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Yokosuka Naval Air Group

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The Yokosuka Naval Air Group (横須賀海軍航空隊, Yokosuka Kaigun Kōkū-tai) was the first aviation unit established by the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1916 and survived until the end of the Pacific War. It was charged with educating and training aviation personnel, practical testing of new aircraft, and tactical research. In the event of an emergency, it was supposed to take charge of the defense of Tokyo Bay, and from February 1944, when the war situation demanded it, the unit was also involved in combat.

Yokosuka Naval Air Group
横須賀海軍航空隊
Yokosuka Naval Air Group Headquarters, 1932
Active1 April 1916 - 1945
Country Empire of Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Navy
TypeMilitary aviation
RoleTraining/Research/Combat
Part ofImperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Garrison/HQYokosuka Naval District
Nickname(s)Yokosuka Sora
EngagementsBattle of Iwo Jima

History edit

The "Naval Aviation Research Committee", which was established in 1912, has laid the foundation for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. With the start of domestic production of aircraft and training of crew members on track, the Air Corps Three Group Plan was established in 1916 in order to further improve aircraft. On 1 April 1916 the Yokosuka Naval Air Group was formed in Oppama, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture to replace the "Naval Aviation Research Committee".[1]

On 1 September 1923 the Great Kanto Earthquake caused great damage to facilities and equipment. On 1 June 1930 the first class of naval flight reserve trainees joined the service, and after that preparatory training was conducted in Yokosuka until 1945. Around 1932 Minoru Genda who worked as instructor at Yokosuka created an aerobatic squadron called "Genda Circus" which served to increase the public appeal of the Navy Air Service.

Once the Pacific War started on 8 December 1941 the unit continued its training and testing role. From February 1944 the unit was ordered to be deployed in combat. On 15 June 1944, with the launch of Operation A-Go, it formed a part of the 27th Air Flotilla and Yawata Air Attack Unit and was deployed to Iwo Jima to support the Mariana Islands operations. Due to intensive air combat and enemy air raids on Iwo Jima, all aircraft had been lost by 4 July 1944. The remaining service members returned to Yokosuka by transport plane, but some stayed on Iwo Jima and lost their lives defending the island. Afterwards the unit was moved to Kyushu and engaged in kamikaze attacks and air defense battles in the Kantō area.

Its former site is currently occupied by the Nissan Oppama car manufacturing plant.

Commanders edit

The list is based on the Japanese wiki article.

  • Capt. Shiro Yamauchi: April 1, 1916 – December 1, 1917
  • Capt. Masaku Harada: December 1, 1917 – July 1, 1919
  • Rear Adm. Yoshida Kiyukaze : July 1-December 1, 1919
  • Capt. Tajiri Yuji: November 12, 1920 – November 1, 1922
  • Capt. Marubashi Seiichiro: November 1, 1922[2]
  • Capt. Inoue Shiro: December 1, 1923 – December 1, 1924
  • Cdr Ichikawa Daijiro: December 1, 1924 – November 1, 1927[3]
  • Capt. Hideho Wada: November 1, 1927 – November 30, 1929
  • Capt. Goro Hara: November 30, 1929 – April 2, 1931
  • Capt. Yamada Tadoji: April 2, 1931 – November 15, 1932
  • Capt. Onishi Jiro: November 15, 1932[4]-November 15, 1934[5]
  • Capt. Sugiyama Toshiro: November 15, 1934 – December 1, 1936
  • Capt. Miami Sadazo: December 1, 1936 – July 11, 1937
  • Capt. Torao Kuwahara: December 25, 1937 – November 15, 1938
  • Rear Adm. Totsuka Michitaro: December 15, 1938 – October 20, 1939
  • Rear Adm. Torao Kuwahara: January 15, 1940 – November 15, 1940
  • Capt. Ueno Keizo: November 15, 1940 – November 17, 1942
  • Rear Adm. Ryunosuke Kusaka: November 23, 1942 – November 20, 1943
  • Rear Adm. Sadayoshi Yamada: December 6, 1943 – March 15, 1944
  • Vice Adm. Shunichi Kira : March 15-July 10, 1944
  • Rear Adm. Hattori Katsuji: July 10-September 29, 1944
  • Capt. Kato Yoshio: September 29, 1944 – March 20, 1945
  • Rear Adm. Chiaki Matsuda: March 20, 1945-

References edit

  1. ^ 『海軍飛行豫科練習生 第一巻』p. 35
  2. ^ 『官報』第3077号、大正11年11月2日.
  3. ^ 『官報』第255号、昭和2年11月2日.
  4. ^ 『官報』第1765号、昭和7年11月16日.
  5. ^ 『官報』第2364号、昭和9年11月16.

Bibliography edit

  • 引頭文博「横須賀海軍航空隊の概況」『軍港と名勝史蹟』軍港と名勝史蹟発行所、1933年、pp.44-53。
  • 『海軍飛行豫科練習生 第一巻』 国書刊行会、1983年。
  • 海軍歴史保存会『日本海軍史』第9巻、第10巻、第一法規出版、1995年。
  • 『官報』

See also edit

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