JAPANESE IN THE MARSHALLS
 
 
Posted By: mark Ayers <markayers_00@yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, 19 July 2001, at 2:29 p.m.
 
I am looking for information on Japanese planes stationed in the Marshall Islands I am doing a display case with aircraft that were here during the Battle of the Marshall Islands, and so far I have 1. I know the American planes but I am having trouble finding the kinds of Japanese planes and bombers. For your trouble I can send you pictures of Japanese bunkers and buildings that still stand! I have plenty. I know of "Emily" float planes being used and "Rufe" planes being used off of one of the Islands and there are 3 wrecks of the "Mavis" float planes but I need fighters and other bombers. I have a break down of the command structure of the Japanese forces here in the Marshall Islands. Some of the listings are 36 G3Ms??? 24 H6Ks??? 36 G3M2s?? 27 G4M1s?? 6 C5M2s? 25 A6M2s?? And 12 A5M4s? Can anyone help? Thanks in advance!!!
Mark Ayers
 
Posted By: richard dunn <rdunn@rhsmith.umd.edu>
Date: Friday, 20 July 2001, at 2:57 p.m.
 
Mark
On 19 November 1943 status was --
755 Ku had just converted from G3M2 to G4M1. Had 40 land attack a/c operational. A few G3M2's remained in the area.
252 Ku had 46 operational Zeros. These were A6M2's, A6M3's (mostly model 22's and a few 32's).
802 Ku had only 5 operational H8K flying boats. It had no A6M2N's at that time as these had been transferred to another area.
552 Ku had only 3 D3A2's as the bulk of these had recently been transferred to Rabaul.
Reinforcement initiated at the end of November included G4M1's of 752 Ku and A6M's of 281 Ku as well as B6N's of 551 Ku along with the Headquarters of 24th Air Flotilla from northern Japan. Also 2 chutai of 753 Ku from the Netherlands East Indies. Other reinforcements included the temporary assignment of A6M's from the 1st Carrier Division late November to early December.
Both 252 Ku and 281 Ku later received some A6M5's as replacements in December and January 1944.
Also in the area were seaplanes of 902 Ku and 952 Ku but these were subordinated to base forces rather than the 22d Air Flotilla. On that date 252, 552, 755 and 802 air groups were subordinated to the 22d Air Flotilla.
 
Hope that helps.
Rick
 
Posted By: richard dunn <rdunn@rhsmith.umd.edu>
Date: Friday, 20 July 2001, at 7:04 p.m.
 
Mark
I can only say, "I think so." While I can break out the model types for the land-based units, I cannot do so for CarDiv 1.
While it only makes sense that CarDiv 1 had model 22's by November 1943, I have no specific documentary evidence that any that went to the Marshall’s were model 22's. On 25th November 1943 thirty-two CarDiv 1 Zeros arrived at Roi in the Kwajalein Atoll. They were there and suffered losses during the December 5th US Navy carrier raid and withdrew a few days later. One of the Zuiho Zeros was a model 21. Zuikaku and Shokaku as well as Zuiho were represented in this contingent. As noted, it is logical that they would be equipped with model 22's but at the moment I cannot specifically document that fact.
If I stumble across something more specific later I'll try to get back to you.
 
Rick
 
Posted By: Micah Bly <micahbly@visi.com>
Date: Thursday, 19 July 2001, at 2:46 p.m.
 
I'm not sure I understand... It seems like you have a list of the airplanes in use already?
36 G3M Nell Bombers
24 H8K Mavis flying boats
36 G3M2 Nell Bombers
27 G4M1 Betty Bombers
6 C5M2 Babs Recon Planes
25 A6M2 Zero Fighter planes
12 A5M4 Claude Fighter planes
Does that help?
Micah Bly
 
Posted By: mark Ayers <markayers_00@yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, 19 July 2001, at 2:59 p.m.
 
Can you tell me what the difference is between the G3M and the G3M2s. are they different versions of the plane or just a different group
 
Posted By: Rob Graham <ReiShikiSenGuy@aol.com>
Date: Thursday, 19 July 2001, at 8:18 p.m.
 
Mark:
The G3M is like saying "B-17" or "P-51" but there are differences of the sub-types. There were G3M1s, G3M2s, transport versions called L3Ms, etc... They can be a little or a lot different. If I recall correctly, the G3M1 had 2 9-cylinder radials and the G3M2 and later had two 14-cylinder double-row radials. If you'd like more, I can look it up, but I had a big day and am BEAT right now.
 
--Rob
 
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