HISTORY

mass balanced ailerons (see Photo Nr. 16).

The Tainan Kōkūtai unit strength was quickly increased first by replacing 4th Kōkūtai

losses and purging the obsolete Type 96

Kansen. Then, by adding additional Reisen

Model 21 to increase the number of Chūtai.

The replacement Reisen that I have been

able to document have been new Mitsubishi-built, many with Hōkoku inscriptions.

All of the Model 21 Reisen used by Tainan

Kōkūtai had the early type blunt propeller

spinner.

The Tainan Kōkūtai was the first unit to

receive the Reisen Model 32. Manufacture Numbers covered the range from 3012

(the first example built with all the features of the production Model 32) through

3032. These Manufacture Numbers were

consecutive, except for 3030 which was

missing, probably due to a defect which required time to repair. Manufacture Number

3030, later became the well-known Q-102

of 2nd Kōkūtai. These 20 Reisen, were the

only Model 32 assigned to Tainan Kōkūtai,

but the unit structure these were assigned

to suggests that the original plan was for

a total of 40 Model 32. The Model 32 became a disaster in service with the Tainan

Kōkūtai due to its reduced range. Just nine

days after receiving the Model 32, the US

Forces landed on Guadalcanal and captured the nearly completed airfield there.

The distance from Rabaul to Guadalcanal

was too far for the Model 32 to fly missions there and return. Instead, the Model 32

were sent to the airfield at Buna, New Guinea (See photo Nr. 17). Buna was too close

to the Allied airfields around Port Moresby, and in a matter of weeks many aircraft

were destroyed on the ground there. These

aircraft included at least 8 Model 32 and

2 G6M1-L transports from Tainan Kōkūtai.

Because of this poor debut, no further

Model 32 were delivered to Tainan Kōkūtai.

24

INFO Eduard

Conclusions

Hopefully this article helps to clear up

any confusion regarding the Tainan Kōkūtai markings. The markings and the colors were not some inexplicable random

mashup that could not be understood.

There was a fully developed unit structure

and marking pattern that was followed for

each Chūtai and Shōtai when applying the

fuselage bands, tail stripes, and tail codes.

Also, I hope that this article arms the reader with enough knowledge to recognize

when an illustration or decal sheet has

incorrectly represented the markings of

a Tainan Kōkūtai aircraft. And, if accuracy is something that matters to the reader,

that they can make the needed corrections

when building their model.

I don’t consider this research to have reached an end. After “Eagles of the Southern

Sky” was published, I continued researching Tainan Kōkūtai markings. Also, Luca

Ruffato was working on another book about

the early days of the war when the Japanese attacked New Britain and the surrounding areas. He was having trouble with the

markings of the 4th Kōkūtai fighters, so

I promised to help him by researching

those markings. Unfortunately, he passed

away shortly after that, but I continued researching 4th Kōkūtai markings anyway.

When the Tainan Ku arrived in Rabaul, they

took over the Reisen and much of the personnel of the 4th Kōkūtai. So, in the ten

years after the publication of Eagles of

the Southern Sky, I have learned so much

new material, as well as finding that some

of what was previously published was

incorrect.

I really enjoy the subject of Japanese aircraft, especially those Naval aircraft with

Hōkoku donor inscriptions and serving

with units in the South Pacific Theater. And

I enjoy sharing what I have learned through

my research with others in the hopes that

their interest in this subject will increase

as well. My dream is that one day Japanese aircraft will be as well represented on

the tables at models shows, as those from

other countries are.

References

(1) The author is an Associate Editor and performed

the research on Tainan Kōkūtai markings for “Eagles of the Southern Sky: The Tainan Air Group in

WWII Volume One: New Guinea”, by Michael Claringbould and Luca Ruffato, October 17, 2012

(2) “First Eagles, 4th Kōkūtai Fighter Wing, New Guinea 1942”, by Michael Claringbould with Ed DeKiep,

Coming Soon!

(3) “Japanese Navy Zero Fighters (land based): New

Guinea and the Solomons 1942-1944 (Pacific Profiles Volume Five)”, by Michael Claringbould with Ed

DeKiep & Ryan Toews, October 29, 2021

(4) http://www.aviationofjapan.com

(5) http://www.onmarkproductions.com

(6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

October 2022