Markings for A6M2-N Rufe 1/48

COL A

Aviation unit of seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru, Shortland, September 1942

This plane was an early production Rufe with folding wingtips. The Kamikawa Maru was completed in 1936 as an ocean liner but was converted to a seaplane tender a year later and was combat deployed in the aggression against China until the spring of 1941. At the start of the fighting in the Pacific, her air unit was equipped with E13A1 Jake and F1M2 Pete seaplanes, then by September 1942, she was deployed in the Solomon Islands area with eleven A6M2-Ns and two F1M2s. The main tasks of her airmen were base protection, convoy escorts and also attacks on ground troops on Guadalcanal. In addition to engagements with B-17s and Cactus Air Force pilots, the Kamikawa Maru airmen also got into combat with aircraft from the USS Hornet (CV-8). On the box art, the aircraft is depicted while engaged in an aerial battle that took place over Guadalcanal on September 13, 1942; by that time, it probably already carried a yellow identification marking on the leading edge of the wing.

COL B

Kōkūtai 802, Faisi-Poporang base, Shortland Islands, February 1943

This aircraft was among the new ones that Kōkūtai 802 took over in Japan during early 1943. At the unit level, the aircraft received a dark green paint and it probably had a late production stencil on the fuselage. It sported a horizontal red stripe on the vertical tail surfaces, which was probably the unit’s identifying marking. It is likely that this aircraft took part in the aerial combat on February 13 and 14, during the defense of the Shortland Islands and Buin, in which the American units suffered fairly significant losses. After relocation to the Marshall Islands area in March 1943, Kōkūtai 802, under the command of Lt.(jg) Yamazaki, was primarily engaged in anti-submarine patrols and the pursuit of four-engine bombers. Long-range reconnaissance was carried out by another part of this unit, which was armed with H8K Emily flying boats. In October, fighter unit of Kōkūtai 802 was integrated into Kōkūtai 902, and in November, the fighter unit clashed with US Navy aircraft during a raid on Truk.

COL C

Lt (JG) Toshio Araki, Kōkūtai 452, Bettobi Lake, Shumshu Islands, Kuriles, summer 1943

The aircraft of this fighter unit successively bore at least four different markings on their tail surfaces, depending on how the unit was designated and subordinated to different commands. After being evacuated from the Aleutian Islands to Japan, the unit was deployed in the Kuril area under the command of Toshio (Shunji) Araki. This aircraft shown with distinct markings may have been his personal mount. This officer graduated from the 67th class of the Naval Academy in July 1939. After serving aboard the submarine I-10, he began his aviation career with the Kashima Kōkūtai. During the combat operations of Kōkūtai 452, his pilots primarily engaged B-25 and B-24 bombers. Araki was a very meticulous and strict officer who loved playing the violin, though at times this hobby somewhat tried the patience of those around him. In the harsh northern conditions of the Kurils, he boosted morale by collecting phonograph records, one of his personal passions. He later served with the Sukumo Kōkūtai, then with Kōkūtai 453, and ultimately became the leader of a Zero fighter unit within the Kōkūtai 302 during the defense of Japan. He was killed on February 16, 1945, while attempting an emergency landing after a dogfight with Hellcats over Atsugi Air Base.

COL D

Kōkūtai 934, Ambon island, Moluku Islands, March 1944

This late production aircraft was finished in a factory applied dark green paint. At the unit level the white outline of Hinomaru was repainted to reduce the visibility of the machine. The aircraft designation 34-125 is interpreted in some publications as 34-135, which describe it as being finished in red. In early 1944 the Kōkūtai 934 was equipped with E13A Jake and F1M Pete observation aircraft and also with Rufe and N1K Rex fighter seaplanes. Their frequent opponents were the Beaufighter crews of No. 31 Sqn. RAAF. One of the Kōkūtai 934 pilots, PO2c Hidenori Matsunaga, scored approximately ten shared victories against Beaufighters. Fighter squadron unit commander was Lt.(jg) Toshiharu Ikeda, who scored a victory over a Spitfire with a Rufe. Ikeda later became commander of Hikōtai 603 and was killed on June 23, 1944, at Saipan.