Strana 95
BUILT
A6M2-K, Tsukuba Kōkūtai, Tsukuba Base, Japan, 1944
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.
INFO Eduard
95
August 2026