Strana 61
PO2c Kōtarō Koyae, Zuihō Fighter Squadron, Rabaul, New Britain island, April 1943
Lt. Kunio Kanzaki, CO of Hikōtai 311 of Kōkūtai 381, Kendari airfield, Celebes island, May 1944
Petty Officer 2nd Class Koyae was born in
1923 in Miyazaki Prefecture and completed his
flight training in November 1942. He was then
assigned to the fighter unit of the aircraft
carrier Zuihō in March 1943. In April, the unit
moved to Rabaul and Koyae flew this aircraft
during Operation I-gō. In this period, green paint
was applied to Zeros in field conditions. It was
usually painted by hand, the edges of the green
fields being softened with thinner sometimes.
However, according to the unit log, Koyae did not
fly combat sorties in April 1943. In fact he did
not encounter the enemy until November 1943
over Rabaul. During the same month he was
transferred to Kōkūtai 253 at Rabaul and by
early 1944 he was undergoing intense fighting.
Upon his return to Japan, he was assigned to
the Ōmura Kōkūtai. While on leave, on February
17, 1944, he spotted a Japanese bomber circling
in the rain at night over the village of Goda,
Miyazaki Prefecture. Koyae, with the help of
the villagers, established a navigation signal
and after some time he managed to guide the
crew to right heading. For this achievment
he received a written commendation from
commander of Ōmura Kōkūtai. In July 1944,
Koyae was assigned to Hikōtai 701 and fought in
the defense of the Philippines. After returning
to Japan, he was assigned to Hikōtai 701 (II) and
served with Ōmura Kōkūtai at the end of the
war. After the war he worked as a fireman and
published his memories. According to the local
press, he achieved 20 victories, but these may
be victories achieved by fighter formations in
which he took part.
Kōkūtai 381 was established in October 1943 at
Kendari Base on the island of Celebes. It was
a mixed Kōkūtai with 48 fighter-bombers (Hikōtai
602), 24 night fighters (Hikōtai 902) and 48 fighter
aircraft in Hikōtai 311, the latter commanded by
Lt. Kanzaki. During the beginning of 1944 he
operated from bases on islands in Indonesia and
the Philippines. Their most frequent opponents
were U.S. Army aircraft. Kanzaki‘s unit used
special phosphorous anti-aircraft bombs to
attack enemy bombers. Kanzaki‘s aircraft,
manufactured by the Nakajima company, has
been depicted in the past with various color
markings. It is assumed that the vertical tail
surfaces and part of the upper wing surfaces
were painted the same color as lower surfaces.
The front part of the engine may also have been
painted grey or yellow. It is not entirely clear
from the photograph of the aircraft whether
the white stripes on the lower fuselage are
joined. It may have been designed to improve
the mutual identification of Army and Navy
aircraft when fighting Allied fighters. Another
reason for this camouflage may have been for
easier identification during night fighter flights.
For example, Lt. Kanzaki and his wingman shot
down a B-24 of the 380th BG over Balikpapan on
the night of January 12-13, 1944. Some aircraft of
Kōkūtai 331 were also painted in the same upper
and tailplane camouflage. Both units operated in
one tactical group during part of 1944.
KITS 09/2026
INFO Eduard
61
September 2026