Strana 94
Lt (JG) Toshio Araki, Kōkūtai 452, Bettobi Lake, Shumshu Islands, Kuriles, summer 1943
Kōkūtai 934, Ambon island, Moluku Islands, March 1944
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.
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.
KITS 12/2025
INFO Eduard94
December 2025