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Japanese Air Units / Groups

Unit Established Locations / Battles Notes Aircraft Used
Japanese Army Air Force Air Groups / Sentais
1st2 July 5, 1938 at Kagamigahara, Japan2 Manchuria2; China2; Burma2; East Indies2; Philippines2; Formosa2; Japan2   Ki-272, Ki-432, Ki-842
4th2 July 1938 at Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan2 Formosa2; Japan2   Ki-102, Ki-272, Ki-452
5th2 August 31, 1938 at Tachikawa, Japan2 East Indies2; New Guinea2; Japan2   Ki-102, Ki-272, Ki-452, Ki-1002
9th2 July 1, 1938 in China2 Manchuria2; China2   Ki-102, Ki-272, Ki-442, Ki-842
11th2 August 31, 1938 at Harbin, Manchuria2 Manchuria2; China2; Indochina2; East Indies2; Burma2; Rabaul2; Solomons2; New Guinea2; Formosa2, Philippines2; Japan2   Ki-272, Ki-432, Ki-842
13th2 July 1938 at Kagamigahara, Japan2 Philippines2; Formosa2; Japan2   Ki-612, Ki-1002
18th2 February 10, 1944 at Choufu, Japan2 Philippines2; Japan2   Ki-612, Ki-1002
19th2 February 10, 1944 at Alkeno Fighter School, Japan2 Indonesia2; Philippines2; Formosa2; Okinawa2   Ki-612
20th2 December 1, 1943 at Itami, Japan2 Okinawa2; Formosa2; Philippines2   Ki-432, Ki-452
21st2 October 15, 1942 at Hanoi, Indochina2 Philippines2; Burma2; Indochina2; East Indies2   Ki-272, Ki-452
22nd2 March 5, 1944 at Fussa, Japan2 China2; Philippines2; Korea2; Japan2   Ki-842
Japanese Naval Air Force Air Groups
1st1 April 1941 at Kanoya, Japan1 China1 Disbanded September 19411  
2nd - 582nd1 May 1942 at Yokosuka Air Base, Japan1 New Guinea1; Guadalcanal1 Disbanded July 19431  
3rd - 202nd1 April 19411 Philippines1; Dutch East Indies1; Darwin, Australia1 Disbanded July 1944.1  
4th1 February 1942 at Truk1 Rabaul1; eastern New Guinea1    
6th - 204th1 April 1942 at Kisarazu Air Base, Japan1 eastern New Guinea1; Rabaul1; Dutch Harbor1; Battle of Midway1 Disbanded April 19441  
131st1 July 1944 at Yokosuka Air Base, Japan1 Okinawa1; Japan1    
153rd1 January 19441 Western New Guinea1    
201st1 September 1944 at Meiji Air Base, Japan1 Okinawa1; Japan1    
203rd1 February 1944 at Atsugi Air Base, Japan1 Kurile Islands1; Okinawa1; Philippines1; Formosa1; Japan1    
205th1 February 1945 at Taichung Air Base, Japan1 Okinawa1 Kamikaze Unit1  
221st1 Janaury 1944 at Kasanbara Air Base, Japan1 Formosa1; Philippines1    
254th1 October 19431 Hainan Island1; Hong Kong1; Formosa1; Philippines1 Disbanded January 19451  
256th1 February 1944 at Lunghwa, China1 Shanghai1; Philippines1; Formosa1 Disbanded December 19441  
261st1 June 1943 at Kagoshima Air Base, Japan1 Peleliu Island1; Saipan1; Yap1 Disbanded July 19441  
263rd1 October 1943 at Genzan, Korea1 Tinian1; Peleliu1; Guam1 Disbanded July 19441  
265th1 November 1943 at Kogoshima Air Base, Japan1   Disbanded July 19441  
281st1 February 1943 at Maizuru Air Base, Japan1 Kurile Islands1; Marshall Islands1; Rabaul1 Destroyed February 19441  
301st1 November 1943 at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan1 Tinian1; Iwo Jima1 Disbanded July 19441  
302nd1 March 1944 at Kisarazu Air Base, Japan1 Guarded Imperial Castle1; Okinawa1    
321st1 October 1943 at Mobara Air Base, Japan1 Tinian1; Guam1 Disbanded July 1944.1
Night fighter unit.1
 
331st1 July 1943 at Saeki Air Base, Japan1 Burma1; Calcutta1; Borneo1; Philippines1 Disbanded May 1944  
332nd1 August 1944 at Iwakuni Air Base, Japan1 Philippines1; Japan1    
341st1 November 1943 at Matsuyama Sir Base, Japan1 Iwo Jima1; Formosa1; Philippines1 Destroyed in January 1945 in the Philippines.1  
343rd1 January 1944 at Matsuyama Air Base, Japan1 Guam1 Disbanded July 1944.1
Reestablished December 1944 at Matsuyama.1
 
352nd1 August 1944 in Japan1 Japan1    
381st1 October 19431 Biak1; Borneo1; Celebres1; French Indochina1    
601st3 Reorganized February 15, 19443 Taihō3, Shokaku3, Zuikaku3   A6M3, D4Y3, B6N3
634th3   Ise3, Hyūga3    
721st1 October 1944 at Konoike Air Base, Japan1 Okinawa1 Kamakaze Unit1  
Chitose - 201st1 October 1939 at Chitose, Japan1 Roi, Marshall Islands1    
Genzan - 252nd1 November 1940 at Genzan, Korea1 Battle of Coral Sea1    
Kanoya - 253rd1 April 1936 at Kanoya, Japan1 Rabaul, Solomons1 Helped sink HMS Prince of Wales1  
Tainan - 251st1 October 1941 at Tainan, Formosa1   Disbanded July 19441  
Yokosuka1 April 1930 at Yokosuka, Japan1 Iwo Jima1; Japan1    

Sources:

  1. Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45, Henry Sakaida, 1998
  2. Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937-45, Henry Sakaida, 1997
  3. Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II, Ikuhiko Hata, Yasuho Izawa, 1989
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