The 24th Air Flotilla (第二十四航空戦隊, Dai-Nijūyon Kōkū-Sentai) was a combat aviation unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The flotilla, mainly consisting of land-based bombers, fighters, and flying boats, reported to the IJN's 4th Fleet. As originally organized, the flotilla's core units were the 4th Air Corps, Yokohama Air Corps, and 1st Air Corps.[1]
| 24th Air Flotilla 第二十四航空戦隊 | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1940-1944 |
| Country | Japan |
| Branch | Aviation |
| Part of | 4th Fleet |
Organization edit
- The 4th Combined Air Group (第4連合航空隊, Dai-yon Rengō Kōkutai) was original unit of the 24th Air Flotilla, therefore, describe this section from the 4th Combined Air Group.
| Date | Higher unit | Unit name | Aviation units and vessels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 November 1940 (original) | Combined Fleet | 4th Combined Air Group | Chitose Naval Air Group[N 1], Yokohama Naval Air Group[N 2], Seaplane tender Kamoi |
| 15 January 1941 | 11th Air Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla (renamed) |
Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, Seaplane tender Kamoi, MV Goshū Maru |
| 10 April 1941 | 11th Air Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla | Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group[N 3], Seaplane tender Kamoi, MV Goshū Maru |
| 20 December 1941 | 4th Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla | Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, MV Goshū Maru |
| 16 February 1942 | 4th Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla | Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, 4th Air Group[N 4], MV Goshū Maru |
| 1 April 1942 | 11th Air Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla | Chitose Naval Air Group, Yokohama Naval Air Group, 1st Air Group, MV Goshū Maru |
| 1 December 1942 | 11th Air Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla | 201st Naval Air Group[N 5], 552nd Naval Air Group[N 6], 752nd Naval Air Group |
| 5 August 1943 | 12th Air Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla | 531st Naval Air Group[N 7], 752nd Naval Air Group |
| 1 December 1943 | 12th Air Fleet | 24th Air Flotilla | 281st Naval Air Group[N 8], 531st Naval Air Group, 752nd Naval Air Group |
| 20 February 1944 | dissolved | ||
Commanding officers edit
| Rank | Name | Date | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | Ryūnosuke Kusaka | 15 November 1940 | |
| 2 | Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral |
Eiji Gotō | 15 April 1941 15 October 1941 |
|
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | Minoru Maeda | 1 June 1942 | |
| 4 | Rear-Admiral Vice-Admiral |
Michiyuki Yamada | 20 January 1943 6 February 1944 |
KIA on 6 February 1944 at Ruot (Battle of Kwajalein). Posthumly promoted to Vice-Admiral on same day. |
| x | vacant post | 7 February 1944 | After unnoticed death of Rear-Admiral Yamada. |
Footnotes edit
- ^ Attack bomber unit. Renamed 703rd Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942.
- ^ Flying boat unit. Renamed 801st Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942.
- ^ Attack bomber unit. Renamed 752nd Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942.
- ^ Attack bomber unit. Renamed 702nd Naval Air Group on 1 November 1942.
- ^ Carrier-borne fighter unit. Independent from Chitose Naval Air Group (703rd Naval Air Group) on 1 December 1942. Equipped Mitsubishi A6M
- ^ Carrier-borne dive bomber unit. Equipped Aichi D3A
- ^ Carrier-borne attack bomber unit. Equipped Nakajima B6N
- ^ Carrier-borne fighter unit. Equipped Mitsubishi A6M
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ Bullard, pp.32-33.
Bibliography edit
- Japanese army operations in the South Pacific Area New Britain and Papua campaigns, 1942–43. Senshi Sōshō (translated excerpts). Translated by Bullard, Steven. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. 2007. ISBN 978-0-9751904-8-7.