFT.

On March 3, 1942 nine A6M2 led by C5M2 Babs pilot Akira Hayashi took off from Koepang Airfield on Timor strike Broome. Over the target at 9:20am flying at an altitude of 500', three Zeros flew top cover while C5M2 Babs pilot Akira Hayashi with observer Shinobu Nagasawa flew reconnaissance and took a photograph during the raid. The six Zeros use their machine guns and cannons to strafe parked aircraft at Broome Airfield. and seaplanes moored in Roebuck Bay. During the strike, A6M2 Zero pilot Kudo was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crash into the sea. Returning, another Zero ditched.

On November 1, 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) renamed air groups with three digit identifiers. The 3rd Kōkūtai became the 202 Kokutai (202 Air Group).

Tail Codes
X-??? (three digits, April 10, 1941–November 1, 1942)

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