HISTORY

When examining photos of Tainan Kōkūtai

tail codes, it can be seen that the letters

and numbers had serifs. This is a detail

that is often missed on illustrations and

model decals. See photo Nr. 14.

Reisen Model 21. These were manufactured in the October and November 1941 timeframe. Shipments of Reisen Model 21 to

replace losses were received periodically.

Photos show that some of these were Nakajima-built, including some with Hōkoku

inscriptions built in January 1942. After the

April 1, 1942 reorganization, Tainan Kōkūtai

left their aircraft at Denpasar Airfield, Bali

and these were taken over by 3rd Kōkūtai.

Not knowing this has caused confusion

for those that thought these earlier aircraft continued on at Rabaul. See the photo

Nr. 15 as example.

After April 1, 1942, the Tainan Kōkūtai was

equipped with the surviving Type 96 Kansen and Reisen Model 21 of 4th Kōkūtai at

Rabaul. Due to the work of the ATIU (Air

Technical Intelligence Unit) investigating

crash sites and derelict examples at captured airfields, we know the most about

the Reisen from this time period. These

4th Kōkūtai Reisen were new Nakajima and Mitsubishi-built, and some older

Mitsubishi-built examples. At least two

(V-136 and V-153) were older than Manufacture Number 2326, completed about

September 11, 1941, since they had external

There is a difference in the tail codes

applied by 4th Kōkūtai as compared to

Tainan Kōkūtai. The 4th Kōkūtai used

a font that appears narrow, while the

Tainan Kōkūtai appears bold. An example

of the narrow font is seen in the photo of

V-153 below. Compare this to the bold font

seen in the photo of V-110 above. This has

been useful in determining which aircraft

carried over from 4th Kōkūtai.

Aircraft Used

On December 8, 1941, the Tainan Kōkūtai

was equipped with new Mitsubishi-built

October 2022

INFO Eduard

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