Strana 45
c/n 4685, Lt. Shinya Ozaki, Kōkūtai 343, Agana airfield, Guam Island, June 1944
Kōkūtai 653, Hikōtai 166, Ōita base, Japan, September 1944
This Mitsubishi built aircraft was discovered in
March 1962 in a swamp on the island of Guam and
is on display at Hamamatsu Air Base in Japan
today. Its pilot was Lt. Ozaki of Kōkūtai 343, who
took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in
the Marianas on June 19, 1944, with this aircraft.
Together with his wingman, Ozaki attacked an
SOC seaplane from USS Montpelier, whose crew
had rescued two downed pilots off the coast
of Guam. Overloaded, the seaplane could not
take off and was taxiing on the water’s surface.
It was protected by Lt. Henry C. Clem in a Hellcat
from VF-10 and LtCdr. Harmer in a Corsair from
VF(N)-101. In the ensuing dogfight with Ozaki,
Clem’s plane stalled; Ozaki hit him, and Clem
was killed while he crashed into the sea. Harmer
attempted to pursue Ozaki and fired at him from
long range, managing to inflict mortal wounds.
The Japanese pilot crash-landed in the swamp
and died.
This Mitsubishi manufactured aircraft was
assigned to Kōkūtai 653, which was established
in February 1944. The layout of camouflage color
fields was characteristic of aircraft produced by
Mitsubishi. Kōkūtai 653 participated in the Battle
of the Philippine Sea in June 1944 aboard the
carriers Chitose, Chiyoda, and Zuihō, most of its
armament consisted of A6M2 Type 21 fighter-
bombers. Out of the nine carrier squadron
commanders, only one survived. After the
battle, Kōkūtai 653 was reorganized into four
Hikōtai. Lt. Kenji Nakagawa led Hikōtai 164 and
165 with 48 A6M5 fighters each. Lt. Tetsuo Endō
led 48 A6M fighter-bombers of Hikōtai 166 while
bombers were assigned to Hikōtai 263. In the fall
of 1944, Kōkūtai 653 suffered 50% losses in the
defense of Taiwan. Part of Hikōtai 166 aircraft
was deployed from aircraft carriers in October
1944 during the Battle off Cape Engaño in the
defense of the Philippines. The Kōkūtai was
disbanded on November 15, 1944.
KITS 10/2025
INFO Eduard
45
October 2025