Strana 39
Tsukuba Kōkūtai, Tsukuba Base, Japan, 1944
probably Kōkūtai 332, Japan, 1945
Tsukuba Kōkūtai training unit was separated
from Kasumigaura Kōkūtai in December 1938.
Over the time, the focus of training provided by
the unit changed. In November 1944, Tsukuba
Kōkūtai assigned experienced instructors to
form a fighter squadron equipped with Zero
and Shiden aircraft. This squadron engaged in
combat with B-29 bombers and U.S. carrier-
based aircraft as early as January and February
1945. At the end of March 1945, Tsukuba Kōkūtai
was ordered to form its own Kamikaze units,
designated Tsukuba-tai No. 1 to No. 6. However,
the last two Kamikaze units were staffed
by Zero pilots from Kōkūtai 721. In July 1943,
a regulation was issued that, among other
things, mandated that training aircraft deployed
in combat operations or based in areas where
the enemy was active should be painted
like combat aircraft. In practice, this led to
the repainting of already-produced A6M2-K
trainers. One such aircraft was Tsu-415, which
is known from a photograph showing it with
a yellow-orange coating on all surfaces.
However, in a later photograph, it appears
camouflaged with dark green paint on the upper
surfaces, while the original paint and markings
on the tail remained unchanged.
This trainer aircraft, found in Japan at the
end of the war, was captured on a color slide.
The machine was likely assembled from at least
two aircraft. In the photograph, it is clearly
visible that the undersides of the wings are
largely left unpainted, but part of the wing and
the underside of the fuselage are painted in
a yellow-orange color. The color of the
undersides of the horizontal tail surfaces is not
very clear in the photo, so it is possible they were
left unpainted, or painted gray, and it cannot be
ruled out that parts of them were also painted
yellow-orange. From the photo, it is not entirely
clear which part of the propeller assembly was
left on the aircraft. It is possible that it is part
of a spinner, painted in dark green. The aircraft
likely belonged to a training squadron that
was part of the Kōkūtai 332. When this IJN air
group was established in August 1944, it was
equipped with interceptors and two-seat float
reconnaissance planes. Later, it was equipped
with Zero fighters, J2M Raiden interceptors, and
J1N1 Gekkō night fighters. It participated in the
defense of the Philippines and defended Japan
against B-29 bomber raids.
KITS 07/2025
INFO Eduard
39
July 2025