Strana 36
A6M5 Zero Type 52, Kōkūtai 210, Meiji Base, Japan, winter 1944-1945
A6M5 Zero Type 52, Lt. (jg) Seizō Yasunori, Kamikaze Tokubetsu Kōgekitai,
Dai 7 Shōwa-tai, Kanoya Base,
Japan, May 1945
This Nakajima manufactured aircraft featured
a fuselage color scheme characteristic of
this producer. Kōkūtai 210 was established in
September 1944 at Meiji Base as an operational
training unit equipped with A6M Zero and N1K1-J
fighters, J1N night fighters, as well as bombers
and reconnaissance aircraft. The Zero squadron,
consisting of 48 aircraft, was commanded by
Lt. Toshio Shiozuru. During U.S. carrier-based air
raids on Japan on February 16–17, 1945, Kōkūtai
210 pilots claimed 14 confirmed and 4 probable
victories while losing one aircraft. From late
March, 32 A6Ms and 14 N1K1-Js were transferred
to Kokubu No. 1 Base under Kōkūtai 601. From
April 6, Kōkūtai 210 fighters engaged in battles
over Okinawa, achieving 6 victories at the cost
of 10 aircraft. During the Kikusui I special attack
operation, Kōkūtai 210 formed several Kamikaze
units, including Dai 210 Butai Reisen-tai, which
was armed with Zeros. On April 6, the unit
launched 12 Zeros with 10 escorting N1K1-Js
against enemy forces 80 nautical miles from
Tokunoshima. On April 11, three more Zeros with
Kamikaze pilots were deployed against enemy
carriers east of Okinawa. In mid-April, Kōkūtai
210 was reorganized as a pure fighter unit, and
remained in reserve in case of an invasion of
Japan.
Although this aircraft bears the Yatabe Kōkūtai
designation and was assigned to Kamikaze Unit
Shōwa No. 7, which was formed from Yatabe
Kōkūtai, its pilot belonged to a different unit.
He was Lt. (jg) Seizō Yasunori from Fighter
Hikōtai 306, which operated under Kōkūtai 721
“Jinrai Butai” (Divine Thunder Corps), providing
fighter escort for G4M Betty bombers modified
to carry Yokosuka MXY-7 Ōka rocket planes.
Seizō Yasunori had also trained for Ōka missions,
but due to heavy losses of Betty bombers,
he was reassigned to Kamikaze Unit Kenmu
No. 10, one of over 20 Kamikaze units formed
from Zero pilots of Kōkūtai 721. This unit
launched over 200 Zero fighters in Kamikaze
attacks – second only to Kōkūtai 201, which
deployed the most Zero Kamikaze pilots during
the defense of the Philippines. On May 11, 1945,
Yasunori was one of the pilots who attacked
the USS Bunker Hill. The ship was first hit by
a bomb and then by the aircraft of his fellow pilot,
Lt.(jg) Yoshiaki Shibata. Shortly after, Ensign
Kyioshi Ogawa struck the flight deck with a bomb
from his burning aircraft. Yasunori attempted
to deliver the final blow to the aircraft carrier,
but he was shot down by an anti-aircraft fire.
The USS Bunker Hill suffered 393 crew members
killed or missing and 264 wounded, making it
the deadliest Kamikaze attack in history.
KITS 04/2025
INFO Eduard36
April 2025